Repayments. This situation is described in IRS Publication 525. pgs 34-35. You can take a misc itemized deduction, on line 28 of
schedule A (not subject to the 2% of AGI threshold*) Or you can take a credit.
The credit is computed by refiguring the tax return from the previous year as
if the income had not been received. Then the difference in tax is claimed as a
credit on the current year's return. In
the forms mode (the forms mode is not available in the on-line versions of
TurboTax[TT]), you can use the line 73 smart work sheet to enter the credit
amount on line 73; select item D, claim of right under IRC 1341 for repayments.
TT will enter "I.R.C.1341" on
the line next to box d on line 73 of form 1040. TT does not do the calculation
or compare it to the alternate deduction.
So, the taxpayer has the option of
either claiming the credit or deducting the repayment as a miscellaneous
itemized deduction, whichever provides the greater benefit*. But, you cannot
file an amended prior year return.
*If the amount is $3,000 or less, only
the miscellaneous itemized deduction is
allowed and is subject to the 2% of AGI threshold; it goes on line 23 (instead
of line 28) of schedule A.
https://www.irs.gov/publications/p17/ch12.html#en_US_2016_publink1000172015
You say you are "paying back" as opposed to you paid back. You may only deduct (or take a credit for) what you actually pay back this tax year. if the payments run over to another year, you will have to deduct that amount the following year
