Department of the Treasury

2011

Internal Revenue Service

Instructions for Form 8863

Education Credits (American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning Credits)

Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless Both of these credits have different rules that can affect your

otherwise noted. eligibility to claim a specific credit. These differences are shown

in Table 1 below. General Instructions You may be able to take the tuition and fees deduction

for you, your spouse, or a dependent, instead of an What’s New education credit. Figure your tax both ways and choose

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Hope credit. the one that gives you the lower tax. See Form 8917, Tuition The Hope credit is not available for 2011. and Fees Deduction, and chapter 6 of Pub. 970, Tax Benefits

Future Developments. The IRS has created a page on for Education, for more information about the tuition and fees

deduction. IRS.gov for information about Form 8863 and its instructions, at

www.irs.gov/form8863. Information about any future

developments affecting Form 8863 (such as legislation enacted Who Can Claim an Education Credit

after we release it) will be posted on that page. You may be able to claim an education credit if you, your

spouse, or a dependent you claim on your tax return was a Purpose of Form student enrolled at or attending an eligible educational

Use Form 8863 to figure and claim your education credits, institution. The credits are based on the amount of qualified

which are based on qualified education expenses paid to an education expenses paid for the student in 2011 for academic

eligible postsecondary educational institution. For 2011, there periods beginning in 2011 and in the first 3 months of 2012.

are two education credits.

Qualified education expenses must be reduced by any • The American opportunity credit, part of which may be expenses paid directly or indirectly using tax-free refundable. Complete Parts I, III, and IV.

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educational assistance. See Tax-Free Educational

! • The lifetime learning credit, which is nonrefundable. Assistance and Refunds of Qualified Education Expenses, later. Complete Parts II and IV. Who can claim a dependent’s expenses. If a student is

A refundable credit can give you a refund for any part of the claimed as a dependent on another person’s tax return, only the

credit that is more than your total tax. A nonrefundable credit person who claims the student as a dependent can claim a

can reduce your tax, but any excess is not refunded to you. credit for the student’s qualified education expenses. If a

Table 1. Comparison of Education Credits

Caution. You can claim both the American opportunity credit and the lifetime learning credit on the same return—but not for the same student.

American Opportunity Credit Lifetime Learning Credit

Maximum credit Up to $2,500 credit per eligible student Up to $2,000 credit per return

Limit on modified adjusted $180,000 if married filing jointly; $122,000 if married filing jointly; 

gross income (MAGI) $90,000 if single, head of household, or qualifying $61,000 if single, head of household, or qualifying

widow(er) widow(er)

Refundable or 40% of credit may be refundable; the rest is Nonrefundable—credit limited to the amount of tax you

nonrefundable nonrefundable must pay on your taxable income

Number of years of Available ONLY for the first 4 years of postsecondary Available for all years of postsecondary education and for

postsecondary education education courses to acquire or improve job skills

Number of tax years credit Available ONLY for 4 tax years per eligible student Available for an unlimited number of years

available (including any year(s) Hope credit was claimed)

Type of degree required Student must be pursuing a degree or other recognized Student does not need to be pursuing a degree or other

education credential recognized education credential

Number of courses Student must be enrolled at least half time for at least Available for one or more courses

one academic period beginning during the year

Felony drug conviction As of the end of 2011, the student had not been Felony drug convictions are permitted

convicted of a felony for possessing or distributing a

controlled substance

Qualified expenses Tuition, required enrollment fees, and course materials Tuition and required enrollment fees (including amounts

that the student needs for a course of study whether or required to be paid to the institution for course-related

not the materials are bought at the educational institution books, supplies, and equipment)

as a condition of enrollment or attendance

Payments for academic Payments made in 2011 for academic periods beginning in 2011 or beginning in the first 3 months of 2012

periods

Jan 01, 2012 Cat. No. 53002G
student is not claimed as a dependent on another person’s tax 2011 (box 1) or amounts billed in 2011 (box 2). However, the

return, only the student can claim a credit. amount in box 1 or 2 of Form 1098-T may be different from

Generally, qualified education expenses paid on behalf of what you actually paid. On Form 8863, lines 1 and 3, enter only

the amounts you paid in 2011 for qualified expenses (reduced, the student by someone other than the student (such as a if necessary, by tax-free education assistance and refunds, as relative) are treated as paid by the student. However, qualified described later). See chapters 2 and 3 of Pub. 970 for more education expenses paid (or treated as paid) by a student who information on Form 1098-T. is claimed as a dependent on your tax return are treated as

paid by you. Therefore, you are treated as having paid If you or the student takes a deduction for higher education expenses that were paid from your dependent student’s expenses, such as on Schedule A or Schedule C (Form 1040), earnings, gifts, inheritances, savings, etc. For more information you cannot use those same expenses in your qualified

and an example, see Who Can Claim a Dependent’s Expenses education expenses when figuring your education credits. in Pub. 970, chapter 2 or 3. Any qualified expenses used to figure the education Who cannot claim a credit. You cannot take an education credits cannot be taken into account in determining the credit if any of the following apply.

