higher education expenses

[bbodnar]

My wife and I are filing and her parents paid for part of her schooling from a 529. We received a 1098-T and so did her parents. We are trying to figure out if we should be filing the 1098-T or if her parents should file the 1098-T.

[JillS56]

Her parents can only claim the 1098-T if they claim your wife as a dependent on their taxes.    Since she is married and they most likely do not provide more than half of her support, they cannot claim her as a dependent.   

The only one to claim the 1098-T is you and your wife.

[Hal_Al]

Q.  We are trying to figure out if we should be filing the 1098-T or if her parents should file the 1098-T.

A. You file it and claim the education credit,  because you are filing (I assume) as Married Filing Jointly and (I assume) your wife is not a dependent of her parents.  It does not matter that they paid part of her expenses.  You may claim all qualified expenses on your return.  

If, your wife is, or can be her parent's dependent, see:

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2938663-can-i-claim-my-daughter-who-got-married-on-december-19th-2...

[bbodnar]

I should probably be more clear. My wife was in her senior year and graduated before we got married. During her time at school, her parents paid for all of her expenses. We got married in September of 21 and are currently filing joint married. She also received scholarships for school. 

[Hal_Al]

That does not change the answer.  Even if you got married on Dec 31st, for tax purposes, you were married all year.