How would I know if I ever received the American Opportunity or Hope Credit

[jerrycutshaw]

I've used TurboTax for years so shouldn't TurboTax be able to tell me?

[Hal_Al]

You would have to look at your tax returns for past years

[ChrisJ]

Look at your complete, finalized return for any year you had eligible educational expenses to report (did you receive a 1098-T?)

Look for form 8863. Is it there? If yes, lines 8 and/or 19 will tell you how much (if any) credit was claimed.

If you don't see Form 8863, there was no way to claim any refundable or nonrefundable credits that year.

The IRS is only ever concerned with knowing if you've claimed this credit for 4 total years - eligible years do not have to be consecutive. (Form 8863, line 23) 

Find your return in TurboTax.

Otherwise, get this information from the IRS. Call them at 800-908-9946 or go here.