My father and I paid for semesters separately. Do I still put the amount in box 1? Is there another box where I can put what I paid specifically?

[mmarcinanis-gmai]

I was full time for one semester, part time the next. The full time was paid by my father, part time I paid myself. 

Do I still input whats in box 1 of my 1098-T, and what I paid in the box when I click 'This is not what I paid to this school'?

This is my first Tax Return. I am filing independently.

[xmasbaby0]

Before you go further-----some things need to be clear.   

You said:  "This is my first tax return. I am filing independently."

We need more information.  How old are you?   Were you a full-time student in 2023?   If you were a full-time student in 2023 and are under the age of 24, you can be claimed as a qualified child dependent by a parent.  You say your father paid some of your tuition.   Is your dad claiming you as a dependent on his tax return?

If you can be claimed as someone else's dependent, then you have to say on your own tax return that someone else can claim you.  That question is in My Info, and your answer to it should be YES.  

If you can be claimed as a dependent and you answer the question in My Info incorrectly, here is what happens if you e-file first:  Your Social Security number goes into the IRS system as having been used.  When your parents try to e-file, their e-file is rejected and they will find it impossible to e-file their own tax return.  Then they will have to print, sign and mail their return and wait for months for it to be processed.  You, meanwhile, will have to file an amended tax return on a special form called a 1040X, which also takes months for the IRS to process.  So make sure you know the correct answer to "Can anyone claim you as a dependent on their tax return?"

Here is the criteria your parent uses to determine if you can be claimed:

WHO CAN I CLAIM AS A DEPENDENT?

You can claim a child, relative, friend, or fiancé (etc.) as a dependent on your 2023 taxes as long as they meet the following requirements:

Qualifying child

• They're related to you.
• They aren't claimed as a dependent by someone else.
• They're a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
• They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse.
• They're under the age of 19 (or 24 for full-time students).
• No age limit for permanently and totally disabled children.
• They lived with you for more than half the year (exceptions apply).
• They didn't provide more than half of their own support for the year.

Qualifying relative

• They don't have to be related to you (despite the name).
• They aren't claimed as a dependent by someone else.
• They're a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
• They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse.
• They lived with you the entire year (exceptions apply).
• They made less than $4,700 in 2023.
• You provided more than half of their financial support.

If you can be claimed as a dependent, then the person who claims you is the one who gets the education credit on their tax return.  Dependents are not eligible for education credits.

[Opus 17]

If your parent claims you as a dependent, he is the only person who can claim any tuition credits.  Report the entire 1098 on his tax return as if he paid it all.  If you can't be claimed as a dependent, you are the only person who can claim tuition credits, so report the entire 1098 on your tax return as if you paid it all.

Depending on your age and financial status, I suspect you can still be claimed as a dependent, but that will depend on your exact circumstances of course.  

[mmarcinanis-gmai]

"How old are you?"

I am 25 years old.

"Were you a full-time student in 2023?"
I was full time for one semester at the start of 2023 (Which is the semester my father paid for) then part time the next semester at the end of 2023 (The semester I paid for.)

"Is your father claiming you as dependent on his tax return?"
He is not.

[KrisD15]

If you were 25 or older December 31 2023, you file as a non-dependent and claim ALL the education expenses no matter who actually paid them. 

Education expenses paid for a DEPENDENT is all claimed by the taxpayer claiming the student. 

Education expenses paid for a NON-DEPENDENT is all claimed by the non-dependent student.

Payments made by others to the school are considered as gifts to the student and therefore claimed by the student. 

The student does not claim these gifts as income. 

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