Thank you so much for your response! You probably are not even going to see this post because the free expert help event is now over. But I wanted to thank you for reading and responding to my question! I had entered a lengthy post, including actual figures, and all details about this complicated filing situation, but it was flagged as SPAM for some reason, so I guess no one saw it. I am TRYING to avoid filing 2 returns, and trying to avoid my son owing taxes---which will likely only happen IF he CAN get the AOTC. If he does not get the AOTC on HIS return he most certainly will owe taxes( I think), and now late filing consequences as well. MY fault! I have been messing with this tax return for MONTHS, after deciding we had to file an extension. I have read well over 100 posts regarding the AOTC, and interaction with grants/scholarships, 529 distributions, and earned income. It is just SO confusing! And reading the publications from the IRS are impossible for me to decipher!!! I keep reading on the forum posts saying that a loophole can be used, but do NOT know how to apply it to my SON's return. All posts I have read do not really seem to match his situation. I feel like he should be able to file single, NOT a dependent, and get the AOTC, but I just cannot understand exactly what numbers to plug into where to accomplish this! Or maybe it ISN'T even possible---I don't know anymore! It doesn't help that his 1098-T is showing only$719.50 in box 1----completely wrong. It is lacking by $4303, which is the exact amount of his state grant. School will not change it, even though they know it is incorrect. At least I know what box 1 SHOULD be ($5022.50), but I don't know how to enter it correctly to get the AOTC. I have read SOOO many posts about legally"tricking" the system into giving the credit, but just don't know what numbers to put where for it to help my son. I just don't want to get it WRONG and get audited, or have him owe hundreds, or over a thousand, in taxes unnecessarily----especially since there now would also be late filing fees. I can find many, many posts about having the PARENT claim child as dependent, and the parent claim the AOTC. I was hoping to avoid that, as I don't even have to file, and haven't had significant income of my own in many years. That's why I am so lost about filing the return----no real experience. Anyway, I have decided it is definitely in the realm of possibility that he provided more than half of his support for 2022, especially since he had social security income of $12,846, in addition to his work income of $11,054.79. Definitely adds up to be more than his total scholarships/grants ($11,923.50---$6901 was refunded). Plus the 529 distribution of $4302 (all refunded by school).
Anyway, it is complicated---for US---and I will keep reading and try to figure it all out before the Oct 31st deadline to complete the filing on turbotax. I just don't know why I would HAVE to claim him as my dependent, and file a second return, but if that is the ONLY way to handle this, then that is what I will do. Haven't read the rules on claiming him as dependent in a while, but I will check to see if I qualify to claim him. I thought I didn't qualify. **IF you have read this far, I want to thank you!!!! And I don't really expect a response, but I wanted to thank you for the help you provided in the way of the links to information/instructions. I just hope it applies to this situation, and can help me figure out exactly what to do next!!!! Regards----Kerri
