Can I claim the American Opportunity Tax Credit if I finished my undergrad degree in 3.5 years and I am currently in grad school?

[tiffster]

I finished my undergrad degree in 3.5 years (Dec. 2016). I started my masters in January 2017 and I am wondering if I can claim the American Opportunity Credit? I had not finished 4 years of post-secondary school before 2017 and I have never claimed the credit previously. 

[MinhT · Accepted solution]

If you completed your undergraduate degree in 3.5 years, this counts as 4 years of post-secondary education as these 3.5 years span 4 tax years (2013 to 2016)

For this reason, you are not eligible for the American Opportunity credit in 2017, even if you have never claimed it before.