College expenses when student hasn’t started yet

[katmazz]

My daughter graduated high school early (December, 2023). She enrolled in college & started as a full-time student in January 2024. However, I purchased her computer (for college) & books in December, 2023 right after she finished high school. I want to claim these expenses but it’s asking if she is a full time student, working toward a degree. So when the expenses were incurred she hadn’t started college yet but was technically enrolled. Not sure how to claim these expenses properly. I also withdrew the money out of her 529, so it needs to be counted as a qualified education expense.

[KrisD15]

Expenses paid in 2023 for classes that start January, February and/or March 2024 may be claimed in 2023. 

The student is also considered a student based on the enrollment for classes that starts in 2024.

It would be wise to have the student make the withdrawals (or transfer funds directly to the school) so that the 1099-Q is properly issued to the student's social security number. 

If a distribution is ever taxable, it is taxable for the taxpayer listed on the 1099-Q.

According to the IRS:

“qualified education expenses paid in 2023 for an academic period beginning in 2023 or beginning in the first 3 months of 2024.”

“For 2023, treat an academic period beginning in the first 3 months of 2024 as if it began in 2023 if qualified education expenses for the student were paid in 2023 for that academic period. “