Up-Front Fee for Study Abroad

[CMS7]

My daughter had to pay a deposit for her study abroad.  I want to enter it as a college expense, because we withdrew money from her Section 529 to pay it.  Where should I enter that in the Turbotax interview page?  None of the categories seem to fit.

[KathrynG3]

Presuming you paid your daughter's university for her study abroad, it would be considered a qualified education expense, since it was necessary for her to participate in the program.

To enter your details from the Section 529 Plan distribution, enter 1099-Q in the search box and click the Jump to link.

For more details, see:

Guide to IRS Form 1099-Q: Payments from Qualified Education Programs

2020 IRS Publication 970: Eligible educational institution. An eligible educational institution is one whose primary function is the presentation of formal instruction and that normally maintains a regular faculty and curriculum and normally has a regularly enrolled body of students in attendance at the place where it regularly carries on its educational activities.

[CMS7]

Thanks.  Your answer made sense and I appreciated the tip on using "jump to".  It looks as though the education costs can't be entered from the 1098-Q spot, though.  I believe I probably should just enter is "Other Books and Course-Related Materials" under Expenses and Scholarships.  Does that make sense?

[KrisD15]

Yes, that makes sense. 

You can enter the tuition, fees, and books relating to the study abroad, but don't include the cost of travel.