Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC) Explained | Who Qualifies & How Much You Can Claim (2025)

The Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC) helps offset the cost of college, graduate school, and job-related education by reducing your tax bill. In this video, I explain who qualifies for the Lifetime Learning Credit, what education expenses count, how the income phaseout works, and how the credit flows to Form 1040. You’ll also see how the LLC differs from the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC), why the LLC is not refundable, and the most common mistakes taxpayers make when claiming education credits. This video focuses on eligibility and understanding the rules. #taxes2025 #taxes #taxreturn #taxcredits 00:00 Introduction 01:22 Overview 03:33 Qualifications 05:20 Allowed Expenses 06:35 MAGI Requirements 07:30 Example 08:50 Location on 1040 About Brian Winrow Brian Winrow is a tax attorney and educator with extensive experience in taxation, accounting, and business. He holds a J.D., LL.M. in Taxation, DBA, MAcc, and MBA, and is licensed to practice before the U.S. Tax Court. He also maintains active professional certifications in taxation and fraud examination. Brian teaches undergraduate and graduate-level tax and accounting courses and focuses on making complex tax concepts easy to understand. He is the founder of Winrow Tax Services, where he works with individuals and businesses on a wide range of tax matters. If you're interested in working with Brian or learning more about his tax practice, you can visit Winrow Tax Services at www. winrowtax.com. Have Questions? Leave them in the comments! I post regular tax education videos designed to make difficult concepts simple and accessible. If you are seeking to become a client, please direct your questions to [email protected] as opposed to leaving them in the comments.