Spring 2020 college paid in 2020 but is on 2019 1098-T

[wilrene374]

My son's college puts both the fall and spring semester's charges in box 1 on the 1098-T, even though I paid for the Spring semester more than a week after 1/1/2020. I think that I got confused about the "semester starting in the first three months" provision and I combined both the Fall 2019 and the Spring 2020 charges - since that's what the 1098-T shows. From what I've read on this forum, It seems like I can only do this if I actually paid for the Spring semester in 12/2019 - not after 1/1/2020.

1) Is this correct and should I only count 2019's charges? If so, do I use the "what if this is not what I paid to this school" entry to reduce the 1098-T box 1 amount?

2) I also did this last year... Should I amend last year's taxes to eliminate Spring 2019 and then include Spring 2019 & Fall 2019 on this year's taxes?

[Hal_Al]

Q1) Is this correct and should I only count 2019's charges? If so, do I use the "what if this is not what I paid to this school" entry to reduce the 1098-T box 1 amount?

A1) Yes

Q2) I also did this last year... Should I amend last year's taxes to eliminate Spring 2019 and then include Spring 2019 & Fall 2019 on this year's taxes?

A2) Yes, but only if it makes a difference.  It only takes $4000 of qualified expenses to get the maximum American Opportunity Credit.  So, for example if the 2018 1098-T had $10,000 in it and after adjusting it woulda only had $5000, you don't need to amend.  Your bottom line will remain the same.