Am I qualified for the American Opportunity Credit?
Taxpayers with a modified adjusted gross income of $80,000 or less ($160,000 or less for joint filers) are potentially eligible for the full credit and the credit is reduced ratably up for modified adjusted gross incomes up to $90,000.
To be eligible for AOTC, the student must: 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.
What expenses are eligible for the American Opportunity credit? Qualified education expenses include amounts spent tuition and required fees and materials for course enrollment. This includes books, supplies, and equipment needed for a course of study.
The 1000 came from the 8863. While the total amount of the AOC is worth up to $2,500, only $1,000 of the AOC is actually refundable. This means you can use the other portion to reduce your tax liability if you have any. But, only $1,000 can be directly added to your refund without any tax liability.
To deduct student loan interest, you must have taken out the loan to pay education expenses for yourself, your spouse, or someone who was your dependent at the time. You aren't eligible for the deduction if you (or your spouse if you're married filing a joint return) can be claimed as a dependent by someone else.
A full time unmarried student, under age 24, even if you don't qualify as a dependent, is only eligible for the refundable portion of the American Opportunity Credit if he supports himself by working. You cannot be supporting yourself on parental support, 529 plans or student loans & grants.
Income Limits for the American Opportunity Tax Credit | ||
---|---|---|
Single | Married Filing Jointly | |
Full Credit | $80,000 or less | $160,000 or less |
Partial Credit | More than $80,000 but less than $90,000 | More than $160,000 but less than $180,000 |
No Credit | More than $90,000 | More than $180,000 |
How do I apply for American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC)? To claim AOTC, you must file a federal tax return, complete the Form 8863 and attach the completed form to your Form 1040 or Form 1040A. Use the information on the Form 1098-T Tuition Statement, received from the educational institution the student attended.
- Room and board.
- Transportation.
- Insurance.
- Medical expenses.
- Student fees, unless required as a condition of enrollment or attendance.
- Same expenses paid with tax-free educational assistance.
Qualifying expenses for the AOTC include tuition, fees, and course materials. Course materials include textbooks, supplies, and equipment. Amounts spent on living expenses (room and board, transportation, and health care) are not eligible.
What is the American Opportunity Credit for $4000?
The American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) provides college students or their parents with an annual tax credit up to $2,500 of eligible expenses out of the first $4,000. Students are only eligible for the first four years of college, and it requires at least half-time enrollment.
The Hope Credit covered only expenses from the first two years of post-secondary education. AOTC expands that to four years. Also, AOTC allows taxpayers to claim credit for any money they spend to purchase course-related books, supplies and equipment.
The American Opportunity Tax Credit lets you claim all of the first $2,000 you spend on eligible education expenses, plus 25% of the next $2,000, for a total of $2,500. Qualified expenses include: Tuition. Mandatory school fees.
You don't need to "prove it", when you file your tax return. You claim the credit on form 8863, then lines 50 & 68 of form 1040, based on your own records. If you have an IRS letter denying the credit, you need to explain the circ*mstances.
When a taxpayer is eligible for either the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit or the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC), the taxpayer should consider claiming the AOTC, since it provides a greater amount of tax savings per dollar of tuition and textbook expenses.
To claim a tax credit on your higher education expenses, you (or your spouse or dependent) must have enrolled at a qualifying college or university and paid for eligible expenses. If your filing status is married filing separately, you are not eligible for any education credits.
What is the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC)? The AOTC is a tax credit worth up to $2,500 per year for an eligible college student. It is refundable up to $1,000. If you are a college student filing your own return, you may claim this credit a maximum of four times (i.e. once per year for four years).
Yes, higher education expenses paid with the proceeds of a government-subsidized loan may qualify for the credit. Additionally, you claim the credit in the year in which you pay the expenses, not in the year in which you repay the loan.
The American Opportunity Education Credit is available to be claimed for a maximum of 4 years per eligible student. This includes the number of times you claimed the Hope Education Credit (which was used for tax years prior to 2009).
Benefits of Claiming a College Student as a Dependent
In addition to tax credits, deductions like the student loan interest deduction may be available. Altogether, these tax benefits have the potential to save you thousands of dollars, which can in turn help pay for your child's education.
