Do you have to file a 1098-T if you work for a University, do not pay any tuition due to tuition remission, nor pay any taxes because the classes are related to your job?

[MinhT1]

If you do not pay tuition, then there is no out-of-pocket expenses to claim as education expenses. You do not have to file your form 1098-T.

[Hal_Al]

Nobody "has to" file a 1098-T.  The 1098-T is only an informational document. The numbers on it are not required to be entered onto your tax return. However receipt of a 1098-T frequently means you are either eligible for a tuition credit or deduction or possibly the student has taxable scholarship income. 

[acardiello94]

Hi,

Thank you for your response. Though I did not pay any tuition, I did pay some fees which amounted to only $252. The tuition remission does not include fees so I have to pay those out-of-pocket. On my 1098-T, box 1 has $10,344 and box 5 has $10,092. Box 5 is the amount of tuition remission I received for the year and Box 1 is the amount of tuition remission I received plus the fees I had to pay. The difference between the two amounts is due to the fees I paid out-of-pocket. I just want to confirm I still do not have to file my 1098-T due to the $252 fees I paid for the year?

Again, I was able to get all of my tuition remission tax-exempt because the classes were related to my job.

Thank you in advance for your help!

[Hal_Al]

Q.  I just want to confirm I still do not have to file my 1098-T due to the $252 fees I paid for the year?

A. That's correct.

But filing the $252 might be worth a $50 tax credit to you.  It's a non refundable credit. 

[acardiello94]

If I were to file the $252 in fees would I enter that as the amount in Box 1, even though on my 1098-T it says $10,344?

When I entered my numbers as they appear on my 1098-T with $10,344 in Box 1 and Box 5 with $10,092, my tax due went up by $2,000 so I do not think I did it correctly. It also asked me some questions in regards to the $10,092 after I entered it and none of the choices seemed applicable to tuition remission.

[Hal_Al]

What you enter does not have to match  the 1098-T.  That said, entering the 1098-T, exactly as shown, should get you the right answer.  So, you entered something wrong.

You can enter the 1098-T with $252 in box 1 and box 5 blank.