@blb6117 said "From the replies it sounds like this year we should not take an education credit. It sounds complicated and I am not exactly sure how to do it"
Just the opposite, he should claim the credit. The TT interview is complicated, but there are simple work arounds. In his case, he just enters his 1098-T and nothing about your 1099-Q. TT will give him the credit (I'm assuming he has sufficient expenses in box 1 and any scholarships in box 5 is $4000 or more less than box 1).
You said "I used his 529 account to pay for all of his qualified education expenses. I didn't take anything above his expenses".
Room and board are also qualified expenses* for the 529 distribution (if student is half time or more), even if he lives off campus. So, if you didn't already take out 529 money for R&B, you can safely assume that you had sufficient expenses, for your 529 distribution, even if you son used $4000 to claim the tuition credit.
*529 money can be use for off campus living, but you are limited to the lesser of your actual costs or the school's "allowance for cost for attendance" (basically what on campus students pay for Room & Board).
