Solved

1098-T When Tuition Charged vs When Tuition Paid

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
February 8, 2020
2 replies
0 views

Hello,

I received my 2019 1098-T from my college. I graduated in Spring 2019, my final semester. The 2019 form reflects nothing in box 1 or 2 regarding tuition (different from evert 1098-T prior), however my tuition scholarship is still present. Given this, my refund takes a hit as without context it seems I have a lot of money from the university with no tuition being spent on.

However, in my actual student account where I paid my expenses, for Spring 2019 I can see a charge of the tuition as well as the credit from the tuition-only paying scholarship (as was the case each semester). They always cancel each other as they are posted at the same time each semester. I emailed my school account rep and they confirmed the tuition was charged in December 2018 but paid in January 2019.

Is this the situation where I check the box on Turbo Tax that says “this is not what I paid” and enter the tuition amount I paid? Or do I strictly upload the informational 1098-T and take the loss, as that box does not apply to me? I don’t want to submit this form incorrectly and have to sort out a wrong filing, but I also need help on uncovering the real and fair situation I file on.

TurboTax Free Edition Online

Best answer by KrisD15

This is what my school told me: “Because your Spring 2019 semester was charged in 2018, those payments are reflected on your 2018 tax form. What we report is based on when you are billed rather than when you pay”

If I was also confirmed by the school to have paid in January 2019, the 1098-T itself is not wrong given the school reports on when billed so the first two boxes would be blank. But it is an informational form, so me being paying in 2019 wouldn’t be reflected and I have to clarify that. This isn’t a confusing situation, it’s just one I have no clarity on for what applies to my situation...

This is answered in your other post.

Yes, definitely.

Your school is wrong. They are mandated to report what was paid, not what was billed.

Box 1 is what was paid in the tax year. If you paid in 2019, but the school did not report that in Box 1 of the 1098-T, you can use the link on the 1098-T screen and entered what was paid. (see screenshot posted above in thread)

Be sure to keep a copy of the statement that shows the payment was posted in 2019.

Be sure to keep this copy with your tax file.

According to the IRS:

“Box 1. Payments Received for Qualified Tuition and Related Expenses Enter the total amount of payments received for qualified tuition and related expenses from all sources during the calendar year. The amount reported is the total amount of payments received less any reimbursements or refunds made during the calendar year that relate to the payments received for qualified tuition and related expenses during the same calendar year. The amount reported is not reduced by scholarships and grants reported in box 5. Include in this box the receipt of a payment of past-due qualified tuition or related expenses from a previous calendar year, but only if the educational institution previously billed the student for such amount(s).

Box 2. Reserved This box is reserved for future use.”

J

JotikaT2

If the tuition was paid in 2018, it was picked up on your 2018 tax return.

Therefore, you would not be able to pick them up again in 2019.

If you had other expenses that you paid out of pocket which were directly related to your education, you can enter those expenses under the "Other Education Expenses (for all schools).

This will show up as you enter your 1098-T information under the page titled "Here's Your Education Summary".

Other expenses

Scholarships can be taxable if they are used for the following items:

Room & board
Travel & incidental expenses
Any fees, books & supplies not required for classes

Scholarships are not taxable if used at an eligible school for a degree if:

Tuition & fees
Fees, books, supplies needed for classes
Scholarship or fellowship for services from:
National Health Services Corps Scholarship Program
Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship & Financial Assistance program

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post**Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"

C

cannonwilliamsAuthor

Thank you for your reply. The tuition was charged in December 2018, but paid in January 2019.

C

cannonwilliamsAuthor

This is what my school told me: “Because your Spring 2019 semester was charged in 2018, those payments are reflected on your 2018 tax form. What we report is based on when you are billed rather than when you pay”

If I was also confirmed by the school to have paid in January 2019, the 1098-T itself is not wrong given the school reports on when billed so the first two boxes would be blank. But it is an informational form, so me being paying in 2019 wouldn’t be reflected and I have to clarify that. This isn’t a confusing situation, it’s just one I have no clarity on for what applies to my situation...

M

Marxist1

I have exactly the same issue, for my son's University. In his last year, they did report something in Box 1, but it is only a fraction of what we paid in tuition & fees, and they are claiming now that they "can only" report what was billed in the calendar year, not what was paid.

However,

1) They are using Box 1, not Box 2.

2) Except for his first year, when he began in Fall, every subsequent year's 1098-T shows 2 semesters' worth of tuition & fees.

I cannot get them to see their error. and my taxes are due!

Is there some scam where a University benefits from underreporting on the 1098T? Isn't it funny it's happening in students' final semesters?

Hal_Al

Employee

Q. How can I get them (the school) to see their error and correct the 1098-T? and my taxes are due!

A. You can't. Stop trying and just complete your taxes based on your own records. We see this frequently, in this forum, although the numbers are going down slowly.

The 1098-T is only an informational document. The numbers on it are not required to be entered onto your tax return. However receipt of a 1098-T frequently means you are either eligible for a tuition credit or possibly your student has taxable scholarship income.

If you claim the tuition credit, you do need to report that you got one or that you qualify for an exception (the TurboTax interview will handle this)

You claim the tuition credit, or report scholarship income, based on your own financial records, not the 1098-T. In the 1098-T screen, click on the link "What if this is not what I paid the school" underneath box 1. You will then be able to enter the actual amounts paid. You will also reach a screen that allows you to adjust the scholarship amount for "amounts not awarded for 2023 expenses".

Or if you find it easier, just change the numbers in boxes 1& 5 to what your records show. The 1098-T that you enter in TT is not sent to the IRS.