My dependent went to a foreign University which doesn't issue a 1098T. Therefore we can't claim the AOC. TT wants to claim it for me. How can I remove the AOC from TT?

[Hal_Al]

Q. My dependent went to a foreign University which doesn't issue a 1098T. Therefore we can't claim the AOC.

A.  That's not a true statement.  A foreign University on the DOE list is an exception to the 1098-T rule.  Your other post indicated that you were ineligible for other reasons (usually income too high).

But to answer your question;  Go through the entire education interview until you reach a screen titled "Your Education Expenses Summary".  Click edit next to the student's name. That should take you to a screen “Here’s your Education Summary”. Click edit next to “Education Information”. When you get to the screen titled “Amount Used to Calculate Education Deduction or Credit”, verify the amount you want to use or change it (to 0 in your case).  You may reach that screen sooner.

Alternatively, 

Type letme (no space between let & me) in the search box. Then press enter. Then  click  on the link "jump to letme''. 

TT will give you the option to select another tuition  credit or none.

OR

Type letme (no space between let & me) in the search box. When the dropdown list appears, click on letme rather than "jump to letme'. On the next drop down, click on the "jump to letme” link.

TT will give you the option to select another tuition  credit or none.

[Mango-muncher]

Thanks - I didn't realise that I was eligible for AOC as it was a foreign (and approved) university.  However I can't figure out a way to keep the AOC non zero whilst not entering the state and school zip as well as EIN number, so have to go with making AOC 0, then I don't have to worry about fixing the state and school zip as well as ein number.  Whilst this isn't the best solution, it seems to be the only way forward as I have tried all other solutions people have mentioned without success.

[AmyC]

If you have an approved college, you want to claim your expenses and get the AOTC. I think maybe you missed the step where you click that you qualify for an exception. Follow these steps:

1. Go to deductions and credits
2. Select expenses and scholarships (form 1098-T)
3. Enter higher education expenses? Yes
4. Choose student, continue
5. Working on degree.. select answer, continue
6. Enrollment status... select answer, continue
7. Name of school, enter name, continue
8. Did you get 1098-T? No
9. Exception -select I qualify for an exception if you do. See 1098-T , continue
10. Fill in the school info
11. Need federal id, select I can't find the ID
12. enter tuition
13. continue going through the section entering information

[Mango-muncher]

Thanks, but I had previously tried doing that.  I had entered in the Uni details and then deleted the 1098T that TT created.  At the end during the federal review I got stuck on an 'error' that TT found - it wanted a state and school zip which the foreign university doesn't have.  it also wanted a EIN number which the foreign university doesn't have.  The only way round these errors was not to claim the AOTC and therefore not have to enter a valid US zip for school and state and also a EIN number.  I maintain TT has a software bug in it with respect to foreign university and 529 accounts.

[DaveF1006]

Students that attend foreign universities are eligible to receive an education credit if the foreign university participate in Federal Student Aid programs (FASA). In order to receive an education credit, the Federal Student Aid outlines the following requirements in its website.

1. U.S. federal tax laws require each postsecondary educational institution that is an eligible educational institution to file Form 1098-T reporting payments of qualified tuition and related expenses received from, or on behalf of, the student and furnish a copy to the student. 
2. In addition, each postsecondary educational institution must include its EIN on Form 1098-T.  This is a provision of 26 U.S.C. § 6050S.

At this point, you may need to inquire to the school to see if they participate in FASA and if they have an EIN. If they have a valid EIN, you may be able to claim an educational credit without the 1098-T.  Without it, you wouldn't be able to claim the AOTC. You might also check here to see if your university is listed.

@Mango-muncher

[Mango-muncher]

Thanks.  We can't claim the AOTC because TT doesn't allow foreign universities without an EIN number (or valid state, school zip code) as acceptable.  I have tried making up EIN number and also tried saying foreign university but neither of those pass the TT federal review at the end.  The only solution I have is not to claim the AOTC and then TT is happy.

[DaveF1006]

Keep in mind, this is not a Turbo Tax requirement. This is a requirement under Internal Revenue Code §25A. 

Eligible foreign educational institutions (please review my previous post regarding foreign school eligibility) are not exempt from the EIN requirement under §25A just because they're foreign. in addition, the requirement for a 1098-T applies equally to both domestic and foreign eligible educational institutes.

While the foreign school may not otherwise be required to apply for an EIN, it is imperative that do  if the school wants its US students to be able to claim the credit. 

I know this isn't much comfort to you but Foreign Schools as well as US Schools need to comply with Internal Revenue Code §25A in order for students or their parents to claim an educational credit. There are no exceptions to this rule.

@Mango-muncher 

[Mango-muncher]

Thanks, but I go back to the point that TT has a bug.  Understanding that I can't claim AOTC - as I don't have an EIN for a foreign university,  means that TT shouldn't try to 'maximise my benefits' by claiming AOTC when I don't have an EIN.  TT should automatically exclude me from even trying for AOTC as there is no EIN number.  It took me a long time to figure out that the lack of EIN caused all these 'federal review errors'.  I should be able to enter a foreign University with no EIN number and not be required to try to claim for the AOTC credit.