Do I have to file my 1098-t from last year?

[tbrigaliag]

I did not file in 2017 because I had no income. I did not realize I had a 1098-T for my student refunds until now. My tuition was paid in full by scholarships and grants and I received a little bit back for overpayment. I did not come out of pocket for anything and I had zero income aside from that little bit that was given back to me. This was for 2016 to be filled in 2017. The problem is, I don't know how to go back and file it now - if I have to. Since then, I have had a name change and have gotten married. So at the time of that 1098-t, I was single. What do I do? Do I absolutely have to file it? And no, my parents did not claim me on their taxes that year.

[JulieH1 · Accepted solution]

No. You do not need to worry about filing. 

 The 1098T is for your information to help you determine if you qualify for education credits.  As long as your scholarships were just for tuition, room, and board then it was not taxable.  If you do not add a 1098T to a tax return, the IRS does not look for anything to match against.  The IRS looks at the 1098T if you claim an education credit which you did not.

[tbrigaliag]

Thank you so much!

[JulieH1]

You are welcome/

[Brmoro]

What if I was expecting a refund from submitting this form but forgot to file it along with my 2019 taxes? Is it possible to file the 1098-T if I already got my returns for year 2019? It completely slipped my mind to add my educational credits for 2019. Is it possible to amend and really add this to my files even though it’s the year prior? 

[Hal_Al]

@Brmoro   - Yes, you file an amended 2019 return to claim the  education credit.  You must do so by 4-15-23 to get an additional refund.

How to amend https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1894381-how-to-amend-change-or-correct-a-return-you-already-filed

This, of course,  assumes you are eligible for a tuition credit or deduction.  See:

https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/AOTC

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/american-opportunity-tax-credit-questions-and-answers

 https://www.irs.gov/individuals/llc

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 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.

[Brmoro]

I happen to be a dependent so I am expecting to receive some kind a refund. Reading the instructions to amend or add a 1098T form to my 2019, through turbo tax, I noticed it say I cannot amend unless it was filed and accepted already. It leads to say I need to mail the change instead. How do I go about this? Turbo tax is not letting me do it electronically. 

[Hal_Al]

@Brmoro   said: "I happen to be a dependent so I am expecting to receive some kind a refund".

No.  Dependents cannot claim an education credit or refund.  You have no need to file an amended return*.  A better question is: do your parents need to file an amended return to claim a tuition credit based  on their dependent-student's 1098-T

*A possible exception is if box 5 of the 1098-T exceeds box 1.  In that case you MAY have taxable scholarship to report.  So you would need to amend your 2019 return to pay additional tax, not get a refund.