I am a US citizen. But I received 1042S, instead of 1099 Q. Can I use 1042 S in 1040 A tax preparation using TurboTax software?

[caleb-dad]

I requested to Vanguard to correct the form (1099-Q) but they refused to do that because when I took the money from Education Saving Account, I had a foreign address. I wonder how to resolve this issue. How can I get the correct form (1099Q) and how can I use the 1042S form in 2017 tax return report (1040A) using Turbo Tax software? 

[KrisD · Accepted solution]

TurboTax does not support the 1042S. If the entire distribution was from an education account, and you used it all for qualifying education expenses, you do not need to enter it, just keep a copy of the 1042S, as well as receipts for the education expenses paid, with your tax file. Do not use the education expenses applied to the distribution for an education credit. 

If you did not use the distributions for education expenses, you can enter the transactions as a 1099-Q, but you will need to know the earnings and basis of the distribution. If it is not listed on the 1042s, you will need to get those numbers from Vanguard. 

If tax was withheld, report that as "Other Taxes Paid"

• Sign into your account and your return
• Click Federal on the left side-bar
• Click Deductions & Credits along the top
• Scroll down to “Estimates and Other Taxes Paid” and click Show more
• (you may need to click "show all Deductions & Credits first to open the list)
• Scroll down to “Other Income Taxes” and click Start
• Scroll down to “Withholding not already entered on a W-2 or 1099” and click Start

(please see screenshot below) 

[Edited 03.14.2018 |10:55AM]

[caleb-dad]

Thanks for your answer. The withholding agent took 30% of entire distribution as federal tax withholding. So I wonder how to return all withheld because I used it all for qualifying all education expenses.

[KrisD]

Enter the withholding in "Other Taxes Paid" see updated answer for navigation.

[yorgo]

I have the exact same problem- Federal tax withheld from an ESA and Form 1042-S issued instead of 1099-Q even though I'm a US citizen.

I used all of the distribution on qualified expenses. In your answer, why did you advise to file a 1099-Q form only if the distribution was used for unqualified expenses? I'm worried if I don't file a 1099-Q that the IRS won't know to what the "Other taxes withheld" pertain. Note that I don't qualify for an education credit as my income is too high.

Thanks!

[DaveF1006]

Here is the best way to report and then exclude the income since it is for qualified educational expenses.

To report the 1042-S 

1. Open your return in TurboTax 
2. Click on Wages & Income 
3. Scroll down to All Income
4. Scroll down to Less Common Income 
5. Scroll down to Miscellaneous Income, 1099-A, 1099-C 
6. Click start 
7. Scroll down to Other reportable income 
8. Answer yes and record this as 1042S income and then the amount.

Now to exclude it since these are used as qualified educational expenses

1. Repeat steps 1-7.
2. Record this as a 1042S Distribution for qualified Educational Expenses. 
3. Now enter the amount with the minus sign in front of the income
4. You have now reported the 1042S and then excluded the income.

To report the US tax paid:

1. With your return open
2. Click on Deductions & Credits
3. Scroll down to Estimates and Other Taxes Paid\
4. Click on Other Income Taxes
5. Scroll down Other Income Taxes
6. Click on Withholding not already entered on a W-2 or 1099

@yorgo 

[yorgo]

I followed these instructions and for some reason adding the income under Other Misc Income and then adding a line with the same income as a negative number increased my Federal Refund (by $241) even though the Total Misc Taxable Income is listed as $0. Why is this - it seems like this shouldn't affect the Federal Refund?

[DaveF1006]

Yes, this does seem unusual. To look at this in detail, we would like to see a diagnostic copy of your return. The information in this file is a sanitized copy meaning there is no personal information, only numbers so that we can troubleshoot in depth, check for calculation issues, and to see how certain items are applied. Here is how to order. 

For Turbo Tax online, go to tax tools>tools>share my file with agent.  When this is selected, you will receive a token number.  Respond back in this thread and tell us what that token number is. 

If you use the desktop version, go to the black stripe at the top of the program>online>send tax file to agent. Once you receive the token number, reply back in this thread and let us know what that token number is.

@yorgo 

[yorgo]

I have shared a protected copy of my return online. My token number is 1203288. 

Thank you for offering to help further with this - much appreciated!

[DaveF1006]

I have reviewed your file and noticed a $115 difference rather than a $241. The increase was due to a difference in the foreign tax credit that you can claim this year thus reducing the carryover into next year. It's a calculation that is determined in the Foreign Tax Worksheet that involves a series of ratios in changes between foreign versus total income.

I can report this discrepancy to our developers to see if this is a calculation issue.  However, this has minimal impact in your tax return thus I suggest you can safely file this return without negative consequences. 

@yorgo 

[yorgo]

I have listed the Form 1042-S income and qualified Education Expenses as you suggested and I have submitted my tax return.

Thank you very much for your expert help- I very much appreciate it.