Q. I just somehow cannot get to the screen where it asked me how much of the 529 distribution is unqualified.
A. There is no such screen. You enter the 1099-Q and the expenses and TT calculates that.
If you are not claiming him as a dependent, you cannot claim the AOC, on your tax return. He can probably claim it on his return, but he may not get the full $2500, if he is under 24.
If all you are trying to do is reduce your expenses claimed, by $4000, so he can claim the AOC, on his return, just enter $4000 less tuition paid.
But that is not necessary. Surely you have $4000 or more in room and board and books. Just don't enter the 1099-Q.
The 1099-Q is only an informational document. The numbers on it are not required to be entered onto your (or your student's) tax return. The interview is complicated and it's easy to make mistakes. Avoid it if you can and you can.
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. 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 (you don’t need it). You would still have to do the math to see if there were enough expenses left over for you to claim the tuition credit. You also cannot count expenses that were paid by tax free scholarships.
References:
- 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."
- IRS Pub 970 states: “Generally, distributions are tax free if they aren't more than the beneficiary's AQEE for the year. Don't report tax-free distributions (including qualifying rollovers) on your tax return”.
- "IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education states: If the entire 1099-Q went to qualified expenses, room and board, tuition, etc; then, you do not need to enter the form."
