why TurboTax does not show "room and Board" for education expense? I have inputed 1099-Q and 1099-T, but the "Room and board" question/section never showed up.

[ldwei]

I have inputed 1099-Q and 1099-T, but the screen a screen that asks: "Did [Child's Name] pay for books or materials to attend school?" never showed up. As a consequence, i cannot input the "Room and board" . how to make it to show this screen/section?

[SharonD007]

Your experience has been forwarded to our TurboTax developers and they are working on a resolution. Thank you for bringing to our attention.

Here's additional information regarding 529 Plan distributions.

The 529 distribution (reported on Form 1099-Q) only needs to be reported on the tax return of the person whose SSN is on the form if the withdrawal is more than the tuition paid in Box 1 of the 1098-T plus other adjusted qualified educational expenses. In that case, the earnings on the excess distribution would be taxable income.

First, determine if the Form 1099-Q needs to be reported on the tax return by comparing the withdrawal with the tuition paid on the 1098-T added to other qualified educational expenses. To find out what are qualified educational expenses, review the IRS Tax benefits for education: Information center. Refer to the TurboTax articles Guide to IRS Form 1099-Q: Payments from Qualified Education Programs and What is IRS Form 1099-Q? for further details.

Secondly, enter the 1099-Q if the withdrawal exceeds the educational expenses by following the directions in the TurboTax Help article Where do I enter a 1099-Q?

When the student's school expenses are paid with these funds, you can't claim a tuition deduction 

or either of the educational tax credits for the same expense.

[billyboulder]

I flagged this issue and spent 2 hours on a call with a turbo tax product specialist on Jan 30,2026.  Eventually the woman figured out it was a known issue that would be fixed in the next update.  I received an email from Turbo Tax on Monday, February 2 at 3:33pm indicating the issue had been fixed and to install the new update.  I've updated several times in the last 2 days and field to enter room and board expenses (and other education expenses) are still not showing up.   

[ldwei]

Thx so much for the update!

Glad to hear that TurboTax has been aware of this issue, and working on a fix already.  hopefully we can get a updated release soon.

I saw some discussions online, someone suggested that we could use desktop version and direclty update the forms.   this brings another question I have for TurboTax, why did they remove the capability to access forms from online version?

[ThomasM125]

I don't know that you were ever allowed to access forms in the online version of TurboTax. I believe the reason is because you pay for the program when you are finished, so if you were allowed to access forms before paying it would be possible to complete your return manually using TurboTax and then not pay for the program. 

@Idwei

[ldwei]

I have been using TurboTax for more than 20 years,previously I always used desktop version, only switched to online version a couple of years ago. I remember we could access the worksheet in the online version, similar as desktop version,  but I noticed we could not do it since last year.

anyway, if Turbotax cannot fix this bug, I may have to go back to desktop version.

[529taxquestion]

I have the desktop version and cannot do this either. It keeps returning that all of the 529 distributions are taxable, when only a portion of them should be (the amount that is equal to scholarships and thus exempt from the penalty).

[CatinaT1]

Thank you for reporting your experience. We are currently investigating the issue and will provide updates as soon as possible.

[deslayton518]

From the responses I've seen on other posts from EXPERTS, it appears I am not the only one losing confidence in TurboTax.  I am not seeing where TurboTax is acknowledging the problem.  Responses to date are vague.

As was the case for previous years, will TurboTax be bringing back the screen to enter Education Expenses, including:

- Books and Materials (required and not required from the school),

- Other books and course-related materials,

- Room and Board, Computer Software and Internet Service,

- Special Needs Expenses,

- and Tutoring, etc.

If so, what is the timeframe?

Thank you!

[deslayton518]

From the responses I've seen on other posts from EXPERTS, it appears I am not the only one losing confidence in TurboTax.  I am not seeing where TurboTax is acknowledging the problem.  Responses to date are vague.

As was the case for previous years, will TurboTax be bringing back the screen to enter Education Expenses, including:

- Books and Materials (required and not required from the school),

- Other books and course-related materials,

- Room and Board, Computer Software and Internet Service,

- Special Needs Expenses,

- and Tutoring, etc.

If so, what is the timeframe?

Thank you!

[ldwei]

Thx for speaking out our mind!

I just tried, this issues was NOT resolved at all.

I am disappointed that TurboTax is getting worse year after year.   

This is a clearly a bug in TurboTax, they do not even have the courage to admit, did not take action to fix it.

If this is not a high priority issue fix,  is there any other more severe issues TurboTax working on?

Please TurboTax, do not ignore feedback from 20+ years customer!

You need to fix this issue!

[deslayton518]

I called TT late yesterday afternoon, and the specialist listened as I described the problem.  I also explained that many people have expressed the same issue here.  The specialist put me on hold while it was reviewed.  The specialist returned to say that there is no indication that the issue is on their radar to be fixed.  It was like I was sharing new information about a new issue.  I have a call scheduled with the same specialist later today.  I am going to re-enter everything, share my screen, and work on it together.  My login shows that I've been signed in this year for over 12 hours in combined attempts to get through this.

[ldwei]

thx for confirming that this is issue on desktop version.  some people suggested that I could buy desktop version to directly edit the education worksheet.

this also confirms that it is a bug in TurboxTax 2025.

It is also a big disappointment that how TurboTax tested their software before releasing, they did not even listen to user's feedback.

[jrodney]

Thanks for staying on top of this issue deslayton. I have the same issue and am reading many other posts on this thread with people saying they have the same issue. Hopefully, someone in TT world is listening and will resolve this issue before I start looking for other tax software. 

[deslayton518]

For whatever this is worth, when I spoke with the TT Specialist the other day, I told her a lot of people who have added messages on here have talked about work arounds and/or entering information manually on forms.  I am using the on-line version.  It is my understanding the desktop version(s) permit people to enter information manually on forms, but not able to do so on the on-line versions.

She said people shouldn't be typing their information on forms.  I am not sure of the reasons for that, but I explained to her that TT should work properly and people shouldn't have to resort to work arounds.  

So, my point is:

1)  I refuse to do any sort of work arounds because we shouldn't have to

2)  Buyer beware that if you take it upon yourself to stray from the interview questions and enter information directly on the forms, TT is saying you shouldn't be doing that (again, I do not know, nor did I ask reasons for the specialist saying that).

3) At times, "EXPERTS" have made comments on these pages but yet I do not get the sense that they understand what the issues are.  So, I do not know if they proclaimed themselves as experts or where they got that title, but I would think they could at least acknowledge, communicate on point, not suggest work arounds, and provide us with details to restore some confidence that TT is going to get the issues fixed.

I am giving TT until closer to the end of February.  If I'm not "feeling it" by then, I'm going elsewhere.  One would think, with all the email spam we are getting from TT, that we would receive an email from them in which they acknowledge the issue and let customers know what is going on.  

I'll provide and update after I get a call from the Specialist this week.