Where do I enter private grade school tuition paid using 529 plan funds in 2018?

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
June 7, 2019
8 replies
0 views

In 2018, the tax law changed and you can use money withdrawn from a 529 plan to pay for K-12 private school tuition and for post secondary education. I am wondering where I enter the K-12 tuition? I have tried in the same area as you would enter post secondary education, but it just seems to be for college tuition.

TurboTax Self Employed Online

Best answer by Hal_Al

You can just not report the 1099-Q, at all, if your student-beneficiary has sufficient educational expenses (up to $10,000 for K-12) to cover the distribution. 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.

bschmitzfamilyAuthor

I am not trying to deduct the tuition, I just want the earnings from my 529 plan to be tax free on my return. I have money withdrawn from my 529 plan to cover one daughters tuition to college and then a different daughters K-12 private school tuition. So the only way to deal with this via turbo tax is to not report the 1099 Q and have the information in my personal tax file in the event of an audit? Thanks!

bschmitzfamilyAuthor

I realized that I had to go back into where I entered the 1099 Q and split it between my two daughters to get the ability to enter the K-12 tuition so that the earnings were not taxable.

jesperostergaard

I am having trouble with this entry as well. How did you solve this - I have tried entereing expenses for each of the kids exceeding the distgribution - but it still impacts my taxes when I delete the 1099-Qs

paulweybrew

The amount I withdrew from my child's 529 was less than the less than the amount of her private high schools tuition. I don't think Turbo Tax is set up for K-12. I received 1099Q from my 529 but no 1098t from the high school. Your advice is to not report it but keep records of my payment?

Hal_Al

Employee

Yes.

Hal_AlAnswer

Employee

DoninGA

Employee

The TurboTax support FAQ you viewed has the correct information - https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900511-can-the-cost-of-private-schooling-be-deducted

The funds from the 529 can be used for grades K-12 but they are not deductible on a federal tax return. Only post-secondary education expenses are deductible on a federal tax return.

arlenpenfield

But where do I enter private grade school tuition in Turbo Tax software?

KrisD15

When you enter the 1099-Q under

Deductions & Credits

Education

ESA and 529 qualified tuition programs (Form 1099-Q)

Enter the 1099-Q and the program will ask if it was used for k-12 tuition.

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post**Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"

arlenpenfield

I entered the 1099Q and the program did not ask if it was used for k12 education. It just says"if you incurred education expenses in 2023 be sure to visit the education section of the program to enter the expenses"