# Form 8863

URL: https://pdf.net/pdf-forms/education-forms/form-8863
Category: Education Forms 
Attributes: Trusted by accountants, Official IRS form, Filled annually

Form 8863 is used to calculate and claim your educational tax credit, based on qualified education expenses paid to an eligible postsecondary educational institution.

Select the fillable 8863 Form from our website, open it in our PDF editor, and enter the required information. Afterward, you can easily download it to your device and save it before submitting to the IRS.

## Versions

- 2025 — [download PDF](https://cdn.sanity.io/files/i16te7yp/production/350171b29f8d91e3864560a122c724cb305eae1d.pdf)

## How to Fill Out a 8863 Form

Step 1: Select Form 8863 from our fillable PDF forms hub.

Step 2: Complete Part III first; enter the information about the students claiming the credit and the educational institution.

Step 3: Go back to Parts I and II and fill out the details about the American Opportunity Credit and nonrefundable credits.

Step 4: Review the document.

Step 5: Prepare your Form 1040 and attach Form 8863 to it.

Step 6: Submit both forms to the IRS.

## Facts

### What Is a Form 8863?

Form 8863 allows you to claim the educational tax credit when enrolled in an eligible postsecondary institution. The credits you can claim with this form include the refundable American Opportunity Credit and the nonrefundable Lifetime Learning Credit.

### Who Is Required to Fill Out an 8863 Form?

You can fill out an 8863 Form if you, your spouse, or a dependent you claim on your tax return was a student enrolled in an eligible educational institution. However, you can’t claim the credit if you’re married but filing separately, married to a nonresident alien, or have a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) of over $180,000 together (or $90,000 if you’re single).

### When Should a Form 8863 Be Submitted?

Form 8863 is attached to Form 1040, the federal income tax return, so it is filed at the same time. In other words, the deadline for submitting both of these documents is 15th April.

### What Are the Penalties for Providing Incorrect Information?

Penalties for providing incorrect information may include repaying the credit with interest if you receive more credit than you are entitled to. You may also be banned from claiming the American Opportunity Credit for 2 to 10 years in case of willful misrepresentation. Finally, if fraud is established, you could even face criminal charges.

### How Do I Submit an 8863 Form?

You should submit an 8863 Form along with your federal income tax return by simply attaching it to that form and sending them together. You can do so by mail or electronically.

## Related forms

- [1098-T Form](https://pdf.net/pdf-forms/tax-forms/1098-t-form)
- [1040 Form](https://pdf.net/pdf-forms/tax-forms/1040-form)
- [Form 8962](https://pdf.net/pdf-forms/tax-forms/8962-form)
- [Form 8862](https://pdf.net/pdf-forms/tax-forms/form-8862)
- [Schedule A (Form 1040)](https://pdf.net/pdf-forms/tax-forms/schedule-a-form-1040)