If I graduated in May 2020, should I have a 1098-T or otherwise enter education expenses?

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
February 27, 2021
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I did not receive a 1098-T from my school and am not sure how to answer the questions re education expenses. I did have education expenses in 2020, but I have no 1098-T. Were they covered by my 2019 1098-T? Is there something I should still enter for education expenses?

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Hal_Al

Employee

Q. Should I have a 1098-T? ?

A. That depends on your school's billing process. You do or you don't, but it doesn't matter.

Q. Do I otherwise enter education expenses?

A. Yes, you said you did have education expenses in 2020.

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 deduction or possibly your student has taxable scholarship income.

When TT asks if you got a 1098-T, answer no, but answer that you qualify for an exception.

You claim the tuition credit, or report scholarship income, based on your own financial records, not the 1098-T. Follow the TT interview to enter your expenses. You can not count 2020 expenses that were paid for in 2019 (typically 2020 first term tuition paid in December 2019.).