Page 13: Education
Skip this page if nobody in the household paid tuition or student loan interest, and you hold no 529 or Coverdell account.
You need this page if you 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 does. It gathers everything education-related: student loan interest, tuition and fees for the education credits, and 529 or Coverdell accounts.
Before You Begin
Please gather the following documents before completing this page:
- Form 1098-E (Student Loan Interest Statement)
- Form 1098-T (Tuition Statement) for each student
- Records showing tuition and fee payments made during the year
- Receipts for required books, supplies, and equipment
- Form 1099-Q for 529 or Coverdell distributions
- Year-end statements for any 529 or Coverdell accounts
Having these documents available will help ensure that all information is reported accurately.
Student Loan Interest
No Student Loan Interest?
If neither you nor your spouse paid student loan interest during the year, simply check the box provided and move on to the next section.
If You Paid Student Loan Interest
Enter the amount paid by:
- Taxpayer
- Spouse
Please enter each person’s amount separately.
Your Form 1098-E will typically provide the amount needed for this section.
Qualified Education Expenses
No Education Expenses?
If no one in your household incurred qualified education expenses during the year, check the box provided and move on to the 529 and Coverdell section.
If Education Expenses Were Incurred
Complete a section for each student.
For each student, please provide:
- Full name
- Social Security Number
- Whether the student is being claimed as a dependent on this return
- Name of the school attended
- School EIN (Employer Identification Number)
- Year of study
- Whether the student was enrolled at least half-time
- Whether the American Opportunity Credit has already been claimed four times for that student
These details help us determine which education credits may be available.
Education Expenses
For each student, enter the amounts actually paid during the year.
Tuition and Fees
Enter tuition and required fees that were paid during the tax year.
Books, Supplies, and Required Equipment
Include expenses required by the school as a condition of enrollment.
Examples include:
- Textbooks
- Course materials
- Required software
- Required lab equipment
Room and Board
Enter room and board expenses when applicable.
While room and board generally do not qualify for education tax credits, they may qualify as eligible expenses for 529 and Coverdell plan distributions.
Scholarships and Grants
Enter any tax-free educational assistance received, including:
- Scholarships
- Grants
- Employer-provided educational assistance
- Other tax-free educational benefits
These amounts help us accurately calculate available credits and deductions.
529 and Coverdell Education Savings Accounts
No Contributions or Withdrawals?
If there were no 529 or Coverdell account contributions or distributions during the year, simply check the box provided and continue to the next page.
If You Used a 529 or Coverdell Account
Please provide:
- Name of the financial institution or state plan
- Type of account
- Beneficiary name
- Beneficiary Social Security Number
- Account number
- Contributions made during the year
- Withdrawals taken during the year
The organizer allows multiple beneficiaries and multiple education savings plans to be reported.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Use Amounts Actually Paid
When reporting tuition expenses, use the amounts that were actually paid during the tax year.
School reporting on Form 1098-T does not always match the timing of your payments.
For example, tuition paid in December for a spring semester may still count as a payment made during the current tax year.
Include the School’s EIN
The school’s Employer Identification Number (EIN) is required for many education credit calculations.
This number is typically listed on Form 1098-T.
Please be sure to include it whenever requested.
Scholarships Reduce Eligible Expenses
Scholarships and grants generally reduce the amount of expenses available for education credits.
Be sure to report all scholarships, grants, and other tax-free educational assistance received.
Reporting only gross tuition without scholarships may result in an overstated credit.
Room and Board Has Different Rules
Room and board expenses generally do not qualify for education tax credits.
However, they may qualify as expenses for purposes of 529 and Coverdell distributions.
Including these expenses helps us determine whether any distributions can be excluded from income.
The American Opportunity Credit Has Limits
The American Opportunity Credit is generally available for only four tax years per eligible student.
If the credit has already been claimed four times for a student, please indicate that on this page so we can determine which education benefits remain available.
Include Form 1099-Q
If funds were withdrawn from a 529 or Coverdell account, please provide Form 1099-Q.
Even when the money was used properly for educational expenses, we need the form to properly report the distribution and avoid unnecessary IRS notices.
Submit Sensitive Information Securely
This page requests Social Security Numbers and other sensitive information.
For your protection, please return your completed organizer through our secure document upload system rather than through standard email.
When You’re Finished
Before moving on, please review the information you’ve entered and confirm that you have:
✓ Included student loan interest paid
✓ Listed all students with education expenses
✓ Entered tuition and required educational costs
✓ Reported scholarships and grants
✓ Included 529 and Coverdell account activity
✓ Added notes for any special circumstances
✓ Attached Forms 1098-E, 1098-T, and 1099-Q, if applicable
A complete Page 13 helps us identify every education-related deduction and credit available to your family. If you’re unsure whether an expense qualifies, simply include a note in the comments section and we’ll be happy to review it with you.