Education expenses

[67Woo]

My 2020 turbotax program will not allow me to use my sons education expenses for the American Opportunity Credit.  He has only been in college for two years but he did take college classes while in High School his last two years and he did receive college credit for these classes for which we paid.  Also there was a 1098-T for these two years.  The AOC credit deduction dollar amounts for the limited classes taken in High School are minimal (hundreds of dollars) in comparison the the amounts when fully enrolled in college this past year.  Is there a means to amend a previous tax return (2 years prior) to reflect theses prior expenses to be deducted using the Lifetime Learning Credit instead.  Then to use the current expenses for 2020 for the American Opportunity Credit?  Currently without this credit it will cost me approximately $2k more in owed taxes.

[KrisD15]

Yes, you can amend for the partial years and claim Lifetime Learner's Credit or the Tuition and Fees Deduction so that you can use the American Opportunity Tax Credit for the years you have higher education expenses. 

Since this means amending a prior year, I would suggest you do that first. 

You have 3 years from the date you filed your return (or 2 years after you paid the tax due, whichever is later) to file an amended return.

Please click here for how to amend a return you already filed

[67Woo]

If the first return I need to amend was 2016 which would be filed April 15, 2017 because I owed taxes, am I just out of luck?

Thanks.

[AmyC]

Yes. 2017 is the farthest back you can amend for a refund, if filed by April 15, 2021.