The five reasons listed for why I didn't receive the American Opportunity Credit are untrue (age, salary, etc.). How can I receive this credit?

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
May 12, 2021
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The school is Canadian, so I have a T2202 form in lieu of a 1098-T. I'm not sure if this is affecting the outcome.

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Hal_Al

Employee

Yes, to be eligible for the tuition credits or tuition & fees deduction, the course must be taken at "an eligible institution". The school should be able to tell you if it is an eligible educational institution. In general, an eligible educational institution is an accredited college, university, vocational school, or other postsecondary educational institution, including accredited, public, nonprofit, and proprietary (privately-owned, profit-making) postsecondary institutions. Additionally, in order to be an eligible educational institution, the school must be eligible to participate in a student aid program administered by the Department of Education. If they issue a 1098-T they are probably an eligible institution.

Enter your school at the link below, to see if it's on the dept. of education list.

https://fafsa.ed.gov/FAFSA/app/schoolSearch?locale=en_EN (choose foreign country for state)

aidso12Author

Thanks, @Hal_Al. I looked up the university and it is indeed considered an eligible institution. Where do I go from here?

Hal_Al

Employee

After saying you don't have a 1098-T, answer yes to the exception question. That should give you the screens to enter your expenses

Otherwise, if you are eligible, you have answered something wrong, in the interview. But, a lot of people are just not eligible. See https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/AOTC

There's a new urban myth among college students that says they can get a $1000 from the government just for filing a tax form. For most of them, they simply aren't eligible. A full time unmarried student, under age 24, even if you don't qualify as a dependent, is only eligible for the refundable portion of the American Opportunity Credit if he supports himself by working. You cannot be supporting yourself on parental support, 529 plans or student loans & grants. You usually must have actually paid tuition, not had it paid by scholarships & grants. It is usually best if the parent claims that credit.

You cannot claim a credit if you are, or can be, claimed as a dependent by someone else.

Reference: Line 7 instructions for form 8863. https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i8863