American Opportunity Tax Credit

[twagg6123]

I am pursing my first bachelor's degree. I have attended other colleges with limited credits earned. However, I am now enrolled in a bachelor's program and am considered a sophomore with the number of credits I have, and I have never claimed the AOTC. My question is am I eligible to claim this credit even though I have technically attended college for over 4 years? Is it literally the first four years of attempts or is it where you are in your degree?

[Critter-3]

The rule states ... you can use the AOTC  on 4 tax returns where you have NOT YET gotten a BS degree as of 1/1 of that tax year and you are at least a 1/2 time student.  So if it takes you 10 years to get a 4 year degree you can use the AOTC for any 4 tax years that you qualify to use it.

[Carl]

Looks like you're not eligible for the AOTC. To qualify to must meet all of the below requirements.

• Be pursuing a degree or other recognized education credential
• Be enrolled at least half time for at least one academic period^* beginning in the tax year
• Not have finished the first four years of higher education at the beginning of the tax year
• Not have claimed the AOTC or the former Hope credit for more than four tax years
• Not have a felony drug conviction at the end of the tax year

Note the highlighted item says nothing about having claimed it as an undergraduate. It merely states that you must not have finished the first 4 years of college.

[Hal_Al]

It looks like there are two conflicting replies.  I agree with Critter-3, for purposes of claiming the AOTC, you have NOT yet completed 4 years of schooling.