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March 21, 2021
Question

Recipient is not designated beneficiary - 2020 Turbotax still not calculating correctly.

  • March 21, 2021
  • 2 replies
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I am the parent and my name is listed as the recipient on the 1099-Q but all the distributions were for my daughters college tuition.  When I select myself as the recipient and my daughter as the student, the turboxtax software still defaults to the higher taxes.  If I select my daughter as the recipient, then the associated tax goes away.  Can turbo tax software team fix this issue?

    2 replies

    Hal_Al
    Employee
    March 21, 2021

    So far you haven't described anything needing fixing. 

     The tax doesn't "go away", it just shifts to her return.  But, you don't have that option. Since you are the recipient, it must go on your return, if it goes anywhere.  See below for the situation when it does not have to be entered at all. 

     

    Provide the following info for more specific help:

    • Are you the student or parent.
    • 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
    • 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

     

    ______________________________________________________________________________________

    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 $600

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

    40% x 600= $240

    You have $240 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. 

    March 22, 2021

    Provide the following info for more specific help:

    • Are you the student or parent. - I am the parent
    • Is the  student  the parent's dependent. - YES
    • Box 1 of the 1098-T - $16146
    • box 5 of the 1098-T- $0
    • Any other scholarships not shown in box 5 - NONE
    • Does box 5 include any of the 529/ESA plan payments (it should not) - NO
    • Is any of the Scholarship restricted; i.e. it must be used for tuition - NO
    • Box 1 of the 1099-Q - $16,709
    • Box 2 of the 1098-Q - $4126
    • Who’s name and SS# are on the 1099-Q, parent or student (who’s the “recipient”)? - PARENT
    • Room & board paid. If student lives off campus, what is school's R&B charge - NA
    • Other qualified expenses not included in box 1 of the 1098-T, e.g. books & computers - NA
    • How much taxable income does the student have, from what sources - $3230
    Hal_Al
    Employee
    March 22, 2021

    Based on those numbers, a small amount of the distribution is taxable.  A larger amount is taxable, if you claim the tuition credit.

     

    Example 1:
      $16,146 in educational expenses

       -       $0         paid by tax free scholarship

       -        0          used to claim the American Opportunity credit

    =$16,146      Can be used against the 1099-Q

     

    Box 1 of the 1099-Q is $16,709

    Box 2 is $4126

    16,146 / 16,709 =96.63% of the earnings are tax free; 3.37% are taxable

    0.0337 x 4126 = $139

    You have $139of taxable income  and a 10% penalty for a non qualified distribution

     

    Example 2:
      $16,146 in educational expenses

       -       $0         paid by tax free scholarship

       -    4000     used to claim the American Opportunity credit

    =$12,146      Can be used against the 1099-Q 

     

    Box 1 of the 1099-Q is $16,709

    Box 2 is $4126

    12,146 / 16,709 =72.69% of the earnings are tax free; 27.31% are taxable

    0.2731 x 4126 = $1127

    You have $1127 of taxable income  but get a $2500 Tax Credit (assuming you're otherwise eligible. Only  $139 of the $1127 would be subject to the 10% penalty.  Claiming a credit is a penalty exception.

     

    You may claim "board" (food) even if your student lives at home. You may claim your actual cost or the school meal plan charge, for on campus residents, whichever is less.  For example purposes, I'll use $3800 (my son's school charge per year).

     

    Example 3:
      $16,146      in educational expenses

    +   3, 800       Board

       -       $0         paid by tax free scholarship

       -    4000          used to claim the American Opportunity credit

    =$15,946      Can be used against the 1099-Q 

     

    Box 1 of the 1099-Q is $16,709

    Box 2 is $4126

    15946 / 16,709 =95.43% of the earnings are tax free; 4.57% are taxable

    0.0457 x 4126 = $188

    You have $188  of taxable income  and get the $2500 Tax credit 

     

     

     

     

    KrisD15
    March 21, 2021

    If you made the distribution, the 1099-Q is issued to you and you are liable for the tax. 

    If the student makes the distribution, or the funds are transferred directly to the school, the 1099-Q is issued to the student and the student is liable for the tax. 

     

    This is based on tax law and that is how the TurboTax program is set up. 

     

    If there is taxable income generated by the 1099-Q, the person listed on the 1099-Q is responsible. If the funds were used to pay education expenses, there would be no taxable income unless the expenses are used for a credit. If you select the student as the recipient, the tax doesn't necessarily go away, but it would be reported on the student's return, not yours. 

     

    IRS Pub 970

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