How me and my wife (both full time students) can claim American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) thorugh tubotax?

[amirrezaemamian]

form 8863 is not added by default

[Hal_Al]

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)

After doing the interview for the first spouse-student,  you'll reach a screen titled "Your Education Expenses Summary".  Click the "Add a student" button to add the other student-spouse.

Grad students are not eligible for the AOTC, but are eligible for the Lifetime Learning Credit. The same interview is used. 

[AmyC]

You will need to go to the federal deductions section and enter the 1098-T and associated expenses for each of you. 

The AOTC requires that you are at least half time while the LLC does not have that requirement.

For the AOTC, pub 970 states:

Student qualifications.

Generally, you can claim the American opportunity credit for a student only if all of the following four requirements are met.

As of the beginning of 2024, the student had not completed the first 4 years of postsecondary education (generally, the freshman through senior years of college), as determined by the eligible educational institution. For this purpose, don't include academic credit awarded solely because of the student's performance on proficiency examinations.

The American opportunity credit has not been claimed by you or anyone else (see below) for this student for any 4 tax years before 2024. If the American opportunity credit has been claimed for this student for any 3 or fewer tax years before 2024, this requirement is met.

For at least one academic period beginning (or treated as beginning) in 2024, the student both:

Was enrolled in a program that leads to a degree, certificate, or other recognized educational credential; and

Carried at least one-half the normal full-time workload for their course of study.

The standard for what is half of the normal full-time workload is determined by each eligible educational institution. However, the standard may not be lower than any of those established by the U.S. Department of Education under the Higher Education Act of 1965.

For 2024, treat an academic period beginning in the first 3 months of 2025 as if it began in 2024 if qualified education expenses for the student were paid in 2024 for that academic period. See Prepaid expenses, later.

As of the end of 2024, the student had not been convicted of a federal or state felony for possessing or distributing a controlled substance.

Verify your eligibility at Education credit - Am I eligible to claim it? or view What education tax credits are available? TurboTax article for additional help.