American Opportunity Tax Credit Act of 2015

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend and modify the American Opportunity Tax Credit, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the American Opportunity Tax Credit Act of 2015 2. Extension and modification of American Opportunity Tax Credit (a) In general Section 25A 25A. American Opportunity Tax Credit (a) Allowance of credit In the case of an individual who is an eligible student for any taxable year, there shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this chapter for such taxable year the amount determined under subsection (b) with respect to such individual. (b) Amount of credit (1) Student enrolled at least ½ In the case of an eligible student who is carrying at least ½ (A) 100 percent of so much of the qualified tuition and related expenses paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year (for education furnished to the eligible student during any academic period beginning in such taxable year) as does not exceed $2,000, plus (B) 25 percent of such expenses so paid as exceeds $2,000 but does not exceed $4,000. (2) Other students In the case of an eligible student not described in paragraph (1), the amount determined under this subsection with respect to such individual is 25 percent of so much of the qualified tuition and related expenses paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year (for education furnished to the eligible student during any academic period beginning in such taxable year) as does not exceed $10,000. (c) Limitation based on modified adjusted gross income (1) In general The amount which would (but for this paragraph) be taken into account under this section for the taxable year shall be reduced (but not below zero) by the amount determined under paragraph (2). (2) Amount of reduction The amount determined under this paragraph is the amount which bears the same ratio to the amount which would be so taken into account as— (A) the excess of— (i) the taxpayer's modified adjusted gross income for such taxable year, over (ii) $80,000 ($160,000 in the case of a joint return), bears to (B) $10,000 ($20,000 in the case of a joint return). (3) Modified adjusted gross income For purposes of this paragraph, the term modified adjusted gross income (d) Other limitations and special rules For purposes of this section: (1) Lifetime dollar limitation In the case of qualified tuition and related expenses with respect to any eligible student, the aggregate amount of the credits allowed in the taxable year and any prior taxable year for such eligible student (whether beginning before or after American Opportunity Tax Credit Act of 2015 (A) such credits are claimed on the return of tax filed by the eligible student or by another taxpayer, or (B) such expenses are treated as paid by the eligible student or by another taxpayer. If, in any taxable year, the aggregate amount of such credits equals or exceeds $15,000, the amount allowed as a credit under subsection (a) in any subsequent taxable year with respect to such student shall be zero. (2) Identification requirement No credit shall be allowed under this section to a taxpayer with respect to the qualified tuition and related expenses of an eligible student unless the taxpayer includes the name and taxpayer identification number of such eligible student on the return of tax for the taxable year. (3) Adjustment for certain scholarships, etc (A) In general The amount of qualified tuition and related expenses otherwise taken into account under this section with respect to an individual for an academic period shall be reduced (before the application of subsections (b) and (c)) by the sum of any amounts paid for the benefit of such individual which are allocable to such period as— (i) a qualified scholarship which is excludable from gross income under section 117, (ii) an educational assistance allowance under chapter 30, 31, 32, 34, or 35 of title 38, United States Code, or under chapter 1606 (iii) a payment (other than a gift, bequest, devise, or inheritance within the meaning of section 102(a)) for such individual’s educational expenses, or attributable to such individual's enrollment at an eligible educational institution, which is excludable from gross income under any law of the United States. (B) Coordination with Pell Grants not used for qualified tuition and related expenses Any amount determined with respect to an individual under subparagraph (A) which is attributable to a Federal Pell Grant under section 401 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 shall be reduced (but not below zero) by the amount of the expenses (other than qualified tuition and related expenses) which are taken into account in determining the cost of attendance (as defined in section 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as in effect on the date of the enactment of the American Opportunity Tax Credit Act of 2015 (4) Treatment of expenses paid by dependent If a deduction under section 151 with respect to an individual is allowed to another taxpayer for a taxable year beginning in the calendar year in which such individual’s taxable year begins— (A) no credit shall be allowed under this section to such individual for such individual's taxable year, and (B) qualified tuition and related expenses paid by such individual during such individual's taxable year shall be treated for purposes of this section as paid by such other taxpayer. (5) Treatment of certain prepayments If qualified tuition and related expenses are paid by the taxpayer during a taxable year for an academic period which begins during the first 3 months following such taxable year, such academic period shall be treated for purposes of this section as beginning during such taxable year. (6) Denial of double benefit No credit shall be allowed under this section for any expense for which a deduction is allowed under any other provision of this chapter. (7) No credit for married individuals filing separate returns If the taxpayer is a married individual (within the meaning of section 7703), this section shall apply only if the taxpayer and the taxpayer's spouse file a joint return for the taxable year. (8) Nonresident aliens If the taxpayer is a nonresident alien individual for any portion of the taxable year, this section shall apply only if such individual is treated as a resident alien of the United States for purposes of this chapter by reason of an election under subsection (g) or (h) of section 6013. (e) Election not To have Section apply A taxpayer may elect not to have this section apply with respect to the qualified tuition and related expenses of an individual for