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New Member
posted Jun 3, 2019 11:13:20 AM

Can my son claim the principal amt he paid on his student loan as an education expense for his Coverdell ESA distribution? If so, where do I enter that amount?

He received a 1099-Q showing his total Coverdell ESA distribution, and a 1098-E showing the only the interest he paid on his student loan, not the principal. Isn't the principal amount of the student loan a qualified education cost for Coverdell ESA purposes?

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New Member
Jun 3, 2019 11:13:21 AM

Student loans are not considered qualified higher education expenses for a Coverdell ESA distribution under the current law. You son cannot claim the repayment as an education expense  to offset a Coverdell ESA distribution.

The IRS has stated that if you pay for education expenses with money from a loan, you take can use the education expenses in the year you pay the expenses, not in the year you get a student loan or the year you repay the student loan.

1 Replies
New Member
Jun 3, 2019 11:13:21 AM

Student loans are not considered qualified higher education expenses for a Coverdell ESA distribution under the current law. You son cannot claim the repayment as an education expense  to offset a Coverdell ESA distribution.

The IRS has stated that if you pay for education expenses with money from a loan, you take can use the education expenses in the year you pay the expenses, not in the year you get a student loan or the year you repay the student loan.