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Level 4
February 6, 2021
Question

Entering 1099-Q on Dependent Child's Tax Return

  • February 6, 2021
  • 2 replies
  • 8 views

Helping my dependent child with her 2020 tax return.  She received a 1099Q as a beneficiary of a 529 plan and used the entire distribution for qualified education expenses or returned it to the 529 (housing was refunded due to covid forcing student to move home). When she enters the 1099Q and the amount she returned to the 529, her tax liability increases.  She did not receive a 1098T (which I don't think would go on her return anyway) because her scholarships actually exceeded her total expenses by a small amount.  

Where in Turbo Tax should she enter her education expenses so that she is not taxed on the 1099Q since the entire distribution was either returned to the 529 or used for qualified education expenses?

2 replies

RayW7
Level 12
February 6, 2021

If your Distribution did not exceed your Qualified Education Expenses then you don't have to enter the information from 1099-Q at all.

If the Distribution doesn’t exceed the amount of the student's qualifying expenses, then the distribution is not Taxable and you don't have to report any of the distribution on your tax return. I understand that this sounds strange, especially regarding taxes, but the IRS does not request any additional information to substantiate whether or not your Distribution exceeded your actual qualified expenses. Nevertheless it would be wise to keep a good record of these expenses just in case your return gets picked up for examination.

To correct this issue simply remove the information from the 1099-Q, or if you like, TurboTax allows you to substantiate this information by countering the amount from the Distribution by entering Education expenses. You can find the Education Expenses Section under Deductions and Credits.  

sonofdodAuthor
Level 4
February 6, 2021

My daughter's bill was $12,071 but there were covid adjustments totaling $7,052.04 which made the balance $5,018.96. Her scholarships totaled $6,875 so the school sent her a check for $1,856.04.  How and where do I account for this income of $1,856.04?  Thank you.

Hal_Al
Level 15
Level 15
February 6, 2021

Provide the following info for more specific help:

  • Box 1 of the 1099-Q
  • Box 2 of the 1098-Q
  • Was any of the box 1 amount put back in the 529 plan after the school refund?
  • Who’s name and SS# are on the 1099-Q, parent or student (who’s the “recipient”)?
  • Room & board paid. If you live off campus  what is school's Room charge  &meal plan charge. Does she live at home?
  • Other qualified expenses not included in box 1 of the 1098-T, e.g. books & computers
  • Did your daughter have any other income for the year
Hal_Al
Level 15
Level 15
February 6, 2021

You cannot "double dip".  If  her tax free  scholarships  covered  her total expenses, then you can't claim that her 529 plan distribution (box 1 of the 1099-Q) was used to pay the same expenses. She very well may have some taxable distribution. 

 

However, a 529 plan distribution can be used for expenses that don't show on a 1098-T (tuition & fees).  That is, you can claim the 529 distribution for room, board, books, computers and other course materials,

 

Technically, she also needs  to account for the "small amount" of scholarship that exceed expenses. I'm of the opinion the school was remiss in not issuing a 1098-T.

 

Enter the the 1099-Q  first

In TurboTax (TT), enter at:

Federal Taxes Tab 

Deductions & Credits

-Scroll down to:

--Education

  --ESA and 529 Qualified Tuition Programs (1099-Q)

 

In TurboTax (TT), enter expenses at:

Federal Taxes Tab 

Deductions & Credits

-Scroll down to:

--Education

  --Education Expenses

When asked if you got a 1098-T, answer that you qualify for an exception

___________________________________________________________________________________

Qualified Tuition Plans  (QTP 529 Plans) Distributions

It’s complicated.

For 529 plans, there is an “owner” (usually the parent), and a “beneficiary” (usually the student dependent). The "recipient" of the distribution can be either the owner or the beneficiary depending on who the money was sent to. When the money goes directly from the Qualified Tuition Plan (QTP) to the school, the student is the "recipient". The distribution will be reported on IRS form 1099-Q. 
The 1099-Q gets reported on the recipient's return.** The recipient's name & SS# will be on the 1099-Q.
Even though the 1099-Q is going on the student's return, the 1098-T should go on the parent's return, so you can claim the education credit. You can do this because he is your dependent.