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amount of a distribution from a Coverdell ESA or a

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qualified tuition program (section 529 plan) that is excluded 1. You are claimed as a dependent on another person’s tax from gross income. See Pub. 970, chapters 7 and 8, for more return, such as your parent’s return. information.

2. Your filing status is married filing separately.

3. You (or your spouse) were a nonresident alien for any part Prepaid Expenses

of 2011 and did not elect to be treated as a resident alien for Qualified education expenses paid in 2011 for an academic

tax purposes. period that begins in the first 3 months of 2012 can be used

4. Your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is one of the only in figuring your 2011 education credits. For example, if you

following. pay $2,000 in December 2011 for qualified tuition for the 2012

a. American opportunity credit: $180,000 or more if married winter quarter that begins in January 2012, you can use that

filing jointly, or $90,000 or more if single, head of $2,000 in figuring your 2011 education credits (if you meet all

household, or qualifying widow(er). the other requirements).

b. Lifetime learning credit: $122,000 or more if married filing You cannot use any amount paid in 2010 or 2012 to jointly, or $61,000 or more if single, head of household, figure your 2011 education credit(s). or qualifying widow(er).

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There are a number of factors, such as your filing status, Tax-Free Educational Assistance and Refunds

your MAGI, and whether you are subject to the of Qualified Education Expenses alternative minimum tax, that will affect the amount of

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Tax-free educational assistance includes a tax-free scholarship any education credit you are eligible to claim. When you figure or Pell grant or tax-free employer-provided educational your taxes, you may want to compare the different education assistance. See chapter 1 of Pub. 970 for specific information. credits in order to choose the method(s) that gives you the

lowest tax liability. If you qualify, you may find that a Adjusted qualified education expenses. For both credits,

combination of credits and other education benefits gives you you must reduce the total of your qualified education expenses

the lowest tax. See Pub. 970 for information on other benefits. by any tax-free educational assistance for the qualified

education expenses paid in 2011 and by any refunds of your

Qualified Education Expenses qualified education expenses paid in 2011 if the refund or

Generally, qualified education expenses are amounts paid in tax-free assistance is received in 2011 or in 2012 before you file

your 2011 tax return. This is the amount of your adjusted 2011 for tuition and fees required for the student’s enrollment or qualified education expenses. Use the Qualified Education attendance at an eligible educational institution. It does not

matter whether the expenses were paid in cash, by check, by Expenses Worksheet for Part I, Line 1, Column (c) for the

American opportunity credit. Use the Qualified Education credit or debit card, or with borrowed funds. Expenses Worksheet for Part II, Line 3, Column (c) for the Only certain expenses for course-related books, supplies, lifetime learning credit. and equipment qualify.

• American opportunity credit: Qualified education expenses Credit recapture. If any tax-free educational assistance for

the qualified education expenses paid in 2011 or any refund of include amounts spent on books, supplies, and equipment

needed for a course of study, whether or not the materials are your qualified education expenses paid in 2011 is received after

purchased from the educational institution as a condition of you file your return for the year in which the expenses were

enrollment or attendance. paid, you must recapture (repay) any excess credit. You do this

• Lifetime learning credit: Qualified education expenses include by figuring the amount by which your tax liability would have

only amounts for books, supplies, and equipment required to increased if the refund or tax-free assistance had been received

be paid to the institution as a condition of enrollment or in the year for which you claimed the education credit(s).

attendance. Include that amount as an additional tax for the year the refund

or tax-free assistance was received. Qualified education expenses for either credit do not include

amounts paid for: Example. You paid $8,000 tuition and fees in December

• Room and board, insurance, medical expenses (including 2011 for your child’s spring semester beginning in January

student health fees), transportation, or other similar personal, 2012. You filed your 2011 tax return on February 2, 2012, and

living, or family expenses. claimed a lifetime learning credit of $1,600 ($8,000 qualified

• Any course or other education involving sports, games, or expenses paid x .20). You claimed no other tax credits. After

hobbies, or any noncredit course, unless such course or other you filed your return, your child dropped two courses and you

education is part of the student’s degree program or (for the received a refund of $1,400.

lifetime learning credit only) helps the student acquire or You must refigure your 2011 lifetime learning credit using improve job skills. $6,600 ($8,000 qualified expenses - $1,400 refund). The • Nonacademic fees, such as student activity fees, athletic refigured credit is $1,320 and your tax liability increased by fees, insurance expenses, or other expenses unrelated to the $280. You must include the difference of $280 ($1,600 credit academic course of instruction. originally claimed - $1,320 refigured credit) as additional tax on

You should receive Form 1098-T, Tuition Statement, from your 2012 income tax return. See the instructions for your 2012

the college or university reporting either payments received in income tax return to determine where to include this tax.

