I do not have a w-2,but a 1098-t

[nenitabonita777]

can i file my taxes with a form 1098-t?

[Vanessa A]

It depends, if someone else can claim you as a dependent on their return, then no, you cannot file using the 1098-T.  The person that claims you as a dependent would use the 1098-T to take the education credit. 

If no one else can claim you as a dependent, then possibly. If you are under 24 and in your first four years of school and none of the following apply to you then you can use your 1098-T to claim the refundable portion of American Opportunity Credit:

1. You were under 18 at the end of the tax year
2. You were 18-24 but had income of less than one half of your support for the year
3. At least one of your parents were alive at the end of the year

If you are over 24 and in your first four years of school and no one else claims you as a dependent, then you can use form 1098-T to file your taxes with no income to claim the American Opportunity credit. 

[Hal_Al]

Q. Can I file my taxes with a form 1098-T?

A. Simple answer: no.  But taxes aren't simple.  You almost certainly cannot claim a tuition credit.  If your excess (more than your tuition, fees and books) scholarship is over $12,550, you should file that as income.

There's a new urban myth among college students that says they can get a $1000 from the government just for filing a tax form. For most of them, they simply aren't eligible. A full time unmarried student, under age 24, even if you don't qualify as a dependent, is only eligible for the refundable portion of the American Opportunity Credit (AOC) if he supports himself by working. You cannot be supporting yourself on parental support, 529 plans or student loans & grants. You usually must have actually paid tuition, not had it paid by scholarships & grants.  It is usually best if the parent claims that credit. 

You cannot claim a credit if you are, or can be, claimed as a dependent by someone else.

Reference: Line 7 instructions for form 8863. https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i8863

@Vanessa A  Note it's not just "his income" but his earned income that counts for the support test for the refundable portion of the AOC.