Tax Year Prior to 2020: Tuition and Fees Deduction Form 8917 for tax year 2018 unavailable

[paledroses17]

Hello everyone,

I did my 2019 taxes today and was happy to see that the Tuition and Fees Deduction was extended for years 2018, 2019, and 2020. I went back to my return last year to file an amended return for year 2018 and it still would not let me take deduct and Form 8917 is unavailable. Am I misunderstanding something or will I have to fill out an amended return by hand?

[Opus 17]

The IRS hasn’t even updated their 2018 forms yet, you can’t even amend by hand (for now).  Generally, it takes 2-3 weeks after the IRS updates their forms for tax software to issue an update.  We assume TurboTax will be updated and you may even get an email advising you of the availability of all the retroactive extenders, but we don’t have a date.  

[paledroses17]

Got it. Thank you for the reply!

[PETEMO]

If I understand correctly, the 8917 for 2018 is unavailable, meaning even if eligible for the deduction in 2018, it was not applied in error?  Does this mean I need to file an amended return once the form is available to get the credit?  My calculations tell me that the IRS owes me $2000.00 from the 2018 return due to this form not being available.  Will Turbotax inform me?

Thank you.

[PETEMO]

The 2020 for 8917 states it should be used for amending 2018 returns.  Is this a Turbotax issue?

Here is what is printed on the form:

Form 8917
(Rev. January 2020)
Tuition and Fees Deduction
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
▶ Attach to Form 1040 or 1040-SR.
▶ Go to www.irs.gov/Form8917 for the latest information.
OMB No. 1545-0074
Attachment
Sequence No. 60
Name(s) shown on return Your social security number
▲!
CAUTION
Use this form for qualified tuition and fees paid in 2018, 2019, or 2020, and later years if legislation extends the deduction
(see instructions). File a separate Form 8917 for each year after 2017 for which you qualify to take the deduction.

[PETEMO]

The 2020 for 8917 states it should be used for 2018 returns.  Is this a Turbotax issue?

Here is what is printed on the form:

Form 8917
(Rev. January 2020)
Tuition and Fees Deduction
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
▶ Attach to Form 1040 or 1040-SR.
▶ Go to www.irs.gov/Form8917 for the latest information.
OMB No. 1545-0074
Attachment
Sequence No. 60
Name(s) shown on return Your social security number
▲!
CAUTION
Use this form for qualified tuition and fees paid in 2018, 2019, or 2020, and later years if legislation extends the deduction
(see instructions). File a separate Form 8917 for each year after 2017 for which you qualify to take the deduction.

[KrisD15]

The Tuition and Fees deduction was eliminated, but then it was extended retroactively. 

This means that in 2018 it was not available, but guess what? Congress recently changed its mind and decided to allow it for 2018 (as well as 2019 and 2020) 

Rather than Amend and file a 2018 1040X, you can file Form 8917 and take the deduction if eligible. 

[PETEMO]

It is great news.  I am filing a 8917 for 2019.  How do I file one for 2018 if I do not amend my return?  Maybe I am misunderstanding, but each year is limited in deduction based on income.  So based on my understanding I would need to file a form 8917 for 2018 which would reduce my taxable income (AGI) resulting in a need to amend the 2018 return?

Thank you.

[VictorW9]

The form 8971 is to be filed along with a copy of schedule A. It is actually filed by a trustee of an estate and a copy sent to the beneficiaries receiving property from an estate. So it has nothing to do with education credit and you would not find the form on a 1040 return.

[PETEMO]

Form 8917, not 8971.

Thank you.

[DDarnells2]

The earlier answers from Feb mention that the IRS has not yet updated Form 8917.  I searched today (05-Apr) and the form is updated and available on the irs.gov site, but Turbo Tax 2018 seems to not be updated yet (still showing I am not eligible for the Tuition deduction even though it seems I am eligible per the instructions on Form 8917).  Any idea when Turbo Tax 2018 will be updated so I can amend my 2018 Return?

[DoninGA]

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@DDarnells2 wrote:

The earlier answers from Feb mention that the IRS has not yet updated Form 8917.  I searched today (05-Apr) and the form is updated and available on the irs.gov site, but Turbo Tax 2018 seems to not be updated yet (still showing I am not eligible for the Tuition deduction even though it seems I am eligible per the instructions on Form 8917).  Any idea when Turbo Tax 2018 will be updated so I can amend my 2018 Return?

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The 2018 TurboTax software has not yet been updated for the Tax Extenders.  See this TurboTax support FAQ - https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-topics/help/2018-extenders-passed-under-taxpayer-certainty-and...

[LordDoom]

I have the same issue and all of the "tax experts" have provided incorrect advice.  Form 8917 has been released by the IRS and is supposed to be used for 2018.  Unfortunately, Intuit has not done their job.  This form was released in January 2020 and Intuit originally stated that the form would be available by mid March - they lied.  Now Intuit is saying mid April.  In short, Intuit is not adequately supporting their software tool.