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March 28, 2020
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Graduate Student Fellowship with no income reported on W-2, and no 1099-MISC - how to report?

  • March 28, 2020
  • 3 replies
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I am a graduate student with a fellowship paid by the university.  I am working towards a PhD.  My university sent me a W-2 and a 1098-T, but they did not send me a 1099-MISC.

 

In my W-2, there are no wages, income tax withheld, social security reported.  There is only 12a Code DD "cost of employer sponsored healthcare" reported.

 

In my 1098-T, there are two numbers reported:

-Box 1: Payments for qualified tuition

-Box 5: Scholarships or grants

Box 8 and 9 are marked Yes, as I am a full-time graduate student.

 

Some of my Fellowship goes to pay my tuition, but some goes to pay me a stipend to perform research, as indicated in the 1098-T.  I'm assuming that the amount of the stipend is taxable?  If so, how do I report it through Turbo Tax?  Do I need to submit an SS-8 Form?  Or can I just report it through 'Other Miscellaneous Income'?

    Best answer by KathrynG3

    Based on @Hal_Al and @Bsch4477 's insights, I have edited my answer accordingly:

    First, regarding your W-2, it is not reportable and does not need to be included in your return, as Bsch4477 stated.

    What is Code DD in Box 12 of my W-2?

     

    Second, regarding your fellowship:

    Enter Form 1098-T exactly as received. After posting, TurboTax will ask for additional details.

    • The next screen will ask: Did Taxpayer's Aid Include Amounts Not Awarded for 2019 Expenses? 
      • This is for costs paid in one year for a school term in a different year.
    • Did Taxpayer Pay for Room and Board with a Scholarship or Grant? 
      • This refers to living expenses.
        • Answer Yes, entering the excess amount received over tuition.

    For any excess stipend over the amount of tuition, if Form 1098-T was not received, enter in TurboTax following these steps:

    1. From the left menu, select Federal
    2. Wages & Income scroll all the way down to Less Common Income and click Show More
    3. Select the last listed option for Miscellaneous Income 1099-A, 1099-C, click Start
    4. Next, select the last listed option Other Reportable Income
    5. Did you receive any other taxable income, click Yes
    6. Other Taxable Income: Enter your description and the amount and click Continue and Done.

    Click the links for more details:

    Are my scholarships, fellowships, or grants taxable?

    How do I enter Form 1098-T?

    2019 IRS Publication 970 beginning on page 5

    and also, see page 89: Scholarships and fellowship grants.

    • Expenses for tuition and fees required to enroll at or attend an eligible educational institution, and
    • course-related expenses, such as
      • fees,
      • books,
      • supplies, and
      • equipment

    that are required for the courses at the eligible educational institution.

    Course-related items must be required of all students in the course of instruction.

    IRS Tax Benefits for Education Center

    Student Exception to Social Security and Medicare Taxes: explains why your fellowship is not subject to self-employment tax. Therefore, it must be reported as less common income.

    Congratulations on your fellowship and PhD work!

    [Edited 3/28/2020 | 3:58 PM PST]

    @jaybird4522 

    3 replies

    Employee
    March 28, 2020

    You do not have to report the W-2.  If scholarship (Box 5) is greater than tuition (Box1) and the difference is greater than $12,200, report as scholarship income. If the difference is less than $12,200 you don’t have to file if you have no other income. 

    Hal_Al
    Employee
    March 28, 2020

    You do Not file form SS-8, for several reasons. Students working for the college are exempt from FICA.  Reporting it as Scholarship, not wages, is the correct way.

    KathrynG3
    KathrynG3Answer
    March 28, 2020

    Based on @Hal_Al and @Bsch4477 's insights, I have edited my answer accordingly:

    First, regarding your W-2, it is not reportable and does not need to be included in your return, as Bsch4477 stated.

    What is Code DD in Box 12 of my W-2?

     

    Second, regarding your fellowship:

    Enter Form 1098-T exactly as received. After posting, TurboTax will ask for additional details.

    • The next screen will ask: Did Taxpayer's Aid Include Amounts Not Awarded for 2019 Expenses? 
      • This is for costs paid in one year for a school term in a different year.
    • Did Taxpayer Pay for Room and Board with a Scholarship or Grant? 
      • This refers to living expenses.
        • Answer Yes, entering the excess amount received over tuition.

    For any excess stipend over the amount of tuition, if Form 1098-T was not received, enter in TurboTax following these steps:

    1. From the left menu, select Federal
    2. Wages & Income scroll all the way down to Less Common Income and click Show More
    3. Select the last listed option for Miscellaneous Income 1099-A, 1099-C, click Start
    4. Next, select the last listed option Other Reportable Income
    5. Did you receive any other taxable income, click Yes
    6. Other Taxable Income: Enter your description and the amount and click Continue and Done.

    Click the links for more details:

    Are my scholarships, fellowships, or grants taxable?

    How do I enter Form 1098-T?

    2019 IRS Publication 970 beginning on page 5

    and also, see page 89: Scholarships and fellowship grants.

    • Expenses for tuition and fees required to enroll at or attend an eligible educational institution, and
    • course-related expenses, such as
      • fees,
      • books,
      • supplies, and
      • equipment

    that are required for the courses at the eligible educational institution.

    Course-related items must be required of all students in the course of instruction.

    IRS Tax Benefits for Education Center

    Student Exception to Social Security and Medicare Taxes: explains why your fellowship is not subject to self-employment tax. Therefore, it must be reported as less common income.

    Congratulations on your fellowship and PhD work!

    [Edited 3/28/2020 | 3:58 PM PST]

    @jaybird4522 

    Hal_Al
    Employee
    March 28, 2020

    Do not report it as "other Income", particularly if you are someone else's dependent.  That will put it on line 7a of form 1040 (via Schedule 1) instead of line 1 of form 1040; and that affects your standard deduction calculation.

    Instead, enter taxable scholarship at the 1098-T screen under Deductions and Credits (not income).

     

     If scholarship (Box 5) is greater than tuition (Box1)  report as scholarship income. If your total income, including the taxable portion of the scholarship is less than $12,200 you don’t have to file a tax return.

    March 28, 2020

    I am not someone else's dependent.  I am paying for my education on my own.  My total income was more than $12,200, as I was working another job.  I have a separate W-2 that reflects this income.

     

    To clarify, you are saying that I only need to report the 1098-T on the Deductions & Credits section of Turbo Tax, and I don't need to report it anywhere else?

     

    What does 'taxable scholarship' mean?  Is that the part that asks 'Was any of the scholarship income not designated to pay 2019 education expenses?'