Education Credit

[truetedi45]

Has the Hope Scholarship Credit or American Opportunity Credit been claimed for this student for any 4 prior tax years?

So, I had claimed the AOC last year on my 2022 returns. I graduated in the summer '23 and was a full-time student. Do I select 'yes' or 'no'? I would assume 'no' since I only claimed it for 1 year (2022). 

[xmasbaby0]

If you were claimed as a dependent on a parents' return in any earlier years you should check with them too and see if they used the AOTC for you on a return---since their use of it for you "counts" toward those four times.   As long as it has not been used a total of four times you are good to answer NO.

[CatinaT1]

Correct. You can claim the credit for a total of 4 tax years, but they do not need to be consecutive years. If you have only claimed the credit one time, you would say no.

[truetedi45]

How far back does this date to? The last time I was in college or university before I returned in 2022 was 2013-2016.

[xmasbaby0]

It goes all the way back to whenever you were in college before.   The AOTC can be used a total of four times for a specific student---so that is why some folks need to check with others who may have claimed them as dependents and who may have used the credit on their tax return.

[Hal_Al]

2009 was the first year for the AOTC. If you were a half time or more student in 2013-2016, and your parent's dependent, they almost certainly claimed all or most of those years. Your claiming it in 2022 may even be invalid. 

[truetedi45]

Wouldn't it transfer to Lifetime Learning Credit (which is for as long as you attend a Uni or College) after AOC?

[Hal_Al]

Q. Wouldn't it transfer to Lifetime Learning Credit (which is for as long as you attend a Uni or College) after AOC?

A. Yes. After TT sees that you already took the AOC 4 times, it will give you the LLC.  The LLC is non refundable. It can only reduce an actual tax liability.