Deductions & credits
There is nothing that says because you got the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) that you are not entitled to the stimulus payments. The amount you received for educational support does not go on your tax return as stimulus payments. They are separate and distinct under the CARES Act.
It may affect your education tax credits. HEERF & Emergency Financial Aid Grants Under CARES
Do not enter it as income on your tax return.
Keep in mind that being independent for tax purposes is not optional. A scholarship received by a child who is a student is not taken into account in determining whether the child provided more than half of his or her own support. If you did not provide more than half of your own support (without regard to the scholarships) then you may not be eligible to be considered independent for tax purposes. This might mean that only your parents could claim you as a dependent. The following worksheet will help determine it.
- Worksheet for Determining Support (may be helpful for evaluation)
You should record your actual receipts, in your case according to your notes was zero, for stimulus payments received in 2020.
- In TurboTax Online once your return is open, select Wages & Income (to enter the tax return).
- Select Federal Review at the top of the page > Continue to answer the questions for Let's make sure you got the right stimulus amount
- TurboTax will then include any stimulus amount due on your 1040 form - either added to your refund or reduce the amount due.
- See the image below.
