From your own records or your parent's tax records. The times you parents claimed the Hope or AOC, while you were their student-dependent counts against your 4 time limit. The Hope/AOC has been around for over 20 years. Starting with tax year 2009, the Hope credit was supplanted by the more generous American Opportunity Tax Credit.
Hello Hal_Al,
ok great and thank you so much for the response. Is there a specific form and line number where I can find it?
Yes, but the line #, on form 1040, has changed over the years. The refundable portion was a separate line from the non-refundable part and would be near the end of all the lines and specifically identified as "American opportunity credit from Form 8863, line...." .
Form 8863 should have been an attachment each year it was claimed.
Thank you so much Hal_Al!
We will take a look and will search form 8863. Will this show both credits: American Opportunity and Hope Credit or either?
Q. Will form 8863 show both credits: American Opportunity and Hope Credit or either?
A. Yes. Prior to 2009, the Hope credit will show. 2009 onward, it will be the AOC.
Hello!
Just to be clear, in order to qualify for the American Opportunity Credit you must not have completed a 4 years of college and at leas half-time workload?
How do you qualify for the Lifetime Learning Credit?
Q. Just to be clear, in order to qualify for the American Opportunity Credit you must not have completed a 4 years of college and at leas half-time course load?
A. The completed is of Jan 1 of the tax year. So, if you graduated May of 2021, you can claim it on your 2021 return (unless you claimed it 4 times previously).
Q. How do you qualify for the Lifetime Learning Credit?
A. No restrictions other than the school must be an "eligible institution".