topic How do I enter a graduate student stipend? in Education

How do I enter a graduate student stipend?

thefirestarter — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 09:26:49 GMT

If I enter it as a scholarship it doesn't count as earned income which means my roth ira contributions exceed the "limit". I don't receive any tax documentation from my school other than a letter with my income and a federal identification number associated with it.

TurboTax has 2 places where you could input your graduate...

MichaelDC — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 09:26:52 GMT

TurboTax has 2 places where you could input your graduate student stipend. You can choose to enter the fellowship income in either one place or the other. Either way, if your earned income for the year is less than the contribution limit (in 2016, $5,500 for those under 50), you can only contribute up to your earned income. In other words, if your earned income is $3,000, you can only contribute up to $3,000.

One option is that you would have to go through the education section (under credits and deductions). In the end you can enter your taxable fellowship.

The other alternative is to "Visit All" the "Less Common Income" topics. If you visit all these topics, one type of less common income they'll ask for is "Taxable Scholarships and Fellowships." There it says: "If you are not a candidate for a degree, then scholarship, fellowship, and grant income are taxable and should be reported here. Enter the amount of taxable scholarship, fellowship, and grant income you received."

It will be added to line 7 on form 1040 (and SCH <amount> will be written next to it).

Re: TurboTax has 2 places where you could input your graduate...

frustratedphd — Sun, 19 Jan 2020 05:44:48 GMT

This is a useless response. A graduate student is, by definition, working towards a degree. Your response shows that you do not understand how PhD's work in the United States.

Re: TurboTax has 2 places where you could input your graduate...

Hal_Al — Sun, 19 Jan 2020 13:13:59 GMT

Despite the June 2019 date on this thread, this is a much older post. It is no longer possible to enter scholarship at "Less common Income" /"Visit All" in the TurboTax software. Scholarships must be entered at Deductions and Credits / Educational expenses.

Earned Income is reported on a W-2 or 1099-Misc. Graduate student stipends are scholarships, not wages. That's why you didn't get a W-2 or 1099-Misc.

That said, if you want to treat it as earned income (the original poster wanted to make an IRA contribution), the easiest way is to treat it as self employment income. But, then, you will have to pay FICA-self employment tax, in addition to any income tax. There is no way to enter it as wages, in TurboTax, except in inappropriate complicated work around.

Re: TurboTax has 2 places where you could input your graduate...

pcharasz — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 20:54:51 GMT

I receive a graduate student stipend and got a 1099-MISC form from my university.

Re: TurboTax has 2 places where you could input your graduate...

MinhT1 — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 21:05:14 GMT

Please read this TurboTax answer from TomK which addresses your question. @pcharasz