American Opportunity Tax Credit

[diana167412]

Hello, I am just a bit confused about what the "first-four years" actually meant since I took a bit longer to graduate Community College with my associates and took 2 years off from school as well. I have only claimed the AOTC 2 twice. Now I am attending a four year university to obtain my bachelors in CS and I was still considered a Junior in 2019. I'm I eligible for the AOTC?

[MinhT1 · Accepted solution]

You are eligible for the American Opportunity if you have not completed the first four years of post-secondary education as of the beginning of the tax year and have claimed that credit less than 4 times.

In your case, you are eligible for the AOTC as you satisfy the 2 conditions above.

There are other conditions:

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