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January 18, 2021
Question

My daugher is not coming up as a dependent for from 1099Q

  • January 18, 2021
  • 2 replies
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When I try to enter my daughters 1099-Q on my taxes it does not list her as a dependent from the list. I think this is because I rotate years to claim her as a dependent with her mom and this year is not my year, however I am the one who paid for the Pre-Paid College. 

    2 replies

    DawnC
    Employee
    January 18, 2021

    Form 1099-Q reports distributions and benefits from Coverdell education savings accounts and 529 plans.  It's reported on the tax return of the person whose Social Security number is on the form. 

     

    The form does not report the contributions you made to the plan.   Contributions to the pre-paid college plan are not deductible on your federal return, but some states let you deduct all or part of your 529 plan contributions.  If your state is one of those states, we'll prompt you to enter your 529 contributions when you get to the credits & deductions portion of your state taxes.

     

    If you (and not your daughter) are the recipient on the 1099-Q, TurboTax will ask ''Who is the student?''  You should see an option to choose ''Someone else not listed here''.   Adding her name there will not add her as a dependent on your tax return.  

     

    Where do I enter a 1099-Q?

     

     

    **Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post**Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"
    Hal_Al
    Employee
    January 18, 2021

    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.

     

    Assuming you are the recipient, after entering the 1099-Q you will be asked who is the student. One of the choices will be "someone not listed here". Select that.  The next screen will allow you to add the name of the student.  The student does not have to be your dependent.  She only needs to be the "beneficiary".

     

    **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 the other parent (the one claiming the dependent) to claim the tuition credit. The parents 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." 

    Hal_Al
    Employee
    January 18, 2021

    If the Mom is claiming the student as a dependent, she is allowed to claim the tuition credit.  You need to coordinate with her so there is no double dipping on her using the same expenses to claim the credit that you use to claim the earnings exclusion for the 1099-Q.

     

    The following is not specific to your situation by describes generally "how it works" (some of this is repeated from above).

     

    Qualified Tuition Plans  (QTP 529 Plans)

    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  (on Mom's return)

     =$3000 Can be used against the 1099-Q 

     

    Box 1 of the 1099-Q is $5000

    Box 2 is $600

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

    60%x600= $360

    You have $240 of taxable income (600-360)

     

    **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.