Q. When he goes to file his taxes does he input all those documents under his return?
A. No. Because he is your dependent, you put his form 1098-T on your tax return and you claim the education tax credit. You claim the tax credit, even if the form(s) are in his name and it was his loan money and earnings that paid for the tuition and other expenses.
Q. I didn't feel I could claim them in his name and was pretty positive we couldn't both use them.
A. Yes, you can claim the educational expenses. There are times when the 1098-T goes on both tax returns, with adjustments. The parent claims the tuition credit and the student reports taxable scholarship.*
Q. All tax documents for school are in his name.
A. What other documents do you have? In particular, do you have a 1098-E (student loan interest). You can claim that (because you are a co-signer) if you actually paid the interest. Your son cannot claim it, since he is a dependent.
*The 1098-T is only an informational document. The numbers on it are not required to be entered onto your tax return. However receipt of a 1098-T frequently means you are either eligible for a tuition credit or possibly your student has taxable scholarship income.
If you claim the tuition credit, you do need to report that you got one or that you qualify for an exception (the TurboTax interview will handle this)
You claim the tuition credit, or report scholarship income, based on your own financial records, not the 1098-T.
