You can claim the AOTC four times.
Also, you are only eligible during the first 4 years of college education or its equivalent, even if you don't get your degree in 4 years.
Completion of first 4 years. A student has completed the first 4 years of postsecondary education if the institu- tion at which the student is enrolled awards the student 4 years of academic credit at that institution for coursework completed by the student before 2020. This student gen- erally wouldn't be an eligible student for purposes of the American opportunity credit.
You will have to determine how this applies to you.
For example, suppose you were enrolled full-time from Sept 2016 through May 2020. However, you withdrew in the Spring of 2020 and were not awarded credit. In this case, you were eligible for the AOTC 4 times, on your 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 tax return, or on your 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 return. If you claimed the credit 4 times already, that's all you get. If you only claimed 3 years before now, you are still eligible on your 2020 return if you attended full time in 2020, even if you did not get credit. However, if you don't claim the AOTC for 2020, you would be eligible to claim it in 2021, because you were not awarded credit for the 4th year by your university.
