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Level 2
December 25, 2023
Question

Backfiling past 1098-T taxes

  • December 25, 2023
  • 3 replies
  • 2 views

Hello!

 

I was previously a student who had no idea about taxes etc. I was a student until 2022, and I filed my 1098-T for 2022, but not for the previous years in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021.

How can I backfile these taxes from the previous years?

 

3 replies

Level 15
December 25, 2023

You would have to purchase the tax programs for the years involved and file a return for those years or amend the returns for those years if you already filed them. 

rjs
Level 15
Level 15
December 25, 2023

TurboTax is no longer available for years before 2020. Tax software from other companies might be available for earlier years.

 

Critter-3
Level 15
December 26, 2023

Your parents probably claimed you as a dependent until you turned 24 so they would have claimed the education credit on their tax returns.  Check with them since you can only claim the AOC 4 times ... did they already do that ?

misskoreaAuthor
Level 2
December 27, 2023

My parents are not citizens — I am a LPR (green card holder) so I need to file it on my own.

Hal_Al
Level 15
Level 15
December 26, 2023

It depends on what  "I was previously a student who had no idea about taxes etc. I was a student until 2022, and I did not file my 1098-T for 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021" really means?

Did you not file a tax return, at all, or did you file a tax return and not include the 1098-T?

 

It is too late to claim a refund for tax years 2018 and 2019.   There is a three year limit. You have until April 15, 2024 to file a 2020 tax return or amended return. 

 

As others have said, a student who can be claimed as a dependent, is generally not allowed to claim a tuition credit, particularly the refundable American Opportunity Tax (Tuition) Credit (AOTC).  Your parents would claim it instead of you. 

 

Q. How can I backfile these taxes from the previous years?

A. TurboTax (TT) Online is not available for past years.  The desktop (download/CD) versions are still available for 2020-2022.  The Deluxe version is all you need. 

https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/past-years-products/

Your return is simple enough, you might want to try it by hand. You will need forms 1040 and 8863. 

https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/prior-year