My child is supported by her grandmother for part of the year, in college the rest of the time, I pay for her college. Who gets to claim the 1098-T?

[d-s4ever]

Who if anyone should claim my child as a dependent? My child lived with my mother and was supported from Jan 1st-June 1st. I live far away. I borrowed money to pay for my child college year 2018-2019, which I will repay after she graduates. Who claims the child and who reports the 1098-T?

[JulieR · Accepted solution]

If your child's residence is with her grandmother, that fact that she is away at college is not considered an absence. She would be considered her grandmother's dependent as long as she didn't provide more than half of her own support for the year.  (see Who can I claim as my dependent?)

With regard to who can claim the education expenses, the IRS rules state: If a student is claimed as a dependent on another person's tax return, all qualified education expenses of the student are treated as having been paid by that person. Therefore, only that person can claim an education credit for the student. If a student is not claimed as a dependent on another person's tax return, only the student can claim a credit.