IRS Form 8863

About IRS Form 8863

Form 8863, Education Credits, is used to claim the American Opportunity Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit for qualified education expenses. You figure the credit for each student and carry the result to your Form 1040. Schools usually report tuition on Form 1098-T.

This page is a general guide and a fillable helper, not tax advice. Always download and file the current official form from the IRS at https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8863 and confirm the lines match your situation before you file.

Who needs to complete it

• Students or parents who paid qualified tuition and related expenses during the year.
• Taxpayers claiming the American Opportunity Credit for an eligible student.
• Filers claiming the Lifetime Learning Credit for college or career courses.
• People who received a Form 1098-T from an eligible educational institution.

How to fill out IRS Form 8863

1. 1Gather each student's Form 1098-T and records of qualified education expenses.
2. 2In Part III, enter each student's name, taxpayer identification number, and school details.
3. 3Answer the questions that decide whether the student qualifies for the American Opportunity Credit.
4. 4Figure the qualified expenses and the credit amount for each student.
5. 5In Part I, combine the students to figure the refundable American Opportunity Credit.
6. 6In Part II, figure the nonrefundable education credits, including the Lifetime Learning Credit.
7. 7Apply the income limits and the worksheet to reduce the credit if your income is above the threshold.
8. 8Carry the credit amounts to your Form 1040 as the instructions direct.