Form 1098-T Box 9

[dea1]

My child's university sent a 1098-T with box 9 checked for being a graduate student.  She is in her third year of undergraduate course study and does not have her BS degree yet.  She is in the Pharmacy program which has her taking graduate-level courses while still an undergrad.  May I proceed as if she is an undergrad in spite of the box being checked "graduate"?  She won't be a grad student until tax year 2021.

[DavidS127]

You should ask for a corrected Form 1098-T, if the following explanation for box 9 from the IRS Instructions for Form 1098-T is incorrect:

"Check this box if the student was a graduate student. The student is a graduate student if the student was enrolled in a program or programs leading to a graduate-level degree, graduate-level certificate, or other recognized graduate-level educational credential."

If the 1098-T is incorrect, you will need to uncheck that box 9 in TurboTax to get a correct calculation of your education tax benefits.  If you cannot obtain a corrected Form 1098-T, you may want to print and mail the return with an explanation to the IRS for why you are entitled to undergraduate tax benefits.