Can a 23 year old claim American Opportunity Credit?
If the taxpayer was under age 24 at the end of the year and certain conditions apply, they may not qualify to receive the refundable portion of the American Opportunity Credit.
However, to claim a college student as a dependent on your taxes, the Internal Revenue Service has determined that the qualifying child or qualifying relative must: Be younger than the taxpayer (or spouse if MFJ) and: Be under age 19, Under age 24 and a full-time student for at least five months of the year.
The basic difference between the two credits:
(There are no such restrictions in the Lifetime Learning Credit. Elective courses to improve one's job skills will qualify.) The American Opportunity Credit limitations apply per STUDENT, while the Lifetime Learning Credit limits apply per TAXPAYER.
Claiming the AOTC previously – You can only claim the American Opportunity Tax Credit four times per student. The Hope Credit, a predecessor of the American Opportunity Credit available through 2009, will also count in the four available uses of the American Opportunity Credit.
- Bad debts.
- Canceled debt on home.
- Capital losses.
- Donations to charity.
- Gains from sale of your home.
- Gambling losses.
- Home mortgage interest.
- Income, sales, real estate and personal property taxes.
References
- https://www.irs.gov/credits-and-deductions-for-individuals
- https://apps.irs.gov/app/understandingTaxes/hows/tax_tutorials/mod10/tt_mod10_03.jsp
- https://www.taxslayer.com/blog/tax-rules-for-claiming-a-dependent-who-works/
- https://studentaid.gov/resources/tax-benefits
- https://flyfin.tax/blog/when-should-i-not-claim-my-child-as-a-dependent
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/american-opportunity-tax-credit.asp
- https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/college-education/discussion/how-do-i-know-if-i-received-the-american-opportunity-or-hope-credit/00/684574
- https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/college-education/discussion/where-can-i-find-out-how-many-years-of-the-american-opportunity-credit-i-have-claimed/00/36420
- https://www.irs.gov/publications/p501
- https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/family/how-do-i-claim-someone-as-a-dependent-on-taxes/L9kSVo4aE
- https://www.bestcolleges.com/blog/college-tax-benefits-students-parents/
- https://smartasset.com/taxes/hope-credit
- https://www.savingforcollege.com/article/lifetime-learning-tax-credit
- https://www.etax.com/help/doc/hope-lifetime.htm
- https://myscholly.com/taxes-for-college-students/
- https://www.taxoutreach.org/tax-credits/edu-credit/
- https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-credits-deductions/discussion/what-am-i-doing-wrong-in-trying-to-claim-the-american-opportunity-credit/00/2678757
- https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/5938
- https://www.laconiadailysun.com/business/local/can-i-claim-a-college-student-as-a-tax-dependent/article_75a84920-95c6-11ed-a018-6b64be25927a.html
- https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/college-and-education/what-is-the-american-opportunity-tax-credit/L1Mzj4ybX
- https://www.savingforcollege.com/article/college-tax-credits-for-parents-and-students
- https://www.marca.com/en/lifestyle/us-news/personal-finance/2022/11/01/636175c3268e3ea35f8b45c5.html
- https://www.hrblock.com/tax-center/filing/credits/american-opportunity-tax-credit/
- https://apps.irs.gov/app/vita/content/globalmedia/4491_education_credits.pdf
- https://www.bestcolleges.com/blog/claim-college-student-as-dependent/
- https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/college-education/discussion/how-to-prove-i-get-education-credit-line50-and-american-opportunity-credit-line-68/00/42930
- https://www.hrblock.com/tax-center/filing/dependents/college-age-dependents-and-financial-support/
- https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/aotc
- https://thecollegeinvestor.com/19248/parents-claimed-me-taxes/
- https://greenlight.com/learning-center/earning/when-should-i-stop-claiming-my-child-as-a-dependent
- https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/college-students-should-study-up-on-these-two-tax-credits
- https://www.quora.com/Is-it-possible-for-someone-to-be-claimed-as-a-dependent-and-still-file-their-own-tax-return-What-are-the-benefits-of-doing-so
- https://www.lendingtree.com/student/education-tax-credits/
- https://smartasset.com/taxes/american-opportunity-tax-credit
