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May 1, 2020
Question

I got American Opportunity twice, what should I do?

  • May 1, 2020
  • 1 reply
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In 2018 I got the American opportunity credit. I looked at my 2019 tax return and I see that it says it wasn't claimed (by mistake? I was using Turbotax) in the last 4 years (part III, line 23- checked "no"). I still got the return. From my understanding, I wasn't supposed to get this again? What should I do? I am still in college and will only graduate next semester (December 2020). **EDIT: I would like to add that I am an international student on F-1, and I do not believe I am a resident alien. Therefore, I am worried that I shouldn't have claimed these at all. What should I do? I am willing to repay these funds.

1 reply

Hal_Al
Employee
May 2, 2020

It's not clear what you're saying.

You  or your parents (in the years you were their dependent) are allowed to claim the American Opportunity Credit (AOC) a total of four times.  If you're saying you claimed it in 2019, for the 5th time, you will have to file an amended return for 2019 to unclaim it and pay back the IRS.

 

If you literally mean 2019 was only your 2nd time, you've done nothing wrong.

 

 

May 2, 2020

Thank you for clarifying that. I just made an important edit to the question as you were answering it and now I am not sure what to do. Do you know anything about this? (And yes, it was literally only the 2nd time I've filed taxes.)

"**EDIT: I would like to add that I am an international student on F-1, and I do not believe I am a resident alien. Therefore, I am worried that I shouldn't have claimed these at all. What should I do? I am willing to repay these funds."