Using federal subsidized loans and a partial amount of fed unsubsidized loans for school tuition, materials, etc. I also made payments out of pocket. How do I report it?

[dallaswinstonoa]

While using fafsa, I'm offered to use certain amount to pay for schooling. When using both sub and unsubsidized loans, I was also making payments out of pocket. How can I add this to my education expenses.

[SabrinaD2]

You can claim an education credit for qualified education expenses paid by cash, check, credit, or debit card, or paid with money from a loan. If you pay the expenses with money from a loan, you take the credit for the year you pay the expenses, not the year you get the loan or the year you repay the loan. Qualified education expenses must be paid to a eligible educational institution.

• Qualified education expenses paid out of pocket include tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for your courses

To report qualified Education Expenses paid by loan and out of pocket in TurboTax - Click here.- Also see steps below:

1. Open or continue your return.
2. Select Federal and then Deductions & Credits.
3. Select I'll choose what I work on.
4. Under Education, select Start or Update next to Expenses and Scholarships (Form 1098-T).
5. Follow the screens to enter your info.

[Hal_Al]

Loans, subsidized or not, are not scholarships. So, all expenses are treated as paid by you.  There should not be anything in box 5 of your 1098-T. 

If you are a dependent, your parents, not you, claim your 1098-T and the tuition credit. 

There's a new urban myth among college students that says they can get a $1000 from the government just for filing a tax form. For most of them, they simply aren't eligible. A full time unmarried student, under age 24, even if you don't qualify as a dependent, is only eligible for the refundable portion of the American Opportunity Credit if he supports himself by working. You cannot be supporting yourself on parental support, 529 plans or student loans & grants. It is usually best if the parent claims that credit. 

You cannot claim the (up to) $1000 refundable credit if you are, or can be, claimed as a dependent by someone else.

Reference: Line 7 instructions for form 8863.

https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i8863#en_US_2024_publink53002gd0e674