⏱ About 20 minutes per student
SKIP THIS PAGE IFNo one in the household paid tuition or student loan interest, and you hold no 529 or Coverdell account.
YOU NEED THIS PAGE IFYou paid student loan interest, paid college or trade school costs for anyone on your return, or put money into or took money out of an education savings account.
WHAT THIS PAGE DOESGathers everything education-related: student loan interest, tuition and fees for the education credits, and 529 or Coverdell accounts.
Complete one section for each student. The details you give here decide which education credits your family can claim.
1 · Before you begin
Gather these first. Tick them off as you go.
2 · Completing the page
Work from the top of the organizer page to the bottom. Each section below matches a section on the page.
1Student loan interestFrom Form 1098-E
None?Check the box and move on.
If you paid interestEnter the Taxpayer’s and Spouse’s amounts separately. Your 1098-E usually shows the amount.
2Student informationOne section per student
No education expenses?Check the box and go to the 529 and Coverdell section.
For each studentFull name, Social Security number, whether they’re claimed as a dependent on this return, school name, school EIN, year of study, whether enrolled at least half-time, and whether the American Opportunity Credit has already been claimed four times for them.
3Education expensesAmounts actually paid this year
Tuition and feesTuition and required fees paid during the year.
Books, supplies and required equipmentItems the school requires for enrollment, such as textbooks, course materials, required software or lab equipment.
Room and boardEnter when it applies. It usually doesn’t count for education credits, but it may count for 529 and Coverdell withdrawals.
Scholarships and grantsAll tax-free help received: scholarships, grants, employer education assistance and other tax-free benefits.
4529 and Coverdell accountsContributions and withdrawals
None?If there were no contributions or withdrawals, check the box and continue to the next page.
For each accountInstitution or state plan name, account type, beneficiary name and Social Security number, account number, contributions and withdrawals for the year. There’s room for several beneficiaries and plans.
3 · Common mistakes that cause delays
The issues we see most often on this page.
Using the 1098-T instead of what you paidUse amounts actually paid during the year. Tuition paid in December for spring semester can count for this year.
Leaving out the school’s EINIt’s needed for many credit calculations and is usually on the 1098-T.
Not reporting scholarshipsScholarships and grants reduce the expenses that qualify. Leaving them out can overstate a credit.
Expecting room and board to earn a creditIt generally doesn’t, but it may make a 529 or Coverdell withdrawal tax-free.
Not mentioning prior American Opportunity CreditsIt’s generally limited to four years per student. Tell us if it’s been claimed four times.
Missing Form 1099-QSend it for any 529 or Coverdell withdrawal, even if used properly, to avoid IRS notices.
4 · When you’re finished
- Student loan interest, each student, expenses, scholarships and 529 or Coverdell activity entered.
- Forms 1098-E, 1098-T and 1099-Q attached where they apply.
- Continue to Page 14.
This page asks for Social Security numbers. Please upload your organizer through CyberCabinet, never by regular email.