To be eligible for education credits the institution must be an "eligible institution." Some foreign universities are, most aren't, which precludes education credits for costs paid there.
An eligible educational institution is a college eligible to participate in a student aid program administered by the U.S. Department of Education. It includes virtually all accredited public, nonprofit, and proprietary (privately owned profit-making) post-secondary institutions in the US. The educational institution should be able to tell you if it is an eligible educational institution.
You can do an on-line search for eligible institutions. (Note when searching that the drop down menu for "state" includes areas such as Canada and "Foreign Countries." Only the Government would list Canada and other foreign countries as states!)
You do not need a 1098-T to claim an education credit. You may use your own records, to calculate the credit, if your school is an "eligible institution"
You say this.. but do not say how... It has no 1098-T and it has no US Federal ID Number...
The university must be an eligible education institution. Per the IRS, as such, Check to see if the school issued a Form 1098-T, Tuition Statement. Eligible educational institutions are required to issue students Form 1098-T, Tuition Statement (some exceptions apply).
What is an eligible educational institution?
"some exceptions apply"
THIS is what I need... Foreign Colleges DO NOT issue 1098-T's OR have Federal ID #'s if they are not participating in FAFSA... or any other US Student Aid programs.
This is a 6+ year old thread. Some things have changed . The big one: You cannot claim the American Opportunity Credit if the school is unable to provide a U.S. Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN or FEIN). You can still claim the Lifetime Learning Credit if the foreign school is on Dept. of Education (DE) list.
You enter in the 1098-T section. But, after answering no to actually having a 1098-T, you answer yes to qualifying for an exception.