I might be wrong, but button "Maximize My Tax Break" is doing the same trick as playing with $4000 split between the returns.
What I did, as Kris said:
1.Put all my other income before educational 1098-T
2.Put 1098-T with all original numbers into my return.
3. Got an advise for daughter to file the tax return.
4.Put all expenses as Macbook, printer, books and e.t.c into my return in education expenses part of the interview.
5. Push "Maximize My Tax Break" button and got an education credit even though I did not pay for tuition.
On her return:
1.Put her W2 because it is more then $400 of earned income.
2. Put 1098_T with all original numbers.
3. DID NOT put any educational expenses on her return.
4. Put all additional scholarships not mentioned by the college in 1098-T.
5. Got the numbers for her to pay to Federal and State.
I did not try to put expenses on her return instead of mine because I might did not quite understand what Kris meant by saying "short cut" - did it relate to my return, or her? Correct me if I am wrong.
But other than this everything is pretty straightforward.