any taxable year. (f) Definitions For purposes of this section: (1) Eligible student The term eligible student (A) is enrolled for at least one academic period which begins during such taxable year at an eligible educational institution, and (B) meets the requirements of section 484(a)(1) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as in effect on the date of the enactment of the American Opportunity Tax Credit Act of 2015 (2) Qualified tuition and related expenses (A) In general The term qualified tuition and related expenses (i) the taxpayer, (ii) the taxpayer’s spouse, or (iii) any dependent of the taxpayer with respect to whom the taxpayer is allowed a deduction under section 151, at an eligible educational institution for courses of instruction of such individual at such institution. (B) Exception for education involving sports, etc Such term does not include expenses with respect to any course or other education involving sports, games, or hobbies, unless such course or other education is part of the individual’s degree program. (C) Exception for nonacademic fees Such term does not include student activity fees, athletic fees, insurance expenses, or other expenses unrelated to an individual’s academic course of instruction. (3) Eligible educational institution The term eligible educational institution (A) which is described in section 481 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as in effect on the date of the enactment of the American Opportunity Tax Credit Act of 2015 (B) which is eligible to participate in a program under title IV of such Act. (g) Portion of credit refundable The lesser of— (1) the credit allowed under this section for a taxable year (determined after application of subsections (c)(1) and (d) and without regard to this subsection and section 26(a)(2), as the case may be), or (2) $1,500, shall be treated as a credit allowable under subpart C (and not allowed under this section). The preceding sentence shall not apply to any taxpayer for any taxable year if such taxpayer is a child to whom subsection (g) of section 1 applies for such taxable year. (h) Inflation Adjustment In the case of any taxable year beginning in a calendar year after 2015, each dollar amount in subsections (b) and (c)(2), and (d)(1) shall be increased by an amount equal to— (1) such dollar amount, multiplied by (2) the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which the taxable year begins, determined by substituting calendar year 2014 calendar year 1992 In the case of subsections (b) and (d)(1), any increase determined under the preceding sentence shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $50. In the case of subsection (c)(2), any increase determined under the preceding sentence shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $500. (i) Regulations The Secretary may prescribe such regulations as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out this section, including regulations providing for a recapture of the credit allowed under this section in cases where there is a refund in a subsequent taxable year of any amount which was taken into account in determining the amount of such credit. . (b) Retention of limitation (1) In general Subparagraph (D) of section 25A(b)(2) American Opportunity Tax Credit Act of 2015 (2) Conforming amendment Paragraph (9) of section 25A(d) of such Code, as transferred and inserted by paragraph (1), is amended by striking The Hope Scholarship Credit under subsection (a)(1) The credit under subsection (a) (c) Conforming amendments (1) Subparagraph (B) of section 72(t)(7) of such Code is amended by striking 25A(g)(2) 25A(d)(3) (2) Paragraph (2) of section 221(d) of such Code is amended— (A) by striking 25A(g)(2) 25A(d)(3) (B) by striking 25A(f)(2) 25A(f)(3) (3) Paragraph (3) of section 221(d) of such Code is amended by striking 25A(b)(3) 25A(f)(1) (but only with respect to a student who is carrying at least ½ (4) Clause (v) of section 529(c)(3)(B) of such Code is amended— (A) by striking 25A(g)(2) 25A(d)(3) (B) by striking Hope and Lifetime Learning credits American Opportunity Credit (5) Clause (i) of section 529(e)(3)(B) of such Code is amended by striking 25A(b)(3) 25A(f)(1) (but only with respect to a student who is carrying at least ½ (6) Subparagraph (C) of section 530(d)(2) of such Code is amended— (A) by striking 25A(g)(2) 25A(d)(3) (B) by striking Hope and Lifetime Learning credits American Opportunity Credit (7) Clause (iii) of section 530(d)(4)(B) of such Code is amended by striking 25A(g)(2) 25A(d)(3) (8) Section 1400O of such Code is amended— (A) by striking 25A(f)(2) 25A(f)(3) (B) by inserting (as in effect on the date of the enactment of this section) 25A(b)(1) (C) by inserting (as in effect on the date of the enactment of this section) 25A(c)(1) (9) Subsection (e) of section 6050S of such Code is amended by striking subsection (g)(2) subsection (d)(3) (10) Subparagraph (A) of section 6211(b)(4) of such Code is amended by striking subsection (i)(6) subsection (g) (11) Subparagraph (J) of section 6213(g)(2) of such Code is amended by striking 25A(g)(1) 25A(d)(2) (d) Clerical amendment The item relating to section 25A in the table of sections for subpart A of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 Sec. 25A. American Opportunity Tax Credit. . (e) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2014. 3. Expansion of Pell Grant exclusion from gross income (a) In general Paragraph (1) of section 117(b) received by an individual (1) as a scholarship or fellowship grant to the extent the individual establishes that, in accordance with the conditions of the grant, such amount was used for qualified tuition and related expenses, or (2) as a Federal Pell Grant under section 401 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (as in effect on the date of the enactment of the American Opportunity Tax Credit Act of 2015 . (b) Effective date The amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2014.

Summary: American Opportunity Tax Credit Act of 2015 Amends the Internal Revenue Code to replace the Hope Scholarship and Lifetime Learning tax credits with a new American Opportunity Tax Credit that: (1) allows an income tax credit of up to $2,500 of the qualified tuition and related expenses of a student who is carrying at least one half of a normal course load, (2) increases the income threshold for reductions in the credit amount based upon modified adjusted gross income, (3) allows a lifetime dollar limitation on such credit of $15,000 for all taxable years, and (4) makes a portion of such credit refundable. Allows an exclusion from gross income of any amount received as a Federal Pell Grant.