Do I really have to report earnings from my GI Bill Education Assistance?

[jodie]

I've never had to put how much money the GI Bill paid me for education assistance before. Why do I now? Now I can't get any tax credit for my college expenses.

[IsabellaG]

You can only claim credit for expenses that you paid that were not paid through GI Bill assistance. This is not new. See this link: https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/tax-tips/Tax-Deductions-and-Credits/Are-GI-Benefits-Considered... at the bottom of the page.

The IRS states that your credit will be reduced for any money the GI Bill contributes toward your tuition and college fees. If you pay $5,000 in tuition one year, and the government pays for $4,000, your credit would be based on the $1,000 you paid yourself. 

You could still claim expenses that you paid out of your own pocket.