topic Error in Determining Lifetime Learning Credit in Education

Error in Determining Lifetime Learning Credit

bballsuns — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 05:46:04 GMT

The software indicates I am not eligible for the Lifetime Learning Credit despite the fact that I meet all eligibility requirements. The response states that I can be either claimed as a dependent on someone else's return (not correct) or there are no net qualified educational expenses (not correct). My situation is the same as in 2021 when I was eligible and received this credit. I noticed that my 2021 data for this credit did not carry over to my 2022 return. Could this be the reason for the error?

Re: Error in Determining Lifetime Learning Credit

Hal_Al — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 12:59:31 GMT

Q. Could this be the reason for the error?

A. Possibly. Something you expected to automatically be entered, didn't get entered.

You've answered something wrong in the interview. You must have a 1098-T or answer that you qualify for an exception. You must enter the school's EIN.

Some times, it best to delete the 1098-T and start over. Or you can go through the entire education interview until you reach a screen titled "Your Education Expenses Summary". Click edit next to the student's name. That should take you to a screen “Here’s your Education Summary”. Go thru every section and check your answers.

If that doesn't work, click delete next to the student's name. You'll then get the "Your Education Expenses Summary" screen again. Click the "Add a student" button.

Re: Error in Determining Lifetime Learning Credit

bballsuns — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 20:23:01 GMT

Thank you for your quick response. I tried both your suggestions but received the same response of non-eligibility.

After reviewing other recent TTC posts, I found my situation and answer. As a student with limited income, I did not have enough taxable income or taxes owed to offset the LLC credit. The program's logic should have included that as a possible explanation.

I still do not understand why my 2021 LLC data did not carry-over to show in the 2-year comparison chart. It's absence led me to incorrectly assume this was a factor in determining my 2022 eligibility. Any other thoughts about this? Thanks in advance for your assistance.