1098-T

[Bigone1]

So I took some college classes this year to finish my CCAF degree. I have not received a 1098-t which have been delivered by the school already, once calling they said I would not receive one this year as my TA paid for the classes on January 9th 2024, but it’s still making me input a 1098-T. What do I do?

[MonikaK1]

Yes, you can report your qualified education expenses and financial aid (scholarships/grants, if any); you do not need a 1098-T to file if the school wasn't required to send one to you.

To enter educational expenses (and financial aid):

• Click on Federal Taxes (Personal using Home and Business)
• Click on Deductions and Credits
• Click on I'll choose what I work on (if shown)
• Scroll down to Education
• On Expenses and Scholarships (Form 1098-T), click the start or update button

Follow the prompts and answer the questions to address the issue of your not having a Form 1098-T.

To be eligible to claim the American Opportunity Credit or Lifetime Learning Credit, the law requires a taxpayer (or a dependent) to have received Form 1098-T, Tuition Statement, from an eligible educational institution, whether domestic or foreign.

However, you may claim a credit if the student doesn't receive Form 1098-T because the student's educational institution isn't required to furnish Form 1098-T to the student under existing rules (for example, if the student is a qualified nonresident alien, has qualified education expenses paid entirely with scholarships, has qualified education expenses paid under a formal billing arrangement, or is enrolled in courses for which no academic credit is awarded). 

If a student's educational institution isn't required to provide Form 1098-T to the student, you may claim a credit without Form 1098-T if you otherwise qualify, can demonstrate that you (or a dependent) were enrolled at an eligible educational institution, and can substantiate the payment of qualified tuition and related expenses.

See IRS Publication 970 for more information.

See this help article for more information about qualified education expenses you can enter in TurboTax.

[Hal_Al]

Technically, if your 2023 tuition was not paid for until 2024, you do not qualify for a tuition credit.  

Depending on what "my TA paid for the classes" means, it  sounds like a "book keeping error" and you may want to claim the tuition credit anyway.  After telling TT (TurboTax) that you do not have a 1098-T, answer yes when asked if you qualify for an exception.  That will allow you to enter your expenses. 

[Bigone1]

I’m in the military, and the tuition assistance (TA) was not received by the school until 2024. My classes ended on the 31st of December

[MarilynG1 · Accepted solution]

If your entire tuition was paid with Tuition Assistance, you don't qualify for an Education Credit, so you don't have to enter anything in the Education section in TurboTax.  However, if you had other Qualified Education Expenses that you paid out-of-pocket, you can report those for a possible credit. 

If that applies, you can leave Tuition/Scholarship fields blank and just enter Other Education Expenses you paid yourself.  

@Bigone1