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February 21, 2022
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I withdrew the amount of my daughter's scholarship from her 529 plan. Where do I report that income?

  • February 21, 2022
  • 2 replies
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How do I report a non qualified withdrawal from a 529 plan equal to the amount my daughter received from a scholarship?
Best answer by Hal_Al

Q. Where/how do I report the earnings subject to tax ? I put it under Miscellaneous Income because there didn’t seem to be anywhere else to record it. 

 

A. It sounds like you have already calculated the taxable amount.  You are allowed to do that.  You do not have to go through the TT interview or even enter the 1099-Q (or the 1098-T)*.  That assumes you don't need help claiming a tuition credit or calculating taxable scholarship for the student's tax return.  

 

Actually, Misc Income (Other Income, line 8z of Schedule 1) is the proper place to put it (it's where TT puts it). Identify it as  "Qual State Tuition Prgm from 1099-Q"  (wording used by TT for a state sponsored 529)  or something similar. 

 

*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.  The 1099-Q is also only an informational document, 

______________________________________________________________________________________

Qualified Tuition Plans  (QTP 529 Plans) Distributions

General Discussion

It’s complicated.

For 529 plans, there is an “owner” (usually the parent), and a “beneficiary” (usually the student dependent). The "recipient" of the distribution can be either the owner or the beneficiary depending on who the money was sent to. When the money goes directly from the Qualified Tuition Plan (QTP) to the school, the student is the "recipient". The distribution will be reported on IRS form 1099-Q. 
The 1099-Q gets reported on the recipient's return.** The recipient's name & SS# will be on the 1099-Q.
Even though the 1099-Q is going on the student's return, the 1098-T should go on the parent's return, so you can claim the education credit. You can do this because he is your dependent.

You can and should claim the tuition credit before claiming the 529 plan earnings exclusion. The educational expenses he claims for the 1099-Q should be reduced by the amount of educational expenses you claim for the credit.
But be aware, you can not double dip. You cannot count the same tuition money, for the tuition credit,  that gets him an exclusion from the taxability of the earnings (interest) on the 529 plan. Since the credit is more generous; use as much of the tuition as is needed for the credit and the rest for the interest exclusion. Another special rule allows you to claim the tuition credit even though it was "his" money that paid the tuition.
In addition, there is another rule that says the 10% penalty is waived if he was unable to cover the 529 plan withdrawal with educational expenses either because he got scholarships or the expenses were used (by him or the parents) to claim the credits. He'll have to pay tax on the earnings, at his lower tax rate (subject to the “kiddie tax”), but not the penalty.

 

Total qualified expenses (including room & board) less amounts paid by scholarship less amounts used to claim the Tuition credit equals the amount you can use to claim the earnings exclusion on the 1099-Q. 
Example:
  $10,000 in educational expenses(including room & board)

   -$3000 paid by tax free scholarship***

   -$4000 used to claim the American Opportunity credit

 =$3000 Can be used against the 1099-Q (usually on the student’s return)

 

Box 1 of the 1099-Q is $5000

Box 2 is $2800

3000/5000=60% of the earnings are tax free; 40% are taxable

40% x 2800= $1120

You have $1120 of taxable income  

 

**Alternatively; you can just not report the 1099-Q, at all, if your student-beneficiary has sufficient educational expenses, including room & board (even if he lives at home) to cover the distribution. You would still have to do the math to see if there were enough expenses left over for you to claim the tuition credit. Again, you cannot double dip!  When the box 1 amount on form 1099-Q is fully covered by expenses, TurboTax will enter nothing about the 1099-Q on the actual tax forms. But, it will prepare a 1099-Q worksheet for your records, in case of an IRS inquiry.

On form 1099-Q, instructions to the recipient reads: "Nontaxable distributions from CESAs and QTPs are not required to be reported on your income tax return. You must determine the taxability of any distribution." 

***Another alternative is have the student report some of his scholarship as taxable income, to free up some expenses for the 1099-Q and/or tuition credit. Most people come out better having the scholarship taxable before the 529 earnings

 

 

2 replies

February 21, 2022

Please see  Where do I enter a 1099-Q?  

 

Generally, you only need to report Form 1099-Q if you didn't have enough qualifying educational expenses, including room & board, to cover the distribution. Please see What is IRS Form 1099-Q? for additional information. 

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February 22, 2022

The issue is that I wanted to withdraw the amount of the scholarship, which I did. We still paid the rest of the tuition from the 529. Where/how do I report the earnings subject to tax ? I put it under Miscellaneous Income because there didn’t seem to be anywhere else to record it. 

Hal_Al
Employee
February 22, 2022

This reply assumes the student is your dependent and you are the recipient of the 1099-Q.  The TurboTax interview does that automatically (and calculates the taxable amount). But it can get tricky, that's why ask for your specifics.

Enter the 1099-Q before you enter the 1098-T.  That should insure that you get the screen to enter room and board.

In TurboTax (TT), enter at:

Federal Taxes Tab (Personal for H&B version)

Deductions & Credits

-Scroll down to:

--Education

  --ESA and 529 Qualified Tuition Programs (1099-Q)

 

Later you enter the 1098-T and other expenses. Say yes when asked if you book expenses, even if you don't. That gets the Room and board screen.

In TurboTax (TT), enter at:

Federal Taxes Tab (Personal for H&B version)

Deductions & Credits

-Scroll down to:

--Education

  --Education Expenses

 

  In the interview, you should eventually reach a screen called "Amount used to calculate education deduction or credit." If you are claiming the American Opportunity Credit,  Be sure the amount in that box is $4000.  If you are not claiming a credit, change it to 0.  

 

Hal_Al
Employee
February 21, 2022

Q. I withdrew the amount of my daughter's scholarship from her 529 plan. How do I report that income?

A.  Very carefully. The TurboTax (TT) interview is difficult.

 

Provide the following info for more specific help:

  • Is the  student  the parent's dependent.
  • Box 1 of the 1098-T
  • box 5 of the 1098-T
  • Any other scholarships not shown in box 5
  • Does box 5 include any of the 529/ESA plan payments (it should not)
  • Is any of the Scholarship restricted; i.e. it must be used for tuition
  • Box 1 of the 1099-Q
  • Box 2 of the 1098-Q
  • Who’s name and SS# are on the 1099-Q, parent or student (who’s the “recipient”)?
  • Room & board paid. If student lives off campus, what is school's R&B charge. If the student lives at home, only the school's board charge for on campus students. 
  • Other qualified expenses not included in box 1 of the 1098-T, e.g. books & computers
  • How much  taxable income does the student have, from what sources
  • Are you trying to claim the tuition credit (are you eligible)?
  • Is the student an undergrad or grad student?