Can H1-B / F1 visa couple claim Lifetime Learning Credit or AOTC when filing jointly?

Thanks for the helpful info! Do we need to wait for the ITIN to be approved before we can claim the Lifetime Learning Credit, or can we file with the W-7 attached and still get the credit this year? Also, does the fact that she's on an F1 visa affect our eligibility for the credit in any way? I've heard some visa statuses have restrictions on tax benefits.

You don't need to wait for the ITIN to be approved before claiming the credit. You can file your tax return with the W-7 application attached, and the IRS will process both simultaneously. The credit can be claimed on your current year's tax return. The F1 visa status doesn't disqualify you from claiming education credits when filing jointly. Since you're a tax resident on H1-B and filing jointly, your wife's educational expenses qualify for the credit regardless of her visa status. The key factor is that you're filing jointly and the expenses are for qualified education at an eligible institution.

Does this taxr.ai thing work with other tax documents too? I've got a complicated situation with multiple W-2s and 1099s plus education expenses.

Sounds interesting but I'm kinda skeptical about using online tools for tax stuff with visa complications. Did it actually help with the ITIN application? That's been a nightmare for us.

It works with pretty much all tax documents! I uploaded W-2s, 1099s, and even investment statements. It organizes everything and shows you which deductions and credits you qualify for based on all your documents combined. For the ITIN application, it was super helpful. It generated a checklist of documents we needed to include with Form W-7 and explained exactly how to fill out each section. It even had specific instructions for F1 visa holders. We got the ITIN without any issues or delays, which was a huge relief compared to stories I'd heard from friends.

Wait, how does Claimyr actually work? I thought it was impossible to get through to the IRS without waiting for hours. Is this some kind of priority line or something?

Yeah right. Nothing can get you through to the IRS faster. I've been trying for MONTHS with my international student tax questions. There's no way this actually works - sounds like just another scam targeting desperate taxpayers.

It's not a priority line - they use technology that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold for you. When an agent picks up, you get a call back immediately. It's like having someone wait on hold for you, which is especially helpful with the notoriously long IRS wait times. I was skeptical too, but it's legitimate and really does work. The service calls the IRS for you, navigates through all the prompts, waits on hold (sometimes for hours), and then when a live agent finally answers, it connects you directly. You don't have to do anything but wait for your phone to ring when an agent is on the line. I was able to ask all my specific questions about the ITIN application process with education credits for our mixed visa status.

That's really good to know about the income limits - we're probably going to be around $155,000 combined, so sounds like we'll still qualify for the full credit. Is the MAGI calculation different for visa holders in any way?

Your MAGI calculation isn't different for visa holders when you're filing jointly. You'll calculate it the same way as US citizens - starting with your AGI and then adding back certain deductions like student loan interest, IRA contributions, and a few others. At $155,000 combined income, you should still qualify for the full Lifetime Learning Credit, which is great! Just make sure you're using qualified education expenses only (tuition and required fees) when calculating the credit. Room and board don't count, even if they were paid to the university.

You can still claim eligible education expenses even if they're not listed on the 1098-T! Just make sure you have receipts or statements from the university showing they were required fees for enrollment. I had to do this last year for some lab fees that weren't on my 1098-T.

Yikes, 4 months is a long wait! Is there any way to expedite the ITIN process? We're already in February and I'm worried about getting everything done before the filing deadline.

Unfortunately, there's no official expedite process for ITINs. However, you can use a Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA) instead of mailing in original documents, which can speed things up. Some CAAs can verify your documents on the spot and submit certified copies with your application. Also, you can still file on time even if the ITIN isn't processed yet. Just submit your return with the W-7 by the deadline, and you won't face late filing penalties. Your refund will be held until the ITIN is issued, but at least you'll be in compliance with the filing deadline.