-2- Instructions for Form 8863 (2011)
Eligible Educational Institution Expenses. If the student’s expenses are more than $4,000,

enter $4,000. You can use the worksheet below to figure the An eligible educational institution is generally any accredited correct amount to enter in column (c). public, nonprofit, or proprietary (private) college, university,

vocational school, or other postsecondary institution. Also, the Qualified Education Expenses Worksheet institution must be eligible to participate in a student aid

program administered by the Department of Education. Virtually for Part I, Line 1, Column (c)

all accredited postsecondary institutions meet this definition. See Qualified Education Expenses, earlier, before completing.

(Do a separate worksheet for each student) Additional Information

See Pub. 970, chapters 2 and 3, for more information about 1. Total qualified education expenses ....... .

these credits. 2. Less adjustments:

a. Tax-free educational Specific Instructions assistance ........... .

b. Refunds of qualified

Part I education expenses paid in

2011 ............... . American Opportunity Credit 3. Total adjustments (add lines 2a and 2b) .... . You may be able to take a credit of up to $2,500 for adjusted

qualified education expenses (defined earlier) paid for each 4. Adjusted qualified education expenses. student who qualifies for the American opportunity credit. This Subtract line 3 from line 1. If zero or less, enter credit equals 100% of the first $2,000 and 25% of the next -0- .............................. . $2,000 of qualified expenses paid for each eligible student. The

amount of your credit for 2011 is gradually reduced (phased 5. Enter the smaller of line 4 or $4,000 here and

out) if your MAGI is between $80,000 and $90,000 ($160,000 on Form 8863, Part I, column (c) ......... .

and $180,000 if you file a joint return). You cannot claim a credit

if your MAGI is $90,000 or more ($180,000 or more if you file a

joint return). Part II

Student qualifications. Generally, you can take the American Lifetime Learning Credit opportunity credit for a student if all of the following apply.

• As of the beginning of 2011, the student had not completed The lifetime learning credit equals 20% of adjusted qualified

education expenses (defined earlier), up to a maximum of the first 4 years of postsecondary education (generally, the $10,000 of adjusted qualified education expenses per return. freshman through senior years of college), as determined by

the eligible educational institution. For this purpose, do not Therefore, the maximum lifetime learning credit you can claim

on your return for the year is $2,000, regardless of the number include academic credit awarded solely because of the

student’s performance on proficiency examinations. of students for whom you are claiming the credit. The amount of

• The student was enrolled in 2011 in a program that leads to a your credit for 2011 is gradually reduced (phased out) if your

degree, certificate, or other recognized educational credential. MAGI is between $51,000 and $61,000 ($102,000 and

• The student was taking at least one-half the normal full-time $122,000 if you file a joint return). You cannot claim a credit if

workload for his or her course of study for at least one your MAGI is $61,000 or more ($122,000 or more if you file a

academic period beginning in 2011. joint return).

• As of the end of 2011, the student had not been convicted of You cannot claim the lifetime learning credit for any a felony for possessing or distributing a controlled substance. student for whom you are claiming the American

If any of the above conditions are not met for any

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opportunity credit in the same tax year.

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student, you cannot take the American opportunity credit

for that student. You may be able to take the lifetime Line 3

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learning credit for part or all of that student’s qualified education Complete columns (a) through (c) on line 3 for each student for expenses instead. whom you are taking the lifetime learning credit.

Line 1 More than three students. If you are taking the lifetime

Complete columns (a) through (f) on line 1 for each student who learning credit for more than three students, enter “See

qualifies for and for whom you elect to take the American attached” next to line 3 and attach a statement with the required

opportunity credit. information for each additional student. Include the amounts

More than three students. If you are taking this credit for from line 3, column (c), for all students in the total you enter on

more than three students, enter “See attached” next to line 1 line 4.

and attach a statement with the required information for each Column (c). For each student, enter the amount of adjusted additional student. Include the amounts from line 1, column (f), qualified education expenses (defined earlier). The expenses for all students in the total you enter on line 2. must have been paid for the student in 2011 for academic

Column (c). For each student, enter the amount of adjusted periods beginning after 2010 but before April 1, 2012, as

qualified education expenses (defined earlier). To be allowed explained earlier under Prepaid Expenses. You can use the

the credit for 2011, the expenses must have been paid for the Qualified Education Expenses Worksheet for Part II, Line 3,

student in 2011 for academic periods beginning after 2010 but Column (c), later, to figure the correct amount to enter in

before April 1, 2012, as explained earlier under Prepaid column (c).

