KrisD
Intuit Alumni

Retirement tax questions

Do not enter the 1099-Q if the distribution was used for education expenses. You do need to check with your parents first. If you have expenses to apply towards the distribution, you do not claim if, HOWEVER if your parents used the education expenses for an education credit on their return, you do report the distribution amount as income. 

Normally the parents report the 1098-T and apply the 1099-Q. If any of the distribution from the 1099-Q is taxable, the student claims the earnings and pays the tax. If the distributions are applied to the expenses, the 1099-Q is not reported. The education expenses can only be used once, for a credit or against the distribution. Everything is based on what was paid in the tax year. 

CLICK HERE for IRS Pub 970 Education Credits

https://ttlc.intuit.com/replies/4194409