Can I claim tuition/fees from a 1098-T form from 2015 in 2016?

[tseifs]

I was enrolled in graduate school for the Fall of 2015 and Spring of 2016. I received a 1098-T form in January of 2016 for my expenses in both the Fall of 2015 and Spring of 2016 (the form had a checked box 7). Neither I nor my parents deducted any of my 1098-T expenses from our taxes in 2015. Since my student loans to pay for my tuition were dispersed on 1/5/16, am I able to claim my tuition/fees from Spring of 2016 on my taxes for 2016 even though it will not appear on a 1098-T form?

[KenH1]

No, unfortunately you cannot.  The data reported by the school will eventually get matched with what is reported on your tax return, including the tax year.  The student loan disbursement dates have no impact.

You can file an amendment for 2015, however.

Additional information on the 1098-T form can be found here:

Guide to 1098-T

[tseifs]

Thanks for the response. I guess I'm a still a little confused why I wouldn't be able to use the tuition/fees I paid in 2016 for a semester as a full time student in 2016 for a deduction in 2016. Even though I wouldn't have a 1098-T form, I still have the documentation to show that I paid a tuition bill in January of 2016 for a semester of graduate school in 2016 that hasn't been claimed on taxes previously.

[KenH1]

If you received a 1098-T for 2016 that did not include the amount you paid in 2016, then you should contact your school.  Some schools issue 1098-Ts based on when they BILL for tuition, not when it is paid.  Most schools have staff that are equipped to answer this routinely.

[tseifs]

Will do! Thanks!