@Carl - sorry I beg to differ on the 1099Q form.... there is a social security number on that form and the IRS will certainly match that document against the return of the person with that social security number.
if the money was sent from the 529 administrator to the school, the students SS# will be used. Presumably it was all for qualified higher educational expenses under the 529 program to pay an outstanding statement. why else would the money be directed to the school if there wasn't a bill outstanding? There would be no need to report anything on the 1099Q (the double dipping question left to the side as that creates complication with my statement)
if the money was sent from the 529 administrator to the parent, the parents SS# is used. There is no evidence that the money went to the school, which puts parents through these hoops to document that in fact the distributions on the 529 are offset by qualified higher educational expenses. (let alone the hoops created by the 'no double dipping rule' of the AOTC).
