Hal_Al
Level 15

Education

It's unusual that the school would put $37,000 in box 1, instead of $57,000.  But assuming you're right, In the 1098-T screen, click on the link "What if this is not what I paid the school" underneath box 1. You will then be able to enter the actual amounts paid (including by scholarship).

 

Room and board (R&B) are eligible expenses for a 529 distribution (even if the student lives at home).  That would free up some tuition for your parents to claim the tuition credit (if otherwise eligible).  R&B paid are not included in box 1 of the 1098-T.

 

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 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. You cannot double dip! 

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."