Education expenses: Where do I enter books & materials NOT paid to the school? It says I'll be prompted for that later, but I haven't been.

[amymhsmith]

My child qualifies for the American Opportunity Credit and is currently at $2,123. The system questionnaire asked about books & materials bought from the school directly but told me I'd be able to enter the rest elsewhere. Where can I find that? All of her books were required by the school but had to be purchased elsewhere.

[anonymouse1]

Lots of posts on this.  If you're using a desktop version and can get to Forms (top right toolbar), go to Forms, pick the Student Info form, and go to Part IV.  It will say you can't enter anything there, but there's a QuickZoom button to take you to the student's People Worksheet (saves you from scrolling past all the other forms and worksheets to the very bottom of the federal inputs) and there you can go to Part VIII and enter all the books you paid the school for, books and materials you bought from elsewhere that were required, and computer, Room and Board, etc.  Of course room and board isn't eligible for the AOTC, but you may get the full AOTC if you can claim part of a scholarship was used for room and board.  See IRS Publication 970.

[Hal_Al]

At the screen "Did (student's name) have any of these common situations in 2025", check the box "had education expenses other than tuition".        

  That will get you a screen, later, "Time to enter (student's name) educational expenses". Enter those expenses at "Optional books and materials from the school".