High school student received 1098-T for college course taken!!

[KumarB]

Clients dependent who is 17 as of 2014 took college course and received 1098-T.
Can I claim the AOTC?

[mastertaxguy]

1098-t

Why not?

Many high school students take college classes their last year or two.

[kathyc2]

I've never seen one that has box 8 (at least 1/2 time student) checked, and they usually amount to only a couple hundred dollars.

If box 8 not checked, no AOC, but may qualify for Lifetime or deduction if all other requirements met.

Even if 8 checked, is the amount high enough to justify using 1 of the 4 years of eligibility on it?

[Kram BergGold]

2 out of 3

AOC I think not. You have to be enrolled more than 1/2 time.
LLC and Tuition deduction you can do.

[tpnl]

Make sure the money was paid . . .

Around here, high school students enrolled in college using the post-secondary or dual enrollment options, the tuition is actually paid by the high school, NOT the student. Make sure the taxpayer actually paid for those expenses.

When I see those 1098-T forms for high school students, they usually have the same amount for tuition also listed in the scholarship/grant box (I'm assuming it is treated as a scholarship because the student is not responsible to pay). We also have programs that when the local schools allow student teaching for college students wanting to become teachers themselves, the local college and the school district have worked out agreements for tuition for high school students.

[farm girl]

must be a degree candidate

In order to get the AOC the student needs to be a degree candidate, which they wouldn't be in high school. The Lifetime Learning Credit would be available for any money the parents actually paid out-of-pocket.

[mactoolsix]

If the student was a more than 1/2 time student, paid tuition, and met the requirements for a degree candidate - would you want to waste a year AOTC on this. There is bound to be many more expensive years to maximize the AOTC.