You can and should claim the tuition credit before claiming the 529 plan earnings exclusion. The educational expenses he claims for the 1099-Q should be reduced by the amount of educational expenses you claim for the credit.
But be aware, you can not double dip. You cannot count the same tuition money, for the tuition credit,  that gets him an exclusion from the taxability of the earnings (interest) on the 529 plan. Since the credit is more generous; use as much of the tuition as is needed for the credit and the rest for the interest exclusion. Another special rule allows you to claim the tuition credit even though it was "his" money that paid the tuition.
In addition, there is another rule that says the 10% penalty is waived if he was unable to cover the 529 plan withdrawal with educational expenses either because he got scholarships or the expenses were used (by him or the parents) to claim the credits. He'll have to pay tax on the earnings, at his lower tax rate (subject to the “kiddie tax”), but not the penalty.

 

Total qualified expenses (including room & board) less amounts paid by scholarship less amounts used to claim the Tuition credit equals the amount you can use to claim the earnings exclusion on the 1099-Q. 
Example:
  $10,000 in educational expenses(including room & board)

   -$3000 paid by tax free scholarship***

   -$4000 used to claim the American Opportunity credit

 =$3000 Can be used against the 1099-Q (usually on the student’s return)

 

Box 1 of the 1099-Q is $5000

Box 2 is $600

3000/5000=60% of the earnings are tax free

60%x600= $360

You have $240 of taxable income (600-360)

 

**Alternatively; you can just not report the 1099-Q, at all, if your student-beneficiary has sufficient educational expenses, including room & board (even if he lives at home) to cover the distribution. You would still have to do the math to see if there were enough expenses left over for you to claim the tuition credit. Again, you cannot double dip!  When the box 1 amount on form 1099-Q is fully covered by expenses, TurboTax will enter nothing about the 1099-Q on the actual tax forms. But, it will prepare a 1099-Q worksheet for your records, in case of an IRS inquiry.

On form 1099-Q, instructions to the recipient reads: "Nontaxable distributions from CESAs and QTPs are not required to be reported on your income tax return. You must determine the taxability of any distribution." 

***Another alternative is have the student report some of his scholarship as taxable income, to free up some expenses for the 1099-Q and/or tuition credit.

 

 

 

 

 

sonofdodAuthor
Level 4
February 6, 2021

She used the 529 to cover education expenses that were not paid to the university such as buying a computer, books, etc.

 

Her scholarships exceeded her university expenses so the university sent her the difference.  The schools policy states they will not issue a 1098T if a student's scholarships exceed their university expenses.

 

Given the info I have provided above I'm not sure how to proceed with the advice you have provided.  Can you please clarify?  Is my daughter basically to create a 1098T in her Turbo Tax filing?  Thank you.

Hal_Al
Level 15
Level 15
February 6, 2021

First, as RayW7 first suggested,  ignore the 1099-Q.  Since you know it cover expenses, none of it is taxable and it does not need to be reported. 

On form 1099-Q, instructions to the recipient reads: "Nontaxable distributions from CESAs and QTPs are not required to be reported on your income tax return. You must determine the taxability of any distribution.

 

She has $1,856 of taxable scholarship to report as income. If that is her only income, it is less than the filing threshold* and she does not need to file a tax return. You can ignore that too.

 

*Your dependent child must file a tax return for 2020 if he had any of the following:

  1.          Total income (wages, salaries, taxable scholarship ) of more than $12,400 (2020).
  2.          Unearned income (interest, dividends, capital gains. unemployment) of more than $1100.
  3.          Unearned income over $350 and gross income of more than $1100
  4.          Household employee income (e.g. baby sitting, lawn mowing) over $2100 ($12,400 if under age 18)
  5.          Other self employment income over $432, including money on a form 1099-NEC

 

Even if he had less, he is allowed to file if he needs to get back income tax withholding. He cannot get back social security or Medicare tax withholding.