Instructions for Form 8863 (2011) -3-
Qualified Education Expenses Worksheet If you meet these conditions, check the box next to line 13,

for Part II, Line 3, Column (c) skip line 14, and enter the amount from line 13 on line 15.

See Qualified Education Expenses, earlier, before completing. Earned income. Examples of earned income include wages,

salaries, tips, and other taxable employee pay; net earnings (Do a separate worksheet for each student) from self-employment; and gross income received as a

statutory employee. Statutory employees include full-time life 1. Total qualified education expenses ....... . insurance agents, certain agent or commission drivers and

2. Less adjustments: traveling salespersons, and certain homeworkers.

a. Tax-free educational Support. Your support includes all amounts spent to provide

assistance ........... . you with food, lodging, clothing, education, medical and dental

b. Refunds of qualified care, recreation, transportation, and similar necessities. To

education expenses paid in figure your support, count support provided by you, your

2011 ............... . parents, and others. However, a scholarship received by you is

not considered support if you were a full-time student (defined 3. Total adjustments (add lines 2a and 2b) .... . below) for 2011.

4. Adjusted qualified education expenses. Full-time student. You were a full-time student for 2011 if

Subtract line 3 from line 1. Enter here and on during any part of any 5 calendar months during the year you

Form 8863, Part II, column (c). If zero or less, were enrolled as a full-time student at an eligible educational

enter -0- ......................... . institution (defined earlier), or took a full-time, on-farm training

course given by such an institution or by a state, county, or

local government agency.

Part III Part IV Refundable American Opportunity Credit Nonrefundable Education Credits

Line 13

If you were under age 24 at the end of 2011 and the conditions Line 16

listed below apply to you, you cannot claim any part of the Enter your tentative lifetime learning credit from Part II, line 6,

American opportunity credit as a refundable credit on your tax and go to line 17. 

return. Instead, your allowed credit, which is figured in Part IV, Note. If you are claiming only the American opportunity credit,

will be used to reduce your tax as a nonrefundable credit only. you will not have an entry on this line. Instead, enter the amount

You do not from line 15 on line 6 of the Credit Limit Worksheet below. qualify for a refund if 1 (a, b, or c), 2, and 3

below apply to you. Line 22

You will have an amount on line 22 if you are claiming the 1. You were: lifetime learning credit. Enter this amount on line 1 of the Credit a. Under age 18 at the end of 2011, or Limit Worksheet below.

b. Age 18 at the end of 2011 and your earned income

(defined later) was less than one-half of your support Line 23

(defined later), or Complete the credit limit worksheet to figure your

c. Over age 18 and under age 24 at the end of 2011 and a nonrefundable education credit.

full time student (defined later) and your earned income

(defined later) was less than one-half of your support

(defined later).

2. At least one of your parents was alive at the end of 2011.

3. You are not filing a joint return for 2011.

Credit Limit Worksheet—Form 8863, Line 23

Nonrefundable lifetime learning credit

1. Enter the amount from Form 8863, line 22 ................................................ . 1.

2. Enter the amount from Form 1040, line 46, or Form 1040A, line 28 ............ . 2.

3. Enter the total, if any, of your credits from:

• Form 1040, lines 47, 48, and the amount from Schedule R entered on line 53 } 3. • Form 1040A, lines 29 and 30

4. Subtract line 3 from line 2 ........................................................... . 4.

5. Nonrefundable lifetime learning credit. Enter the smaller of line 1 or line 4 ....................... . 5.

Nonrefundable American opportunity credit

6. Enter the amount from Form 8863, line 15 ................................................ . 6.

7. Enter the amount from Form 1040, line 46, or Form 1040A, line 28 ............ . 7.

8. Enter the total, if any, of your credits from:

• Form 1040, lines 47, 48, and the amount from Schedule R entered on line 53,

and the amount from line 5 above } 8.

• Form 1040A, lines 29 and 30, and the amount from line 5 above

9. Subtract line 8 from line 7 ........................................................... . 9.

10. Nonrefundable American opportunity credit. Enter the smaller of line 6 or line 9 ................... . 10.

11. Nonrefundable education credits. Add line 5 and line 10. Enter here and on Form 8863, line 23 ......... . 11.

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