- https://finance.uw.edu/sfs/scholarships-taxes/student-tax-information/education-tax-credits/frequently-asked-questions
- https://hope.temple.edu/newsroom/hope-blog/students-can-get-money-back-when-they-file-taxes
- https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/college-education/discussion/i-didn-t-get-american-opportunity-credit-but-i-know-i-am-eligible/00/3000088
- https://apps.irs.gov/app/vita/content/globalmedia/overview_of_the_rules_for_claiming_4012.pdf
- https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/education-credits-aotc-llc
- https://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/personal-finance/american-opportunity-credit
- https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/education-credits-questions-and-answers
- https://www.irs.gov/faqs/itemized-deductions-standard-deduction/autos-computers-electronic-devices/autos-computers-electronic-devices
- https://www.taxact.com/support/14939/form-8863-may-not-qualify-for-refundable-portion-of-american-opportunity-credit
- https://support.taxslayer.com/hc/en-us/articles/360015898611-How-many-times-can-I-claim-the-American-Opportunity-Credit
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/taxes/modified-adjusted-gross-income-magi
- https://fastercapital.com/content/Beyond-Undergrad--Graduate-School-and-the-American-Opportunity-Tax-Credit.html
- https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/college-and-education/take-advantage-of-two-education-tax-credits/L7Vi7FQxd
- https://www.eitc.irs.gov/other-refundable-credits-toolkit/compare-education-credits/compare-education-credits
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/janetberryjohnson/2016/02/12/dependent-children-the-child-tax-credit-and-exemption-explained/
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/education-credit.asp
- https://finance.yahoo.com/personal-finance/education-tax-credit-162959157.html
- https://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/taxes/articles/tax-filing-tips-for-college-students
- https://www.irs.gov/faqs/childcare-credit-other-credits
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/loans/student-loans/education-tax-credits
- https://en.as.com/latest_news/requirements-to-receive-up-to-7000-for-the-earned-income-tax-credit-refund-eitc-n-5/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Opportunity_Tax_Credit
- https://www.fs.uci.edu/tax-information/about-tax-credits.php
- https://smartasset.com/taxes/claiming-a-dependent
- https://jakcpa.com/school-supplies-dont-miss-tax-benefits/
- https://www.appily.com/guidance/articles/paying-for-college/american-opportunity-tax-credit
- https://studentaccounts.appstate.edu/tax-information/explanation-irs-form-1098-t
- https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/college-education/discussion/i-am-hoping-someone-can-explain-why-i-only-got-to-use-1-000-of-the-american-opportunity-credit-on-my/00/736265
- https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/understanding-the-credit-for-other-dependents
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/fulltimestudent.asp
- https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc513
- https://www.jacksonhewitt.com/tax-help/tax-tips-topics/education/guide-to-filing-taxes-as-a-college-student/
- https://www.taxslayer.com/blog/education-tax-credits-college-students/
- https://www.taxact.com/support/21859/form-1098-t-who-enters-this-in-taxact
- https://www.taxfyle.com/blog/american-opportunity-tax-credit-and-lifetime-learning-credit
- https://www.taxact.com/support/949/american-opportunity-credit-first-four-years
- https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/college-and-education/deduction-for-higher-education/L0krerdUK
- https://money.com/what-are-education-tax-credits-and-how-to-claim/
- https://www.calu.edu/inside/student-resources/student-accounts/american-opportunity-tax-credit.aspx
- https://www.zdnet.com/finance/taxes/american-opportunity-tax-credit-explained/
- https://www.irs.gov/faqs/childcare-credit-other-credits/education-credits
- https://www.thebalancemoney.com/what-is-a-full-time-student-for-tax-purposes-5219240
- https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-credits-deductions/expenses-qualify-american-opportunity-tax-credit/L5HozamSd_US_en_US
- https://www.taxslayer.com/blog/can-claim-student-dependent/
- https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/family/rules-for-claiming-a-dependent-on-your-tax-return/L8LODbx94
- https://www.hrblock.com/tax-center/filing/adjustments-and-deductions/what-school-expenses-are-tax-deductible/