American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC)

What Is the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC)?

The American Opportunity Tax Credit is a tax credit for qualified education expenses associated with the first four years of a student’s post-secondary education. It replaced the Hope Credit in 2009. The AOTC can be claimed on the tax return of a student, a person claiming the student as a dependent, or a spouse making post-secondary education payments.

Understanding the AOTC

The American Opportunity Tax Credit was introduced in 2009, specifically for students attending a post-secondary institution. Slated to run until December 2017, it was not changed under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) signed into law on Dec. 22, 2017, by President Donald Trump. Thus, it continued to be in effect. However, there were changes to personal exemptions and the dependent child tax credit that may be relevant to some taxpayers.

With the AOTC, a household with a qualifying student can receive a maximum $2,500 tax credit annually. Parents claiming their student-child who is in school full time as a dependent can also claim a $500 credit for a child aged 19 to 24.

The AOTC helps with educational expenses such as tuition and other expenses related to a student's coursework. Eligible students can claim 100% of the first $2,000 spent on school expenses, and another 25% of the next $2,000. This means the maximum amount a qualifying student can claim with the AOTC is $2,500: (100% x $2,000) + (25% x $2,000). In other words, $2,500 worth of credit can be received to offset $4,000 in educational costs.

In general, tax credits can be refundable or nonrefundable. The AOTC is partially refundable. It offers 40% of the credit back to taxpayers if their taxes are reduced to zero. This means that if a taxpayer has no tax liability for the year, they can still receive 40% of their eligible credit (up to $1,000) as a refund.

Expenses associated with the AOTC cannot be used with any other tax breaks that may also apply.

AOTC Requirements

Which students are eligible?

According to the IRS, a qualified student:

Check out the IRS website for a more detailed list of who is considered an eligible student.

What expenses are eligible?

The AOTC can be claimed by eligible taxpayers for four years of post-secondary education. According to the IRS, a qualified educational expense includes tuition paid to the school, as well as expenses for books, supplies, and equipment that may have been bought from external sources. These expenses can be paid for with student loans to qualify, but not with scholarships or grants. Room and board, medical expenses, and insurance do not qualify for the AOTC. Expenses paid with funds from a 529 savings plan also do not qualify.

Eligible expenses are detailed in Publication 970. Students must receive a Form 1098-T.

What income range is eligible?

A single taxpayer has to have a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) that is less than $80,000 to qualify for the AOTC. A MAGI greater than $80,000 but less than $90,000 will have a partial credit applied at a reduced rate. A taxpayer with a MAGI over $90,000 would not qualify for the AOTC. A married couple filing jointly must report less than $160,000 to get a full credit and less than $180,000 to get a partial credit.

MAGI Eligibility for American Opportunity Tax Credit

Married, Filing Jointly

Full Credit

$80,000 or less

$160,000 or less

Partial Credit

More than $80,000, less than $90,000

More than $160,000, less than $180,000

Not Eligible

More than $90,000

More than $180,000

AOTC vs. Lifetime Learning Credit

The AOTC and the Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC) are two popular tax breaks that taxpayers with educational expenses can take advantage of on their annual tax return. The LLC also has a similar structure to the AOTC.

The LLC differs from the AOTC in a number of ways. A maximum of 20% of up to $10,000 of expenses ($2,000) for tuition and other educational costs can be claimed using the LLC. The LLC is not limited to students pursuing a degree or studying at least part-time. Instead, it covers a broader group of students — including part-time, full-time, undergraduate, graduate, and courses for skill development. The LLC is nonrefundable, meaning once a taxpayer's bill has been reduced to zero, there will be no refund on any credit balance.

Tax filers eligible for both the AOTC and the LLC should assess their individual situation to determine which tax credit provides the greatest benefit. The partial refundability of the AOTC can be an important factor. Some taxpayers may only qualify for the LLC, which makes the decision easy.

The American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) and the Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC) cannot both be claimed in the same tax year.

Other Tax Breaks for Education

Federal and state governments support higher education expenses through a number of tax credits, tax deductions, and tax-advantaged savings plans. Each of these programs can help to lower income tax liability.

Beyond the AOTC and the LLC, deductions and 529 plans can be worthwhile options. Student loan interest is deductible once it begins to be applied. Other educational expense deductions may also be available, including certain itemizations for business deductions and deductions for self-employed workers.

National and state-sponsored 529 savings plans also exist. Taxes are not paid on 529 distributions for educational costs subject to some terms and conditions.

Example of the AOTC

David is a full-time undergraduate college student at a four-year institution. He also works for a law firm. His parents have a substantial 529 savings account in place, but it doesn’t cover all of David’s expenses. David also has a student loan with deferred payments and interest until after his graduation.

David and his family have planned to use student loans for his tuition and 529 savings for his room and board. David receives his annual 1098-T statement from his college. Since he is working on his own, he plans to take the AOTC himself. He is eligible for both the AOTC and the LLC, but he chooses the AOTC because it provides the largest credit and is partially refundable. David is just above the required limit for filing an annual tax return.

David paid his tuition with his student loan, which is allowable for the AOTC. The AOTC helps to alleviate any tax that he owes, and he also gets a partial refund. David doesn’t owe anything on his loans until after he graduates. The money distributed from his 529 was tax-free because it was used for room and board, which is a qualified 529 expense.