Student Loan Interest Deduction

[billmaier224]

Turbotax won't let me take the Student Loan Interest Deduction unless my name is on the 1098 E. I cosigned my two daughter's college loans and am legally responsible to pay. I am also entitled to take the deduction even though my name is not on the 1098 E, but Turbotax won't allow you to enter the amount unless you are on the 1098 E. Sallie Mae will only put the primary borrowers name on the 1098 E, and only sends a summary to the cosigners. 

[Hal_Al]

Answer that the 1098-E is in your name.  Lying to TurboTax to get it to do what you want does not constitute lying to the IRS.

As you seem to already know, You may only, claim the interest deduction if you are legally obligated to pay it (as well as you actually paid it).  That is, the loan must be in your name or you co-signed for it. It does not matter that the 1098-E is in the student's name.  One additional requirement: the student must have been your dependent at the time the student loans were used to pay expenses.

[billmaier224]

Thanks for your reply. I get what you're saying about lying to TurboTax vs. lying to the IRS. But when I tell TurboTax that the 1098-E is in my name, it actually generates a Student Loan Interest Deduction Worksheet where it does indeed say the 1098-E is in my name. So, that kinda feels like I AM lying to the IRS. As I know I qualify for the deduction, I will put in for the interest I did pay, but I am a little hesitant to file it via TurboTax with this worksheet attached that says the 1098-E is in my name when it isn't. Also, I am concerned for others who might read "only the person on the 1098-E can claim this deduction" when I don't believe that is true. How many people are using TurboTax and not claiming the deduction they are entitled to because TurboTax says they're not entitled. I was hoping to bring it to someone's attention at TurboTax so that they can fix that or further explain. 

[Hal_Al]

Worksheets are not sent to the IRS, only the actual IRS forms.