Where do you enter a 2019 1098T? box 7 is checked for 2020

[DanaB27]

You do not enter the 2019 1098T on your 2020 tax return. You can only claim education expenses paid in 2020 for you education expenses and may include payments made in 2020 for classes for the first three months in 2021 (then box 7 is usually checked). 

If for some reason the amount show in box on your 2020 1098-T isn't showing all education expenses paid in 2020 then follow these steps to enter the correct amount:

1. Login to your TurboTax Account 
2. Click on the Search box on the top and type “1098T”
3. Click on “Jump to 1098T”
4. Click the link "This is not what I paid to this school" under box 1 on the 1098-T screen and enter the proper amount in the box on the right that will appear. 

[ak31]

Hi @DanaB27, 

I have a similar situation to the original poster, but I actually did not receive a 2020 1098T. I graduated from my school in 2020, and the tuition billed by the school for my final semester (Jan-May 2020) appears on my 2019 1098T. Box 7 is checked, and I have expense statements showing that my tuition payment was made in Jan of 2020. Based on this info, I qualify for the Life Time Learning Credit. 

The turbotax system would require me to select Yes to receiving a 2020 1098T to access the "this is not what I paid to this school" option. However, this does not reflect my situation.

How should I proceed?

[DanaB27]

It depends, if you claimed the 1098-T as shown on your 2019 tax return then you had already included the fees paid for 2020. If box 7 is checked then these fees are included in box 1. And you won't be able to claim them again in 2020.

If you did not already included the amount on your 2019 return then you will have to select that you did not receive a 1098-T and confirm that you qualify for the exception on the next screen. 

1. Login to your TurboTax Account 
2. Click on the Search box on the top and type “1098T”
3. Click on “Jump to 1098T”

@ak31

[jlflipfam]

In relation to this question.  I paid my tuition for Spring 2020 on 12/30/2019.  It shows on my 2019 1098T in box 1 and box 7 is checked.  I was a dependent on my parents taxes for 2019 so did not claim that payment.  My parents also did not claim it as they do not qualify for any of the credits.  Can I take that credit for 2020?  I did receive the 2020 1098T with box 1 blank and an adjustment in box 4.  Thank you.

[KrisD15]

No, 

the IRS is very firm that only payments made in the tax year can be claimed 

(for classes that tax year and/or the first three months of the following year) 

Had you paid it in January 2020 you could have, but since it was paid in 2019, you can't. 

Box 7 checked helps when scholarships overlap, but not your payments. 

[jlflipfam]

Thank you for the clarification. I wish I had known better and paid the tuition in 2020 since no one was able to take the credit in 2019.  It was a big loss of money I could really use.

[cboyer1]

If box 7 is checked on my 2021 1098T can I take the education expenses that are for Jan-Mar 2022 on my 2022 tax return?

[DMarkM1]

No.  On your 2021 tax return you would have shown the education expenses paid in 2021 including, if box 7 was checked, the tuition for Jan-Mar 2022.   

You would only indicate the expenses paid in 2022 on your 2022 tax return with tuition paid indicated on a 2022 1098-T.  If box 7 is checked on your 2022 form 1098-T then tuition for Jan-Mar 2023 would be included in box 1 and eligible for inclusion on your 2022 tax return.