I’ve a 529 plan for my son, a full-time college student. I plan to withdraw money from the 529-plan to help pay for the Spring 2026 tuition. This year (2026) I won’t be able to claim him as a dependent because he will have a full time job after graduation and his income will exceed the minimum income limit to be claimed as a dependent. In 2025's tax return, I will not be able to claim him as a dependent as well due to the income that he has made over summer 2025.
If the 529 plan make the check payable to me and I pay for my son’s tuition, will TurboTax allow me to enter the information from the 1099-Q for my son even though he will not be listed as a dependent on my tax return? The distribution amount (box 1 of 1099-Q) will be less than his tuition.
Because of my taxable income amount, I won’t be able to claim the education credit. Would it be better if the 529-plan makes the check payable to my son (or his school) so he can pay for the tuition and receive the education credit with his tax return?
