Hi there,
Thank you for your reply. I am just very confusing to this point that:
1. How should I determine if the health benefits are tax free or not? Where should I find those information and how should I argue this with my University?
2. Suppose I decide to not include 1098T, (some of my classmates do). Should I still upload to TurboTax and just manually change the value to what I believe is correct? Or should I just not upload it at all? I don't see a difference between this two in term of the final form send to IRS, as 1098T is usually not included.
3. So as a grad student, I have seen this quite often happens around me. But most people do dismiss it and not even realize 1098T is something required to file (sometimes does not download it at all). I also see some similar situation in this forum as well elsewhere https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/college-education/discussion/grad-health-insurance-and-1098-t/00/1.... It makes me question on how wide spread this situation and if Gard student is equipped with enough knowledge to solve it.
4. Following point 3, grad student usually entitled to stipend, which is like a money/benefit that the university/department promised. However, the stipend can constituted of multiple component, including fellowship, wages, and other form of money. Usually the school promise to give you a certain amount, but sometimes it comes in the form of a employment appointment and W2, and benefits clearly stated that is from the employment, including fee remission for health insurance and tuition.
5. Since it's approaching the end of September, I am start to worry about what should I file. Clearly I still need time to figure this out. I made estimation on the number I believe is correct and I should have a tax return. However, I worried if based on the wrong form I have to submit, I might have owe a tax and I didn't pay it back in April.
It is so frustrating that this is happening. Please let me know if there is any potentially good solution to my current situation. Thank you.
