My 1098T Box 1 is blank

[mluehrin]

My Box 1 on my 1098T was blank. I know that it's not required by the IRS for schools to include payments made throughout the year. Is there a place for us to put our payments we made even though they aren't reported on the 1098?

[DawnC0]

Yes.  Under box 2, at the 1098-T screen is a link: What if this is not what (student name) paid to the school. Click on that and you will be given a chance to enter what was actually paid.

[mluehrin]

It looks like that's just talking about the amount of tuition billed. Do I still adjust that to also include my payments?

[DawnC0]

Yes.  You can include the full amount of what you paid here.

[dachuandc]

My 1098-T is Blank for 2019, but I found the tuition payment 

[Hal_Al]

You claim the tuition credit, based on your own financial records, not the 1098-T. On the 1098-T screen, in TurboTax, 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. 

[dachuandc]

Sorry, I did accidentally hit Reply. I meant my 1098-T box 1 is Blank for 2019, but the tuition for spring 2019 was included in 2018 1098-T box 1, and I claimed it last year. So I think I should not claim it this year again, right?

[Hal_Al]

"My 1098-T box 1 is Blank for 2019, but the tuition for spring 2019 was included in 2018 1098-T box 1, and I claimed in last year. So I think I should not claim it this year again, right?"

That is right.  If  Spring 2019 tuition, was actually paid for in 2018; it should be claimed on the 2018 return and not on the 2019 return.

[newtotaxes]

Hello,

I paid tuition for my Aug 2018- May 2019 academic year in December 2018, but the amount was not listed in Box 1 of my 2019 1098T. I understand that I can add the amount manually on the website.

But, I just wanted to verify...is this the correct tax year to claim returns for that financial transaction.

I am new to this and very confused.

Thank you!

[Hal_Al]

No. On your 2019 return you may only claim tuition paid in 2019 for 2019 classes (and any classes starting in the first quarter of 2020).  You may not count 2018 classes paid for in 2019.  The school was correct not to include the 2018 amounts in box 1 of the 2019 1098-T.

[newtotaxes]

Hi Hal-AI, thanks for your reply.

I paid tuition for the spring semester (Jan2019-May2019), in December 2018.

You are saying, because I paid in 2018, I cannot file for this?

Sorry, I just wanted to be clear.

[AmyC]

Your dates don't make sense to me. You paid your 2018 tuition in Dec 2019? If that semester and 2019 was paid Dec 2018, then your 2019 box 1 would be blank as the tuition was paid in 2018. What was on your 2018 form and what did you claim?

@newtotaxes

[newtotaxes]

Hi AmyC,

Yes, my apologies. I meant to say I paid for the Spring 2019 semester in December 2018.

My 2019 1098-T form had an empty box 1.

Given that it was empty (but I paid the full semester tuition), and have a scholarship in Box 5 (much less than the tuition cost), should I even file my 1098-T then?

[AmyC]

Yes, if you already claimed it on your 2018 return, you can only claim your extra expenses, books, notebooks, whatever things were required for you to attend classes. Here are some links to help with what you can do:

• What are examples of education expenses?
• What are qualified education expenses for the American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning credits?
• What education tax credits are available?
• Why didn't I get a credit or deduction for education expenses?
• If a parent claims me as a dependent, can I claim the education tax credit?
• What expenses qualify for the American Opportunity Tax Credit and which ones do not?
• Who is eligible to take the American Opportunity Tax Credit?
• Who is eligible for the Lifetime Learning Credit?
• What expenses qualify for the Lifetime Learning Credit?
• Why is my scholarship taxable?
• Can I deduct education expenses that were paid with student loans?

[newtotaxes]

Hi AmyC,

I did not claim in in my 2018 return.

I just simply paid for 2019 tuition expenses in Dec 2018 (before the start of the Jan 2019-May 2019 semester).

Can I not claim a return for the tuition I paid?