I was employed in 2019 and want to know if I can now claim the tuition paid back in 2018, even if it’s with an amendment. I didn’t file for 2018 because I had no income that year.
It depends.
If you had a 1098-T in 2018 but had no income, the only time you could potentially get a refund is if you were in your first four years of college working towards a degree, not filing as married filing separately, and not listed as a dependent on someone else's return. There are a few other stipulations as listed in the link below.
If that applies to you, you could potentially have a refundable credit from the American Opportunity Credit.
Who qualifies for American Opportunity Credit
If you do not fall under the first 4 years, then you would not be entitled to any sort of refundable credit as you did not have any income in 2018. The remaining credits/deductions are only used to offset income or tax liabilities.
The only way to claim a credit for your education expenses reported on a 2018 1098-T form is to file a 2018 tax return. It would not be an amended return since you never filed a return initially.
You cannot report it on your 2019 tax return.