We took American Opportunity Credit for 4 years. College cashed Spring 2019 check Dec 26 2018 so in 2018 1098T. Anyway to take Lifetime Learning Credit for Spring 2019?

[rldash]

We took the college American Opportunity Tax Credit for my son for 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. Unfortunately, the college cashed his Spring 2019 check tuition on Dec 26 2018 so it was included in his 2018 1098T. Is there anyway for us to take the college Lifetime Learning Credit for his Spring 2019 semester?

[NCperson]

by the way, you can only take AOTC for 4 years.  you could not take it for 2019 in any event, 

[AnnetteB6]

Yes, the Lifetime Learning Credit would be available to you for 2019 expenses.

Since you have taken the American Opportunity Credit (AOTC) for four years already, you will not be able to claim it again for 2019 (as noted by NCperson).  However, if you do have education expenses that you incurred during 2019, those can be claimed using the Lifetime Learning Credit instead of the American Opportunity Tax Credit.

The expenses are entered into TurboTax in the same section.  You will indicate that you have claimed the AOTC for the last four years and TurboTax will give you a recommendation for claiming the Lifetime Learning Credit instead.

@rldash

[Hal_Al]

Q. Is there anyway for us to take the  Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC) for his Spring 2019 semester tuition, if the payment was made in December 2018?

A. No.  The LLC , or any other credit or deduction, must be claimed for the year paid, even if the courses were for the Jan term of the following year.