How can I claim both my 2024 tuition and my 2023 tuition?

[jackgilbreath12]

My parents accidentally claimed me as a dependent in 2023 so I was not eligible to claim my tuition for that year. I would like to claim it on my 2024 return along with my 2024 tuition payments.

[xmasbaby0]

Well, no, you cannot do that.    You cannot put any "stuff" from 2023 on a 2024 tax return.   If your parents claimed you for 2023 they are the ones who could get the education credit.  A dependent does not get education credits.  You were a dependent for 2023.

We do not actually know if you can be claimed for 2024---we have no information.   The rule is that if you CAN be claimed as someone else's dependent, you must say on your own tax return that someone else can claim you.

Here is the criteria your parents would use:

WHO CAN I CLAIM AS A DEPENDENT?

You can claim a child, relative, friend, or fiancé (etc.) as a dependent on your 2024 taxes as long as they meet the following requirements:

Qualifying child

• They're related to you.
• They aren't claimed as a dependent by someone else.
• They're a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
• They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse.
• They're under the age of 19 (or 24 for full-time students).
• No age limit for permanently and totally disabled children.
• They lived with you for more than half the year (exceptions apply).
• They didn't provide more than half of their own support for the year.

Qualifying relative

• They don't have to be related to you (despite the name).
• They aren't claimed as a dependent by someone else.
• They're a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
• They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse.
• They lived with you the entire year (exceptions apply).
• They made less than $5050 in 2024 (not counting Social Security)
• You provided more than half of their financial support.

When you add someone as a dependent, we'll ask a series of questions to make sure you can claim them. There may be other tax benefits you can get when you claim a dependent.

Related Information:

• What does "financially support another person" mean?

If, in fact, your parents claimed you incorrectly for 2023 and got the education credit, then they need to amend their 2023 return and you can file or amend your own 2023 return.  But you cannot use your 2024 return to fix a 2023 mistake.

[Hal_Al]

You cannot claim your 2023 tuition on your 2024 tax return.

For your 2024 tuition, In TurboTax (TT), enter at:

Federal Taxes Tab (Personal for H&B version)

Deductions & Credits

“I’ll choose what I want to work on” button

-Scroll down to:

--Education

  --Education Expenses and Scholarships (1098-T)

But, there's a new urban myth among college students that says they can get a $1000 from the government just for filing a tax form. For most of them, they simply aren't eligible. A full time unmarried student, under age 24, even if you don't qualify as a dependent, is only eligible for the refundable portion of the American Opportunity Credit if he supports himself by working. You cannot be supporting yourself on parental support, 529 plans or student loans & grants. It is usually best if the parent claims that credit. 

You cannot claim the (up to) $1000 refundable credit if you are, or can be, claimed as a dependent by someone else.

Reference: Line 7 instructions for form 8863.

https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i8863#en_US_2024_publink53002gd0e674

[Vanessa A]

You cannot claim your tuition from 2023 on your 2024 return.  You can only claim it on a 2023 return.  Income, expenses and credits are only allowed to be reported on the return for the year that it was received or incurred. 

How old are you?  Do you have a tax liability?

If you are under age 24 and at least one of your parents are still alive, you do not qualify for any refundable credit.  So in order for the credit to be useful to you, you would need to have a tax liability on line 16 of your form 1040.  If you made less than $14,600, you would not have a tax liability and would not be able to claim this credit if the above apply to you.

If you had taxable income and your parents amended their return to not claim you for 2023, then you could amend your return to then claim the credit.  However, if they received any type of tax break for you, they would have to pay it back in order for you to claim it. 

You don't qualify for a refundable American opportunity credit if 1 (a, b, or c), 2, and 3 below app...