Thank you, Kathryn.
I believe this is the kind of information that I needed.
I see what you mean when you say that table 2.1 on page 15 is contradicted on page 14. It seems as if the tip on page 15 is referring to refunds from the school from a previous year reducing the credit you can take this year, if you have already filed a return. So that does not apply to me if that's what it means. However, page 14's statement ,
"Qualified education expenses paid
in 2019 for an academic period that begins in the first 3
months of 2020 can be used in figuring an education
credit for 2019 only."
That seems to specifically forbid what I am talking about in Question 5.
However, the rest of your reply is indeed good news!
Thank you so much!
