"Room and Board" expenses, 1/2 of the actual expenses were paid from a 529 the other 1/2 paid out of pocket. Do you only enter the 1/2 amount in the Room and Board field?

[stephen.stoess]

I assume TT will bounce the amount against the 1099-Q and adjust the amount of tax refund?

[LeeM]

You should enter the total amount of Room and Board to make sure you get credit for it against your 529 distribution.

Room and board is usually not considered a qualified education expense for the purpose of education credits.

However, the one exception is if room and board was paid for with a Coverdell ESA or 529 plan distribution. In that case, the cost can be deducted from the taxable portion of the plan's distribution.

[chuckiaf]

After entering the info from the 1099-Q (distribution from 529) and the 1098-T (tuition from college), I can't figure out how to enter room and board costs using 529 money. The way the TT form works, there doesn't seem to be a way to deduct it from the taxable portion of the distribution. Help...

[Hal_Al]

 You do not enter "room and board costs using 529 money" 

You just enter room and board, without trying to tell TurboTax (TT) where the money, to pay for it, came from.  TT will match the college expenses to the 529 distribution.  TT will use tuition for the tuition credit before it uses it for the 529.

To get the screen to enter Room & Board, answer yes when asked if you have book expenses.

[DTMT]

@chuckiaf 

I am having the same problem, except I paid it with CESA. Did you ever find out how to get it input?

[DawnC]

Enter all of your room and board expenses as well as any 1098-T or 1099-Q you received.   TurboTax will know how to report it.   The room and board expenses get entered where you enter book and other fee expenses - it is in the 1098-T interview.    Type in 1098-T in the search field and you will be taken to where you enter the room and board expenses.    @DTMT

TurboTax will match the college expenses to the 529 distribution.  TurboTax will use tuition for the tuition credit before it uses it for the 529.   

[DawnC]

Let me clarify where the room and board goes - as it does not go on the screen that refers to the school.   It goes on the screen titled Did you pay for Books or Materials to Attend school?  which is part of the 1098-T interview.    Make sure you have already entered your 1099-Q.   And after you go through the 1098-T interview and enter any deductible expenses, you will be able to review your entries.   When you review your entries, the first screen will say ''Let's get your additional Education Expenses''.   Click continue, and you will get the screen below.  @DTMT

[abcdefghijk]

I have a question. For room and board off campus expenses. 

if you went to school in the summer and the class went from June 6- June 7th. How much of summer rent expense can you include as the room and board expense? School started back up again end of August. Let’s say rent is $700 a month. Thx confused about this. Thx 

[Hal_Al]

You may only count off campus room and board (R&B) for the time you were actually taking classes, including online classes.  So, for June 6-7, count 1/30 of the rent.

Another thing to beware of: 529 money can be use for off campus living, but you are limited to the lesser of your actual costs or the school's "allowance for cost for attendance" (basically what on campus students pay for R&B).