College Expenses

[amisasi]

My son paid for his college tuition and books. We claim him as a dependent on our tax return. Can we enter his 1099-T on our return to see if we are qualified for either the American Opportunity Credit or Lifetime Learning Credit? Or would we have had to pay for his tuition and books? Thanks!

[xmasbaby0]

If you are claiming him as a dependent then you are the one who uses the education credit on your tax return.  And...it is a 1098T.

[DanaB27]

Yes, if your son is your dependent then only you can claim the education credits. Please follow these steps to enter the Form 1098-T:

1. Click on "Search" on the top right and type “1098-T”  
2. Click on “Jump to 1098-T”

Please see What education tax credits are available? for additional information.

[amisasi]

Thanks for the reply! Yes, it was a typo in my question when I said 1099T. We did get a 1098T form.

[amisasi]

Thanks for the response. Does it matter who actually paid for his tuition? In our case, our son paid all the tuition himself, but we are claiming him as a dependent on our tax return.

[Hal_Al · Accepted solution]

Confirming what the others have said: you can claim the tuition credit on your return, for your dependent son's education, even though he paid the expenses.  Although the general rule, in taxes, is that you must be the one making the payment, to get the deduction, there is an exception for education.

He is not allowed to claim the credit, on his own return,  because he is a dependent.  It is not optional (there is a rare exception). 

[amisasi]

Great, thanks everyone for the help!