Q. Can I claim for American opportunity tax credit if I didn't claim it in last year?
A. Yes. But, only for 2023 expenses. You may not "carry over" any unclaimed tuition from 2022 and claim it on your 2023 tax return.
If you failed to claim a credit, that you were eligible for, on your 2022 return, you can file an amended 2022 return to claim it now. The American Opportunity Credit (AOTC) is 40% refundable, meaning you could get up to $1000, even if you had no tax liability in 2022.
You are limited to claiming the AOTC four times in each student-dependent's undergrad years. Undergrad degrees usually take five calendar years to complete. So, you may not want to use one of your four times for 2022, if you can get more in another year. The AOTC is worth a maximum of $2500.
