"This is $2500 tax credit for student.".
Probably not; it's usually a $2500 credit for the student's parent.
There's a new urban myth among college students that says they can get a $1000 from the government just for filing a tax form. For most of them, they simply aren't eligible. A full time unmarried student, under age 24, is only eligible for the refundable portion of the American Opportunity Credit if he supports himself by working. You cannot be supporting yourself on parental support, 529 plans or student loans & grants. You must have actually paid tuition, not had it paid by scholarships & grants.
You cannot claim a credit if you are, or can be, claimed as a dependent by someone else.
You don't get a form 8863, from the IRS. You get a form 1098-T from your college.
