Is there a 4-time lifetime limit for Form 1098-t on my tax return?

This tax specialist was confusing two different things. Form 1098-T itself isn't limited - it's just a reporting form your school sends showing what you paid for qualified education expenses. What she was referring to is the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC), which is indeed limited to 4 tax years per eligible student. The Lifetime Learning Credit is another education credit that has no limit on the number of years you can claim it. However, it's generally less generous than the AOTC (20% of up to $10,000 in qualified expenses versus 100% of first $2,000 plus 25% of next $2,000 for AOTC). So while your tax preparer was partly right about a 4-year limit for one specific education benefit, she was incorrect to say Form 1098-T itself is limited to 4 uses. You should receive and report that form for every year you have qualified education expenses.

When I was struggling with my education credits, I found this amazing service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that helped me understand exactly which credits I qualified for. I uploaded my 1098-T and it instantly analyzed my eligibility for both the American Opportunity Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit. The site clarified that while the AOTC has a 4-year limit, the 1098-T form itself isn't limited. It explained how to maximize my benefits based on my specific situation. What I really liked was how it showed me which expenses qualified and which didn't, because not everything on the 1098-T automatically qualifies!

Just wanted to follow up - I tried that taxr.ai website from the previous comment and it was super helpful! I've been confused for years about my education credits since I'm taking 6 years to finish my degree program while working. The tool confirmed I had already used my 4 years of AOTC but showed me how to claim the Lifetime Learning Credit for my remaining years. It even showed me how to properly account for my scholarship money, which has always confused me. The breakdown of qualified expenses versus what my school reported made a huge difference - turns out I was missing out on claiming some expenses that weren't included on my 1098-T but were still eligible! Definitely recommend checking it out if you're dealing with education credits, especially if you're going beyond the typical 4-year program.

If you're trying to get clarification on this 4-year limit issue directly from the IRS, good luck getting through to them! I was on hold forever trying to ask about education credits. Then I found https://claimyr.com and watched their demo at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - they got me connected to an actual IRS agent in under 20 minutes when I'd been trying for days. The IRS agent confirmed exactly what others have said here - the Form 1098-T isn't limited to 4 uses, it's the American Opportunity Credit that's limited to 4 tax years per student. Getting that official confirmation straight from the IRS gave me peace of mind. Claimyr saved me hours of frustration and hold music!

I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try it myself since I needed to ask the IRS about how my 1098-T would work with my specific situation (part-time student taking 5+ years to finish). I had tried calling the IRS three separate times before and never got through after 2+ hours on hold each time. With Claimyr, I had an IRS representative on the phone in 17 minutes. The agent walked me through exactly how education credits work with my extended education timeline and confirmed I can use the Lifetime Learning Credit after my AOTC eligibility ends. Can't believe I wasted so many hours on hold before discovering this. Definitely worth it for anyone needing to actually speak with the IRS.

Your tax specialist was confused. I'm a student who just finished a 6-year program. The American Opportunity Credit (AOTC) is limited to 4 tax years, but the Form 1098-T itself isn't limited. After using AOTC for 4 years, I switched to the Lifetime Learning Credit for my last 2 years. The key is knowing which credit to use when. AOTC is generally better (max $2,500) compared to Lifetime Learning (max $2,000), so use AOTC first if you qualify. Also, AOTC is partially refundable (up to $1,000) while Lifetime Learning isn't. Pro tip: If you're in a longer program, try to concentrate more expensive courses in your AOTC years since it gives you more back per dollar spent.

Anyone know which tax software handles this education credit situation the best? I've used TurboTax in the past but I'm in my 5th year of school now and want to make sure I get the right credits.

Your H&R Block tax specialist was definitely mixing up the rules. The Form 1098-T itself has no lifetime limit - you'll receive one every year you're enrolled and have qualified education expenses, and you can use it on your tax return each time. What has the 4-year lifetime limit is specifically the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC). This is the most valuable education credit (up to $2,500 per year, partially refundable), but it's limited to 4 tax years per student and can only be used for the first 4 years of undergraduate education. After you've exhausted your AOTC eligibility, you can still claim the Lifetime Learning Credit using your 1098-T information. The LLC is less generous (up to $2,000 per year, non-refundable) but has no year limit and can be used for undergraduate, graduate, or professional courses. So to be clear: keep using your 1098-T every year, but strategically plan which credit to claim based on your situation. Don't let misinformation from a tax preparer cost you money!