topic Re: Tuition Deduction in Deductions & credits

Tuition Deduction

jojobob — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 13:57:31 GMT

I received Form 1098-T for my daughter's college tution.

She is full time student, 21 years old, I am claiming her as dependent.

I am receiving message:

"Here is why you may not qualify:

*Someone else can claim you as a dependent.

*There were no net qualified education expenses."

What am I doing wrong??

Re: Tuition Deduction

Bsch4477 — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 15:53:21 GMT

Did she have scholarship greater than qualified education expenses?

Re: Tuition Deduction

jojobob — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 16:01:48 GMT

No.

I've not even entered the amount of tuition expense.....

Re: Tuition Deduction

CatinaT1 — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 16:07:45 GMT

I think you need to review your personal information section. If it is saying someone else can claim you as a dependent, you must have checked this box in the personal information section. I assume no one is claiming you as a dependent.

Secondly, when it says there were no net qualified education expenses, I assume this is because, on the 1098-T, the amount in box 5 is more than the amount in box 1, meaning she had grants and scholarships that covered her tuition.

If she qualifies for the American Opportunity Tax Credit, you will be asked to include additional expenses for items such as books. You likely didn't get these questions since you are currently not qualifying based on your incorrect dependent status.

To be eligible for AOTC, the student must:

Be pursuing a degree or other recognized education credential
Be enrolled at least half-time for at least one academic period* beginning in the tax year
Not have finished the first four years of higher education at the beginning of the tax year
Not have claimed the AOTC or the former Hope credit for more than four tax years
Not have a felony drug conviction at the end of the tax year
*Academic Period can be semesters, trimesters, quarters or any other period of study, such as a summer school session. The schools determine the academic periods. For schools that use clock or credit hours and do not have academic terms, the payment period may be treated as an academic period.

More information can be found here:

Education Credits

American Opportunity Credit

Re: Tuition Deduction

jojobob — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 16:20:11 GMT

@CatinaT1

I rechecked and no one is checked as someone else's dependent.

I do not get an opportunity to enter the amounts from form 1098-T

Re: Tuition Deduction

Bsch4477 — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 17:01:55 GMT

Until you enter your expenses the program can’t calculate any credit.

Re: Tuition Deduction

CatinaT1 — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 17:02:13 GMT

That's very odd because the fact that it tells you the disqualification is due to someone else can claim you as a dependent. In Personal Information, this is the question I am referring to:

The "or" option for disqualification is not applicable if you have not entered a 1098-T yet, so it has to be in this question.

What is your filing status?

Under Deductions and Credits, do you show this option?

I'm not sure where you would have seen the screen you refer to that shows you are ineligible if you have not entered a 1098-T?

Re: Tuition Deduction

jojobob — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 19:37:05 GMT

Married filing jointly

Re: Tuition Deduction

jojobob — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 19:47:14 GMT

Found it!

Prompt to edit Student was not clear to me that was where you enter expenses.