You can enter your information in TurboTax without a 1098-T, but to get an education credit you need qualified educational expenses. To enter the information into TurboTax Online, Type "education credit" in the search bar at the top right of your screen. Click on "Jump to education credits". This will take you straight to the screen where you can start entering your information.
In general, a student must receive a Form 1098-T for tax year 2017 to claim an education credit. But, for 2017, an eligible educational institution is not required to provide the Form 1098-T to you in certain circumstances, for example:
- Nonresident alien students, unless the student requests the institution to file Form 1098-T,
- Students whose tuition and related expenses are entirely waived or paid entirely with scholarships or grants, or
- Students for whom the institution does not maintain a separate financial account and whose qualified tuition and related expenses are covered by a formal billing arrangement with the student’s employer or a government agency, such as the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense.
You can still claim the AOTC if you did not receive a Form 1098-T because the school is not required to provide you a Form 1098-T if:
- The student and/or the person able to claim the student as a dependent meets all other eligibility requirements to claim the credit,
- The student can show he or she was enrolled at an eligible educational institution, and
- You can substantiate the payment of qualified tuition and related expenses.
Be sure to keep records that show the student was enrolled and the amount of paid qualified tuition and related expenses. You may need to send copies if the IRS contacts you regarding your claim of the credit.
