Elena Cardoza paid 4,000 dollars of qualified tuition and related expenses for her son, who is in his first year of a degree programme and is enrolled at least half-time with no felony drug conviction. Elena's income is below all education-credit phase-out ranges, and her son is her dependant. If she may claim either the American Opportunity Credit or the Lifetime Learning Credit on these same expenses, which credit gives the larger benefit, and what is its amount?
- AThe Lifetime Learning Credit, 800 dollars, computed as 20% of the 4,000 dollars of qualified expenses.
- BThe American Opportunity Credit, 1,000 dollars, computed as 25% of the 4,000 dollars of qualified expenses.
- CThe American Opportunity Credit, 2,500 dollars, computed as 100% of the first 2,000 dollars plus 25% of the next 2,000 dollars. Correct
- DThe Lifetime Learning Credit, 2,000 dollars, because it equals 100% of the first 2,000 dollars of qualified expenses.
Why A is wrong: 20% of 4,000 is correctly 800, but this is the smaller credit. The American Opportunity Credit is available to a first-year student and yields more, so the Lifetime Learning Credit is not the better choice here.
Why B is wrong: The AOTC is the better credit, but the amount is wrong; 25% applies only to the second 2,000 dollars, not the whole 4,000. Applying 25% to 4,000 gives 1,000, which misstates the formula.
Why C is correct: The AOTC is 100% of the first 2,000 (2,000) plus 25% of the next 2,000 (500), totalling 2,500, the per-student maximum. The first-year student qualifies, so this exceeds the Lifetime Learning Credit.
Why D is wrong: The Lifetime Learning Credit is 20% of expenses, not 100% of the first 2,000; the 2,000 figure borrows the AOTC first-tier rule. The correct LLC here would be 800, and it is the smaller option.