How do education expenses and scholarships (from 1098-t) impact community property (on form 8958)?

[samanthawrite28907]

Background: I live in California in a registered domestic partnership, meaning I file as a single person on my federal return but must report community property.

I have tuition and scholarships that are reported on a 1098-T. Since I am in a registered domestic partnership, I am trying to fill out form 8958 to determine community property for me and my domestic partner. However, none of the sections on the 8958 include income similar to what is reported on the 1098-T. Do I need to report the 1098-T numbers (e.g., payments received for tuition and total scholarships) on the 8958 form for determining community property? If so, how do I handle the fact that some of the money reported on the 1098-T is taxable (e.g., stipend money included in scholarships) and some of it is not (e.g., money used toward tuition)?

Thanks!

[KrisD · Accepted solution]

When you file your federal return, enter the 1098-T. Whatever income you must report and/or credit you receive is what you can use for the income allocation worksheet. 

In other words, only report the end values, not the total scholarships or stipends.