IRS News Release 2013-10 (Jan 28, 2013)

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IRS To Accept Returns Claiming Education Credits by Mid-February
...the Internal Revenue Service announced today that processing of tax returns claiming education credits will begin by the middle of February.

Taxpayers using Form 8863, Education Credits, can begin filing their tax returns after the IRS updates its processing systems. Form 8863 is used to claim two higher education credits -- the American Opportunity Tax Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit.
The IRS emphasized that the delayed start will have no impact on taxpayers claiming other education-related tax benefits, such as the tuition and fees deduction and the student loan interest deduction. People otherwise able to file and claiming these benefits can start filing Jan. 30.

[teen persuasion]

Thanks for the heads-up.  I didn't even realize that Ed credits were among the delayed stuff.  I'll hold my college boy off on filing his return until after they are set to go.  Then the FAFSA.  Gets later and later each year.

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Monday, February 11 is the date IRS anticipates it will begin accepting and processing Form 1040 returns with Form 8863 attached.