AOTC is for post-secondary education only that includes colleges, universities, and vocational schools. It includes all post-secondary educational institutions that are eligible to participate in a student aid program run by the Department of Education. Not all eligible schools participate in the financial aid program. If not listed, the school can answer if it is eligible to participate.
The eligible student must have attended at least half time for an academic period. The school determines full time status and the length of an academic period. If the student does not have a Form 1098-T PDF , ask questions to determine how long the student attended, number of courses and what the school considers full time. Ask enough questions until you feel comfortable the student qualifies and let your clients know that if the IRS audits them, they need to have documents supporting their claim. See the Form 866-H-AOC PDF and Form 866-H-AOTC-MAX PDF for examples of the documentation needed. Form 886-H-AOC (SP) PDF is also available in Spanish.
See the Compare Education Credits chart for information on who is a qualifying student and for expenses paid or considered paid by your client for purposes of the AOTC.
Remember, No Double Benefits Allowed. Ask how the expenses were paid: was it from a non-taxable grant or scholarship, a qualified tuition plan, etc.
See what are Qualified Education Expenses for more information on what qualifies and what does not qualify as expenses for Education Benefits.
AOTC is only available for four years for each eligible student. This includes any year the Hope credit was claimed for the same student.
Find out who qualifies for the Education Credits
Find the latest news for refundable credits on What's Hot?
See the AOTC and the LLC criteria side by side on our Compare Education Credits chart
Whether you are involved in education, interact with students or parents of students or are a tax return preparer, find out What You Need to Know about AOTC and LLC
AOTC is for post secondary education only that includes colleges, universities, vocational schools. It includes all post secondary educational institutions that are eligible to participate in a student aid program run by the Department of Education. Not all eligible schools participate in the financial aid program. If not listed, the school can answer if it is eligible to participate.
The eligible student must have attended at least half time for an academic period. The school determines full time status and the length of an academic period. If the student does not have a Form 1098-T PDF , ask questions to determine how long the student attended, number of courses, what the school considers full time. Ask enough questions until you feel comfortable the student qualifies and let your clients know if the IRS audits them, they need to have documents supporting their claim. See the Forms 866-H-AOC PDF and 866-H-AOC-MAX PDF for examples of the documentation needed. Also available in Spanish, PDF Form 886-H-AOC (SP) PDF .
See the Compare Education Credits and Tuition and Fees Deduction chart for information on who is a qualifying student and for expenses paid or considered paid by your client for purposes of the AOTC.
Remember, No Double Benefits Allowed ask how the expenses were paid, was it from a non-taxable grant or scholarship, a qualified tuition plan, etc.
See what are Qualified Education Expenses and for more information on what qualifies and what does not qualify as expenses for Education Benefits.
AOTC is only available for four years for each eligible student. This includes any year the Hope credit was claimed for the same student.
Find out who qualifies for the Education Credits
Find the latest news for refundable credits on Hot Topics for Refundable Credits
See the AOTC, the LLC and the Tuition Deduction criteria side by side on our Compare Education Credits and Tuition and Fees Deduction chart
Whether you are involved in education, interact with students or parents of students or are a tax return preparer, find out What You Need to Know about AOTC and LLC