My high school student received a 1098-T for a college class. Box's 2 and 5 has amounts. Why is the program saying she has to file? We didn't last year.

[lanjas2016]

Do I enter somewhere that I paid and amount for the class?

[MichaelMc]

Unless your daughter has sufficient income, she does not have to file a tax return. The Form 1098-T for a dependent is included on the parents' return.

If you received a Form 1098-T, enter the information from the Form 1098-T exactly as it appears. Be certain that you do not check the box indicating that your daughter is enrolled at least half-time. (While she may be a full-time high school student, this question is only about post-secondary education, and she only took one college-level course.)

This should result in disqualifying your daughter for the American Opportunity Tax Credit, which is good, because you want to save the four years of AOTC for her actual undergraduate education. She should qualify for the Lifetime Learning Credit. The credit will be small, as it will be based only on the tuition for one course, but every bit helps.

For more information about educational benefits that will be available to help during your daughter's college years, please see IRS Education Benefits Comparison Chart.