turbotax icon
cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
Close icon
Do you have a TurboTax Online account?

We'll help you get started or pick up where you left off.

I used 529 to cover tuition, room, board, and books. TurboTax appears to only allow tuition and books in 1098-T section. Where do I enter the room and board?

 
x
Do you have an Intuit account?

Do you have an Intuit account?

You'll need to sign in or create an account to connect with an expert.

4 Replies
Hal_Al
Level 15

I used 529 to cover tuition, room, board, and books. TurboTax appears to only allow tuition and books in 1098-T section. Where do I enter the room and board?

You'll have to wait for an update.

This is a known glitch in TurboTax (TT). They are working on it (no announce fix date).   The 2025 education and 529 sections appear totally redesigned, from last year. 

I used 529 to cover tuition, room, board, and books. TurboTax appears to only allow tuition and books in 1098-T section. Where do I enter the room and board?

Same issue on the 2025 desktop Premier version. 
Can't enter expenses I paid with the 529 plan and thus it is assuming it is taxed and applying the 10% penalty.
Can't continue my tax preparation until this is fixed.

I used 529 to cover tuition, room, board, and books. TurboTax appears to only allow tuition and books in 1098-T section. Where do I enter the room and board?

After reading many documents on the IRS site, apparently the solution is to just not enter the 529 info. IRS says to consider the 1099-Q informational if all the money was used for qualifying expenses there is no need to report it.

Hal_Al
Level 15

I used 529 to cover tuition, room, board, and books. TurboTax appears to only allow tuition and books in 1098-T section. Where do I enter the room and board?

The 1099-Q is  only an informational document. The numbers on it are not required to be entered onto your (or your student's) tax return. The interview (even when it was working) is complicated and it's easy to make mistakes. Avoid it if you can and you probably can. 

You can just not report the 1099-Q, at all, if your student-beneficiary has sufficient educational expenses, including room & board (even if he lives at home) to cover the distribution. When the box 1 amount on form 1099-Q is fully covered by expenses, TurboTax will enter nothing about the 1099-Q on the actual tax forms. But, it will prepare a 1099-Q worksheet for your records (you don’t need it). You would still have to do the math to see if there were enough expenses left over for you to claim the tuition credit. You also cannot count expenses that were paid by tax free scholarships.

References:

  1. On form 1099-Q, instructions to the recipient reads: "Nontaxable distributions from CESAs and QTPs are not required to be reported on your income tax return. You must determine the taxability of any distribution." 
  2. IRS Pub 970 states: “Generally, distributions are tax free if they aren't more than the beneficiary's AQEE for the year. Don't report tax-free distributions (including qualifying rollovers) on your tax return”.
  3. "IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education states: If the entire 1099-Q went to qualified expenses, room and board, tuition, etc; then, you do not need to enter the form." 

Unlock tailored help options in your account.

message box icon

Get more help

Ask questions and learn more about your taxes and finances.

Post your Question