I started college in Fall 2021 and was not claimed as a dependent. I had no wages but received financial aid and did not file taxes. 1098-T: Box 1: $59K, Box 5: $62K, Excess scholarship taxable: $3 (below the filing threshold)
I recently learned I could have claimed the refundable AOTC by reallocating $4K of my scholarship to room & board, increasing my taxable income to $7K. This wouldn’t change my federal/state tax owed but would allow me to get the $1K refundable credit. Can I do that if file my 2021 federal tax return now and without filing the state return (MA)? Is that allowed?
