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Returning Member
posted Jul 11, 2020 11:19:50 AM

Education Expenses Section shows as not started

When I complete my daughter's education summary it says that "you can't claim an education tax break".

 

"Based on what you've entered so far you are not eligible for an education credit.

Here is why you may not qualify:

  • Your income exceeds the maximum limit
  • Scholarships, grants and other tax free assistance exceed the education expenses
  • There were no net qualified education expenses.

When I hit continue it shows that the Expenses and Scholarship section as not been started. I'm having trouble understanding why is shows as not started when I've entered 1098-T form a number of times now. Please help!

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4 Replies
Expert Alumni
Jul 11, 2020 12:50:59 PM

You may want to log out, clear your cookies and cache, and then log back in. 

 

Here's how:

 

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A full or corrupted cache can cause problems in TurboTax, so sometimes you need to clear your cache (that is, remove these temporary files).

 

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Apple's official support site doesn't appear to contain instructions for clearing the cache in Safari. Your best bet is to search the Internet for clear Safari cache or similar search terms.

Level 15
Jul 11, 2020 2:17:22 PM

Go through the entire education interview until you reach a screen titled "Your Education Expenses Summary".  Click edit next to the student's name. That should take you to a screen “Here’s your Education Summary”. Click edit next to the section you want to change; tuition, most likely, in your case.

Details:

To enter your Form 1098-T information (even when TurboTax thinks it has already been entered and is showing $0), go through the entire education expenses section of your return until you reach the screen titled “Your Education Expenses Summary”, then follow these steps:

  • Click Edit next to the student name.
  • On the screen titled “Here’s your Education Summary”, click Edit beside Tuition.
  • Enter the information from your Form 1098-T.

 

To go directly to the Education section of your return, use these steps:

  • On the top row of the TurboTax online screen, click on Search (or for CD/downloaded TurboTax locate the search box in the upper right corner)
  • This opens a box where you can type in “education” (be sure to enter exactly as shown here) and click the magnifying glass (or for CD/downloaded TurboTax, click Find)
  • The search results will give you an option to “Jump to education
  • Click on the blue “Jump to education” link

Also see: https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/entering-importing/help/how-do-i-enter-form-1098-t/00/26336

Returning Member
Jul 11, 2020 3:10:43 PM

I've already got to that page after going through the entire interview.  I'm able to edit and add the proper 1098-T for my kids' tuition. When I'm finished and hit "done" it shows that I haven't started the section even though I can go back and view the breakdown for tuition for each.  All of my other sections that I've stared show completed except that one.

Returning Member
Jul 11, 2020 3:12:49 PM

I've tried clearing cache as well as download history. I've also tried another browser as well as another computer and they all tell me the same thing. All show the education expenses section as "not started" even though I've entered all the appropriate info as well as the 1098-T forms.