In 2018, I went back to school while working full time and my employer provided me with tuition assistance through "tuition remission." They paid off my tuition bill and I subsequently saw the tuition amount on my paycheck and had 43% of it withheld as taxes. Late-2019, I realized that my education is actually considered job-related, and as per the IRS, the tuition amount should be non-taxable. I spoke with an accountant at H&R Block and he said that I should speak with my employer to have my 2018 W2 and 2019 W2 corrected (the tuition benefit amount removed from Box 14 - Other). This way, I can have all the taxes that were withheld for tuition returned through my refund in these respective years (it's nearly $10000!). I called my finance department and they seem reluctant to make changes to the W-2, saying that my tuition amount SHOULD be withheld via taxes.
I tried explaining to the finance department that my tuition amount was incorrectly withheld because historically in 2018 and early 2019, I wasn't able to claim my education as job-related. In late 2019 in the most recent semester, I had an option to request tuition benefit and answer several tax questions -- one of these was if my courses are job-related. I marked "Yes" and I am now receiving the tuition benefit without any tax consequences.
Any advice on how to proceed with getting my taxes returned to me for 2018 and 2019?
