Hope Credit // Lifetime Learning Credit

Paying for College
1

<p>It's that time of the year again, and I have a small problem. I'm a college student and I'm currently paying my way through, but this last year I only took one class per semester. Anyway, I'm about to file my taxes and it says I can't have the Lifetime learning credit more than twice. Problem being I'm not sure which credit I took in previous years.</p>

<p>If I put lifetime learning, and it turns out I've had it more than twice, will I get screwed, or will it simply be rejected and I'll have to correct it?</p>

2

<p>What is the “it” that says this? You can have the lifetime credit more than twice. It was the Hope you could not take more than twice (though that is changed for 2009 and 2010 you are probably not eligible as you must be enrolled at least half time for at least a semester for Hope).</p>

3

<p>Don’t you have copies of your prior income tax filings?</p>

4

<p>If you don’t have copies of your prior year taxes, you can always order a tax transcript for free from the IRS.</p>