Can I still file previous years 1098-T forms from 2020-2022 if I forgot to include them?
So I just received my 1098-T tuition statement for this year and had a major "oh crap" moment when I realized I completely forgot to report my tuition statements from 2020 through 2022! I've been in college this whole time and worked various part-time jobs and internships throughout those years. I'm wondering if I can still submit those old 1098-T forms along with my current 2023 1098-T and W-2? I've been paying so much for tuition these past few years (around $15,000 annually) and never realized I could get education credits for it! Kicking myself now. I think my parents claimed me as a dependent in 2020 but not after that. I worked 3 different jobs during that period, making between $9,000-$24,000 each year. Really hoping I can still get those education credits retroactively... I could seriously use that money for next semester's books and housing! Is it too late? Looking for any advice before I file my 2023 taxes!
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Daniel Rivera
Yes, you absolutely can still claim those education credits from previous years! You'll need to file what's called an amended return (Form 1040-X) for each of those tax years (2020-2022). Each amended return has a 3-year deadline from the original filing date or 2 years from when you paid the tax, whichever is later. So you're still well within the timeframe to amend your 2020-2022 returns. The education credits you're likely eligible for would be either the American Opportunity Tax Credit (up to $2,500 per year) or the Lifetime Learning Credit. Keep in mind that if your parents claimed you as a dependent in 2020, they would have been the ones eligible for your education credit that year, not you. You should check with them to see if they already claimed it.
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Sophie Footman
•Wait, so do I need to file separate 1040-X forms for each year? And do I need to include copies of my original tax returns with the amended ones? Also, do you know how long it typically takes to get refunds from amended returns?
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Daniel Rivera
•Yes, you'll need to file a separate Form 1040-X for each tax year you're amending. You don't need to include copies of your original returns, but you should have them available for reference since the 1040-X requires you to show the original amounts, the changes, and the corrected amounts. Amended returns can take quite a while to process - typically 16 weeks or more. The IRS is still working through backlogs, so patience is definitely needed. You can check the status of your amended return using the "Where's My Amended Return" tool on the IRS website after about 3 weeks from filing.
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Connor Rupert
I was in almost the exact same situation last year! I had 3 years of unclaimed 1098-Ts and was totally stressed about the process. I ended up using https://taxr.ai to help sort through all my old tax documents and figure out exactly what I needed to file for each year. Their system was able to analyze all my old 1098-Ts, W-2s, and previous returns to show me exactly which education credits I qualified for each year. It even caught that for one year I was eligible for the American Opportunity Credit instead of the Lifetime Learning Credit my previous tax software had recommended, which meant an extra $800 back! Made the whole amended return process way less confusing.
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Molly Hansen
•How accurate was it? I'm always skeptical of using online tools for something as important as taxes, especially when dealing with amended returns where there's more scrutiny.
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Brady Clean
•Does it actually help you fill out the 1040-X forms or just tell you what you qualify for? I'm confused about how to transfer all this education credit stuff onto the amendment forms correctly.
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Connor Rupert
•It was surprisingly accurate - it detected all the qualified expenses on my 1098-Ts and correctly determined which credits I was eligible for based on my income and student status. It even flagged that I had overlooked some qualified expenses for books and required course materials that weren't included on the 1098-T but were still eligible. For the 1040-X forms, it provides step-by-step guidance for filling them out. It generates a detailed report showing exactly what numbers need to go where on the form, which lines to modify, and explains all the calculations. It doesn't automatically fill the forms, but it gives you all the information you need to complete them correctly yourself.
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Brady Clean
Just wanted to update - I took the advice about using taxr.ai and wow, it actually worked great for my situation with multiple years of 1098-Ts! The system flagged that my 2021 return had missed not just the education credit but also some education-related deductions I didn't know about. I was freaking out about doing three amended returns, but their breakdown made it really straightforward. Just got my first amended return refund for 2021 yesterday - almost $1,700 back! Now just waiting on the others. Definitely worth the effort to file those amendments.
