Education Tax Credits
Showing 2 verified credits in this category
Estimates only — always confirm exact eligibility on IRS.gov or with a tax professional. See how we verify our data.
Up to $2,500/year, partly refundable
Check on IRS.gov ↗American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC)
IRS · Refundable
Helps offset tuition and related expenses for the first four years of college, with up to $1,000 refundable even if you owe no tax.
- ✓Student must be pursuing a degree, enrolled at least half-time
- ✓Limited to the first four years of higher education
- ✓Cannot have claimed AOTC (or the former Hope credit) for more than 4 years total
- ✓Credit phases out between the income thresholds and the limit above them
Max CreditUp to $2,500 per eligible student per year ($1,000 refundable)
Income RangeFull credit up to $80,000 (single) or $160,000 (married filing jointly) MAGI
How to ClaimClaim it on Form 8863 attached to your federal tax return, using your 1098-T from the school.
Up to $2,000 per return
Check on IRS.gov ↗Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC)
IRS · Non-refundable
A tax credit for tuition and fees at any stage of higher education — undergraduate, graduate, or professional courses to improve job skills — with no limit on the number of years claimed.
- ✓No limit on the number of years you can claim it, unlike the AOTC's 4-year cap
- ✓Does not require being enrolled at least half-time or pursuing a degree
- ✓Covers graduate school and courses taken to acquire or improve job skills
- ✓Nonrefundable — can reduce your tax bill to zero but won't generate a refund beyond that
Max CreditUp to $2,000 per tax return (20% of up to $10,000 in qualified expenses)
Income RangePhases out between $80,000-$90,000 (single) or $160,000-$180,000 (married filing jointly) MAGI
How to ClaimClaim it on Form 8863 attached to your federal tax return, using your 1098-T from the school.