My 1098-T doesn't list my full tuition, but I don't know exactly what to enter.

[wsataxes]

I'm a graduate student. My 1098-T has only $984.78 listed in box 1, and $3,000 listed in box 5; entering these numbers significantly lowers my refund. However, I don't know where the amount in box 1 came from. The actual amount of my tuition (as listed on my student expense account) was $22,597.38. This was paid for partially through tuition waivers and partially by my graduate appointment. In all, I did not pay tuition or fees out of my pocket, and my grants left me with a tuition refund (money paid to me to be used for additional expenses) of about $1,560.72. Which of these numbers, if any, should be added to my forms?

[MichaelMc · Accepted solution]

Your tuition waiver is considered tax-free assistance, and must reduce the amount of tuition and fees used to compute any tuition tax credit or deduction. Amounts paid for room and board, or its equivalent, are neither tax-deductible nor can they be used as the basis for either of the tax credits.

Tuition paid with taxable funds, such as your graduate assistantship stipend, can be counted for the tax credits or deduction.

To correct the amounts on your Form 1098-T, please follow these steps. Pay particular attention to Step 5.

1. Open (continue) your return in TurboTax, if it's not already open.
2. In the search box, search for 1098-T or 1098T (lower-case works also) and then click the "Jump to" link in the search results.
3. Answer Yes to Do you want to enter your higher education expenses?

• If you land on the Let's estimate how much you could get this year, click Skip this.
• If you land on the Your Education Expenses Summary screen, first select Edit next to an existing student or select Add a new one before proceeding.

Answer any questions that follow. After a few screens, you'll be asked if you received a 1098-T. Answer Yes and click Continue.

Enter your Form 1098-T exactly as you see it, even if you think it's wrong. Here are some important tips:

• If any boxes on your 1098-T are blank, leave them blank. Don't enter 0 (this may cause errors later).
• If boxes 1 or 2 on your 1098-T form are wrong, enter those amounts anyway. Then click What if this is not what I paid? right below box 2 and enter the correct amount of tuition paid.
• Don't include grants not already listed in Box 5. We'll ask about those later.

Click Continue when you're done entering the information from your 1098-T. Answer any additional questions on the following screens.