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Skylar Neal
For anyone trying to contact the IRS about amended returns or education credits - don't waste your time trying to call them directly! I spent WEEKS trying to get through to ask questions about my amended returns with education credits. I finally used https://claimyr.com and it changed everything. You can watch how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - basically they hold your place in the IRS phone queue and call you when an agent is about to answer. Got through to an actual IRS person in about 2 hours instead of the days I was spending before. The agent was able to confirm exactly which forms I needed and how to properly report my missed education credits from previous years. Saved me so much stress and confusion!
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Vincent Bimbach
•How does that even work? Sounds like you're just paying someone to wait on hold for you? Can't you just use speakerphone and do other stuff while waiting?
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Kelsey Chin
•I'm sorry but this sounds like a scam. Why would you pay someone just to call the IRS? And how do you know they're not just collecting your personal info?
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Skylar Neal
•It's not someone waiting on hold for you - it's an automated system that holds your place in line. They use technology that monitors the hold queue and then automatically calls you when you're about to be connected to an agent. You don't have to keep your phone tied up for hours. It's definitely not a scam - they don't ask for any tax information at all. You just tell them which IRS department you need to reach, and they handle getting you connected. They don't see or hear any of your conversation with the IRS agent. I was skeptical too until I tried it and got through to someone who answered all my questions about filing multiple years of amended returns with education credits.
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Kelsey Chin
I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After posting that skeptical comment, I was still struggling to get answers about my amended returns with education credits, so I reluctantly tried it. Got connected to an IRS agent in about 90 minutes when I had been trying for DAYS before. The agent walked me through exactly how to claim my missed education credits and confirmed I could still amend all three years. They even gave me the direct line to the amended return department for follow-up questions. Sometimes being proven wrong is actually great! Already submitted my amended returns for all three years with the education credits.
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Norah Quay
Make sure you're claiming the right education credit too! American Opportunity Credit is usually better than Lifetime Learning Credit for undergrads because it's worth up to $2,500 (and up to $1,000 is refundable even if you don't owe taxes). But you can only claim AOTC for 4 tax years total, so keep that in mind.
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Owen Devar
•This is super helpful! I didn't know there were different types of education credits. How do I know which one to claim for each year? Does it depend on my income or something else?
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Norah Quay
•The American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) is generally better for undergraduate students in their first four years of post-secondary education. It has some requirements - you need to be enrolled at least half-time in a program leading to a degree or credential, and you can't have completed four years of college education before the year you're claiming it. The Lifetime Learning Credit has fewer restrictions - it's available for any post-secondary education including graduate courses and professional degree courses. It doesn't have a year limit, but it's worth less (20% of up to $10,000 in qualified expenses, so maximum $2,000). Income limits apply to both credits, but they're fairly generous for most students.
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Leo McDonald
Quick question - does anyone know if you'll get all the refunds as separate checks? Or do they combine them somehow? I'm trying to figure out how to track everything if I file amendments for multiple years.
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Jessica Nolan
•You'll get separate refund checks for each amended tax year. They process each 1040-X independently, so they'll come at different times too. I filed amended returns for 2019 and 2020 last year, and the checks arrived about 3 weeks apart.
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Emily Sanjay
Just wanted to add some important details about the deadlines that weren't mentioned - you generally have 3 years from the original due date of the return (or the date you filed if later) to file an amended return to claim a refund. For your 2020 return, that deadline would be April 15, 2024 (or October 15, 2024 if you filed an extension). Since we're now in 2025, you might have missed the window for 2020 unless there are special circumstances. I'd definitely check with a tax professional or call the IRS to confirm whether you can still amend that 2020 return. The 2021 and 2022 returns should still be within the amendment period though. Also, don't forget that if you do get refunds from these amended returns, you might owe tax on any state tax refund you received in subsequent years (if you itemized deductions). It's a small detail but worth keeping in mind!
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