First two years
This discussion is starting to go in circles.
Page 226 of Pub. 17 has a fairly clear explanation, and several examples.
The question of whether the student is within the first two years of postsecondary education is determined by the number of credit hours the student has accumulated, and the student's standing at the beginning of the year as it is determined by the college or university.
For example:
A student who did not take any college courses while in high school follows the traditional pathway, graduates from high school in June of 2005, and starts college in September 2005. The student continues down the traditional pathway, and remains enrolled in college full time throughout 2006.
By the number of accumulated credit hours, this guy will be defined as a freshman at the beginning of 2005, a freshman at the beginning of 2006, a sophomore at the beginning of 2007, and a junior at the beginning of 2008.
The Hope Credit can only be claimed for two calendar years. There are three calendar years available during which the student is eligible for the Hope Credit. The parents may choose which two years they wish to claim it.
In most cases, this fact pattern will not be substantially altered by taking college courses while in high school.
Burton M. Koss
This discussion is starting to go in circles.
Page 226 of Pub. 17 has a fairly clear explanation, and several examples.
The question of whether the student is within the first two years of postsecondary education is determined by the number of credit hours the student has accumulated, and the student's standing at the beginning of the year as it is determined by the college or university.
For example:
A student who did not take any college courses while in high school follows the traditional pathway, graduates from high school in June of 2005, and starts college in September 2005. The student continues down the traditional pathway, and remains enrolled in college full time throughout 2006.
By the number of accumulated credit hours, this guy will be defined as a freshman at the beginning of 2005, a freshman at the beginning of 2006, a sophomore at the beginning of 2007, and a junior at the beginning of 2008.
The Hope Credit can only be claimed for two calendar years. There are three calendar years available during which the student is eligible for the Hope Credit. The parents may choose which two years they wish to claim it.
In most cases, this fact pattern will not be substantially altered by taking college courses while in high school.
Burton M. Koss
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