No 1098T and Turbo Tax says my Scholarship money requires child to file

[Hal_Al]

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 possibly your student has taxable scholarship income. 

If you claim the tuition credit, you do need to report that you got one or that you qualify for an exception (the TurboTax interview will handle this)

You claim the tuition credit, or report scholarship income, based on your own financial records, not the 1098-T. In the 1098-T screen, click on the link "What if this is not what I paid the school" underneath box 1. You will then be able to enter the actual amounts paid. 

The most likely explanation is that the Spring 2021 tuition was actually included in  box 1 of the 2020 1098-T.

[Zaldim]

It’s possible turbo tax program has a glitch. Turbo tax program is filled of glitches. After paying for program, I had to pay an accountant to amend my tax return. Accountant confirmed the program had err. I will never use turbo tax again

[wricd01]

The vocational school required payment in 2020; but the student start attending classes in 2021. WHAT FORM CAN HE USE FOR 2021 TAXES?

[JillS56]

If the school tuition was paid in 2020, then any deduction would have been taken in 2020.  The deduction needs to be taken in the year that it was paid.   Did the vocational school provide a 1098-T? 

The Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020 repealed the tuition and fees deduction for tax years beginning after 2020. Income limitations for the lifetime learning credit were increased to help filers transition to the lifetime learning credit.  Form 8863 will provide you with information on options that might be available.   

[wricd01]

The student was issued a 1098T for 2020, and none was issued for 2021.

He received scholarship money in 2020 for his school year 2021, and this money was sent directly to the vocational school. I can't remember if the scholarship money was stated on the 2020 tax form.

[Hal_Al]

You don't need any form.  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 possibly your student has taxable scholarship income. 

You claim the tuition credit, or report scholarship income, based on your own financial records, not the 1098-T.  After you tell TurboTax (TT) that you don't have a 1098-T, check the box that says you qualify for an exception, that will allow you to enter info.

That said, your own records tell you that you paid no tuition and received no scholarships in 2021. Everything was handled in 2020.  It should have been reported on your 2020 tax return, even though school was not attended until 2021.  If needed, you can file an amended 2020 tax return.

[JillS56]

Sounds to me like there is no educational credit allowed for 2021.   You can go back and check out your 2020 return and possibly amend your 2020 return.

[momof4greatkids]

So I have completed the 1098-T worksheet and my income is too high to get any credits.

Box 1=$15,500, Box 5=$8,400....so since my daughters scholarships were less than the total paid she does not have to include this on her taxes, is that correct?

[Hal_Al]

Q.  Since my daughters scholarships, shown on the 1098-T,  were less than the total paid she does not have to include this on her taxes, is that correct?

A. Yes. Scholarships that pay for qualified educational expenses (QEE - tuition, fees, books and other course materials) is tax free. 

Furthermore, The 1098-T is only an informational document. The numbers on it are not required to be entered onto your or the student's  tax return. 

Receipt of a 1098-T frequently means you are either eligible for a tuition credit or possibly your student has taxable scholarship income.  Since you know neither are true, just don't enter the 1098-T and risk an error.