FREE NEWSLETTER

Learning Credit

THE AMERICAN Opportunity Tax Credit is designed to help students pay for four years of undergraduate education. The Lifetime Learning Credit is geared toward those studying later in life: While it can be claimed for undergraduate expenses, it’s more likely to be used for graduate school or professional degree courses. There’s no limit on the number of years that you can claim the Lifetime Learning Credit.

The credit is worth up to $2,000 a year. To hit the $2,000 maximum, you would need $10,000 of qualified expenses, on which you can then claim a 20% tax credit, which is how you get to $2,000. Unlike the American Opportunity Tax Credit, the Lifetime Learning Credit is a per-tax-return credit, not per student, and it isn’t refundable if it exceeds your tax liability.

But similar to the American Opportunity Tax Credit, the Lifetime Learning Credit isn’t available to taxpayers with higher incomes, and the same phaseout ranges now apply to both. In 2021 and later years, the Lifetime Learning Credit phases out at modified adjusted gross incomes between $160,000 and $180,000, assuming you’re married filing jointly, and between $80,000 and $90,000 if you’re single or head of household.

Next: Main Menu

Previous: Opportunity Credit

Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Free Newsletter

SHARE