Why sign in to the Community?

  • Submit a question
  • Check your notifications
Sign in to the Community or Sign in to TurboTax and start working on your taxes
Returning Member
posted Oct 12, 2019 11:43:23 AM

I DON'T WANT to claim the American Opportunity Tax Credit

I don't want to claim this tax credit, even though I qualify for it. How do tell turbotax to suppress this option? 

0 10 1263
10 Replies
Level 15
Oct 12, 2019 12:10:33 PM

You can switch to the Lifetime Learning Credit instead by entering "letme" onto the search topics box.

Returning Member
Oct 12, 2019 12:28:32 PM

Thanks for the help but TurboTax won't let me get to the education credit page. Just zaps to the wrapping up tax credit page. Inputting "letme" is also only giving me a bunch of vaguely related help pages.

Returning Member
Oct 12, 2019 12:36:28 PM

Entering "letme" without quotes has no effects. This approach does not work. thank you for your time though

Level 15
Oct 12, 2019 1:20:45 PM

Then you are not doing it right.   See this help article:

 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/accessing/help/how-do-i-override-the-turbotax-education-optimizer-selection/01/26150

 

It should take you to the "Education and Credits" section and ask if you want to change your deduction.

Returning Member
Oct 12, 2019 2:37:40 PM

It could be a system thing, operating system/browser, but then again am not sure.  I can bring out other forms for editing except AOC. Still, thanks for the help. 

Level 15
Oct 12, 2019 5:10:50 PM

It is not a form that you edit. It just gets to the point in the interview to change the AOC option and that is the ONLY way to change it in the online version.

Level 15
Oct 12, 2019 5:32:23 PM

At this point just lie to the program and say you were in jail ... this info doesn't go to the IRS it will simply stop the credit.  

Level 15
Oct 12, 2019 5:40:43 PM

@Critter  The OP said they don't want the AOC, they probably still qualify for the Lifetime Learning Credit.  OP did not say that they did not want that either.

Level 15
Oct 12, 2019 6:48:14 PM

The "letme" option should get you the these screens:

 

Level 15
Oct 12, 2019 7:05:29 PM

You are not required to claim a credit that  your are allowed.  But not claiming it doesn't allow somebody else to claim it.  For example if you are the parent that is allowed to claim the credit, you cannot forego claiming it to allow the student other other parent to claim it. They must qualify. The general rule, if you qualify to claim it; they don't qualify.