How should I report resident advisor pay?

[ademaree-edhs]

I was a resident advisor at my college in 2016. As compensation for my work, I received a grant which paid my room and board for the year. The grant was not reported on my 1098T, so should it be reported as other financial aid not reported on the 1098T? When I do this, it asks me how much financial aid was used for room and board, so I put the amount of the grant, but it doesn't seem to make any difference on my return. It seems to consider all of the grants not going toward tuition just as income. Should it just not be reported as a grant, but as having no housing costs instead?

[DDollar · Accepted solution]

You do not need to report it at all.  Campus resident advisers (RAs) generally do not have to pay income tax on room and board benefits. Housing is excluded when residing in the dorm is a condition of being an R.A., and meals are excluded when furnished by the college for the convenience of the college.

[ademaree-edhs]

Thanks David! This was super helpful!