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April 10, 2025
Question

Excess scholarship amount and 529

  • April 10, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 0 views

I have been reading some posts relevant to my question, but I'm still confused. I'd greatly appreciate your help on this. Let me describe my situation:

 

  • My daughter is 21 years old and a full-time college student
  • She received a  scholarship that covers more than the tuition:
    • Scholarship amount: $46,000
    • Tuition & fees: $19,000
    • Thus, she has excess money: $27,000
  • She also made $20,000 from her internship
  • We received $2,200 from her 529 plan. The 1099-T was sent to me (my daughter is the beneficiary)
  • In sum, her income last year was $49,200 ($27,000+$20,000 + $2,200)
  • I see that excess money from the scholarship ($27,000) is taxable

Now, here are my questions:

  1. Since I didn't pay any money for her college, do I even need to enter 1098-T on my return? Or should we both have to enter the 1098-T since she's my dependent?
  2. I read from some posts that I may be able to "split" the scholarship excess. Is it true? If yes, would this work?
    • Both my daughter and I enter the 1098-T. BUT we enter different amounts
    • My daughter enters $0 for Box 1 and $46,000 for Box 5. She'll end up paying tax on $46,000
    • I enter $19,000 for Box 1 and $0 for Box 5
    • Is this a correct way to split it? Is it legal to do this? Will this help lower the tax that we owe?
  3. Who should report 1099-T? It's sent to me, but the beneficiary is my daughter.
  4. Do I even claim her as my dependent when the scholarship and her income covered her housing and other living expenses? 

Thanks for your help!

    1 reply

    Hal_Al
    Employee
    April 10, 2025

    Other than the fact, that you didn't pay any tuition or educational expenses, are you otherwise eligible for the tuition credit? That is, is you income under $90K ($180K married filing jointly)? Is it under $80K ($160K MFJ).  There is a credit phase out between $80-90K (160-180 MFJ). 

    yulesongAuthor
    April 10, 2025

    Thanks for the quick answer! My status is married filing jointly, and the total income is below $180K. As for the expense, the scholarship covered the tuition and provided excess money for housing so I didn't pay any out of my own pocket. 

    Hal_Al
    Employee
    April 10, 2025

    Since you are eligible, have you claimed the American Opportunity credit (AOC) in previous years (some of it will be on line 29 of form 1040)? If so, how many times (there is a 4 time limit)? Senior year is often the 5th calendar/tax year.