American Opportunity Tax Credit, can it be claimed over the course of 5 tax returns? If dependent technically completes school in 4 years?

[coolboysma]

My son started college in August 2014 and we claimed the American Opportunity Tax Credit the first time then on the following tax return years 2015, 2016 and 2017. He finished school, on time in 2018. Can we still claim that tax credit for this year? He only attended college for 4 years, although it was spread over 5 tax returns.

[Critter · Accepted solution]

NO ... even though the 4 years of college is spread over  5 tax years you can still only claim the credit 4 times on 4 tax returns. 

2014-2015    college year 1     Credit claimed on 2014 return  (1)

2015-2016    college year 2     Credit claimed on 2015 return  (2)

2016-2017    college year 3     Credit claimed on 2016 return  (3)

2017-2018    college year 4     Credit claimed on 2017 return   (4)

[Texas Roger]

The American Opportunity Credit can only be claimed in 4 tax years.