My mother claims me as a dependent on her taxes. My grandmother (who is no longer required to file taxes) paid my tuition. Can I claim my own school tuition exemption?

[emilyd888]

My mother claims me as a dependent on her taxes. My grandmother (who is no longer required to file taxes) paid my tuition. Who gets to claim the exemption?? I haven't gotten my 1098-t yet, as it comes out January 31st and I want to file my taxes now.

[AndreaG · Accepted solution]

Yes, you can benefit from an education credit, however, because your Mom claimed you as a dependent, she would actually need to claim the credit on her tax return. According to page 19 of Pub 970, under the heading, "expenses paid by others", the tuition that your grandmother paid is treated as being paid by you and because your Mom claims you, she can claim the credit, as long as all of the other requirements are met. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p970.pdf. Please refer to the following FAQ to learn more about these credits. https://ttlc.intuit.com/replies/3301953

[emilyd888]

@TurboTaxAndreaG Does this mean I can't claim it on my taxes? Should I leave the 'amount paid' tab blank?

[AndreaG]

It means that you can NOT claim it on your taxes and you should indicate that you are a dependent taxpayer and when you do that, Turbo Tax wont give you the credit.

[emilyd888]

@TurboTaxAndreaG okay, but that doesn't really answer my question. Ive indicated that my mother is claiming me in my tax report so far. Would I put in my tuition paid amount, and then be done with that? I apologize, I just don't want to make a mistake

[AndreaG]

I will check on the exact steps for you and then give you step by step

[emilyd888]

@TurboTaxAndreaG thank you

[emilyd888]

@TurboTaxAndreaG Based on what you've said and what the report tells me to do, I am going to go ahead and enter the amount of tuition that was paid by my grandmother. I have indicated that I am a dependent, and from what I understand this means turbo tax will not give me the credit and my mother will claim the same amount on her taxes when she does them.

[AndreaG]

1. To review/make the entries to identify yourself as a dependent taxpayer:
a. Log into your Turbo Tax Online-Free Edition
b. Click take me to my return
c. Click on the personal information tab and personal info summary will appear. It should say that you can be claimed as a dependent and that you are being claimed as a dependent. If it does NOT, then click edit and when new screen appears, scroll down and answer the questions as follows:
d. Answer yes to: someone else can claim me as a dependent
e. Answer yes to: and this person will claim me on their 2016 tax return
f. Click continue
2. To delete your education credit entries:
a. Click on the federal taxes tab
b. Click on the deductions and credits tab
c. Go to the expenses/scholarships tab and click add/edit
d. The next screen will say, do you want to enter higher education expenses?.    Answer yes
e. The next screen will be the education expense summary. Click delete
The next screen says, delete a student….are you sure you want to delete this student and all their underlying education forms. Click yes.