I got rejected for the American opportunity credit when I amended my return, but I’m a student and it says I qualify. How can I get the credit? I’ve tried to amend again.

[CatinaT1]

What does your letter say from the IRS as to why they are disallowing the credit?

To be eligible for AOTC, the student must:

• Be pursuing a degree or other recognized education credential
• Be enrolled at least half time for at least one academic period* beginning in the tax year
• Not have finished the first four years of higher education at the beginning of the tax year
• Not have claimed the AOTC or the former Hope credit for more than four tax years
• Not have a felony drug conviction at the end of the tax year

*Academic Period can be semesters, trimesters, quarters or any other period of study such as a summer school session. The schools determine the academic periods. For schools that use clock or credit hours and do not have academic terms, the payment period may be treated as an academic period.

More information can be found here:

Education Credits

American Opportunity Credit

[philcapriglione]

I am a senior now, full time student with credits and my twin brother got the American opportunity credit, but I didn’t. The IRS didn’t send me a letter; i got cleared for the opportunity credit as it said ready to mail, but then vanished by the time I went back into the app after a weeks time. Every time I tried to amend the return, it said I qualified for the credit, but it wouldn’t add it to my federal return after I signed the files.

[CatinaT1]

So you haven't filed yet?  You don't amend unless you have already filed and that return has been completely processed by the IRS. Try to delete your 1098T and then reenter it. 

1) Open your tax return.

2) Go to the left side of the screen and click on Tax Tools, then Tools

3)  From the pop-up Tools Center  menu, select  Delete a form

4) Scroll to find the Form 1098t and Delete it.

5) Scroll to the bottom of the list and hit the button to Continue My Return

That should do it.

• How do I view and delete forms in TurboTax Online?
• How do I delete a tax form in the TurboTax CD/Download software?

[philcapriglione]

I did file; I got the federal and state into my bank account already, but didn’t get the credit as I didn’t fill out the 1098 the first time I filed. That’s when I amended it to try to get the opportunity credit, but I guess it didn’t go through.