You claim that payment in tax year 2016.
Enter the 1098-T as the school reported it, but use your school student account statement to make sure you get credit for everything that was paid to the school in 2016. Add any other expenses, such as books and supplies, on the additional education expenses screens.
If you need to add to the 1098-T, you can click on the link "What if this is not what I paid to the school?" below box 2 on the 1098-T screen and enter what was paid. This includes scholarships, grants, loans, gifts, and cash. Make sure you keep receipts and statements with your tax file.
(see screen shot below)
According to the IRS:
"Qualified education expenses paid in 2016
for an academic period that begins in the first 3 months of 2017 can be used in
figuring an education credit for 2016 only. See Academic period, earlier. For
example,
if you pay $2,000 in December 2016 for qualified tuition for the 2017
winter quarter that begins in January 2017, you can use that $2,000 in figuring
an education credit for 2016 only
(if you meet all the other requirements). “
"The American opportunity credit is based on adjusted
qualified education expenses you pay for yourself, your spouse, or a dependent
for whom you claim an exemption on your tax return. Generally, the credit is
allowed for adjusted qualified education expenses paid in 2016 for an academic
period beginning in 2016 or beginning in the first 3 months of 2017. For
example,
if you paid $1,500 in December 2016 for qualified tuition for the
spring 2017
semester beginning January 2017,
you can use that $1,500 in
figuring your 2016 credit.
"
