Education Credits Form Question: Uncommon situations in 2025

[hdgahog]

I pay my kids tuition and take the credit for tax purposes. I'm thrown off by the below question because I have claimed the credit in a previous year so I don't consider this "uncommon".  In 2025, I filed my 2024 tax and claimed the credit. I will do the same this year. Do they mean claimed the 2025 payments in 2024 (prepaid college?).

[MinhT1]

Please clarify. Are your kids attending post-secondary college? Which credit (AOTC or LLC) did you claim in past years?

[hdgahog]

Thank you. 

My kids are attending college to obtain their first bachelors degree. I have claimed the AOTC for both.

[MinhT1]

You should check the first box: Claimed the Hope or American Opportunity credit in a previous year.

[Hal_Al]

Q. Do they mean claimed the 2025 payments in 2024 (prepaid college?).

A.  No. They just want to know if this is your 1st year claiming a tuition credit, for that student. 

Check that box. You will later be asked how many times it was claimed.  This is to prevent you from claiming the AOTC more than the allowed 4 times. 

You are correct, it's poorly worded. It's more common than uncommon.