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Level 2
posted Mar 6, 2025 3:27:31 PM

Child's tuition expenses not transfering over to parent

My child's TurboTax shows a portion of her tuition expense that can be transferred over to me as a parent.  I've completed all the settings to facilitate the transfer, but it does not show on my TurboTax as a transferred amount.  I do have taxes owing, which I think is one of the criteria for the transfer.

 

Appreciate some advice.  Thanks.

0 6 399
6 Replies
Employee Tax Expert
Mar 6, 2025 3:44:20 PM

Please clarify, 

Tax files from one year to the next can be transferred using TurboTax for the same Taxpayer, but one taxpayer's file cannot be transferred to a different taxpayer's TurboTax account. 

 

If your daughter is a student, and you claim her as your dependent, you should enter her 1098-T (showing education expense) in your TurboTax program. 

Enter it under 

Deductions & Credits

Education

Education expenses

 

A dependent student cannot claim an education credit, the person that claims the student claims the eligible education credit. 

 

Please continue the question if you need more help to enter Form 1098-T and any of her other expenses. 

Level 2
Mar 7, 2025 3:02:51 PM

Thanks for the quick reply !

 

Not sure why you're referring to transferring files from one year to the next ?  I'm specifically asking about two tax returns, both for 2024.  One file is for me and my spouse for 2024. The other file is for the child in question also for 2024.  

 

In any event. To clarify,  I have entered the education expenses in my child's return and if I understand correctly it is showing the amount my child can claim and the amount that can be transferred to my filing (or my spouse I assume) - see attached screen caps.  Are you suggesting that I need to indicate my child as a dependent first on my return in order for the expenses to be transferred to my filing ?  And that the expenses can only be either claimed by her or claimed by me, but cannot be split between her and me ?

 

 

Employee Tax Expert
Mar 7, 2025 3:13:33 PM

I'll need to have this moved to the Canadian site, this is US. 

Moderator
Mar 7, 2025 4:35:26 PM

@kibitz Yes you do have to add child (student) as a dependent

.Deducting Your Child’s School Tuition From Your Taxes?

  1. Enter claims for dependants and select Go
  2. When prompted to review or claim any of these credits, choose Yes, then select Continue
  3. Select Enter Credit Info next to the name of the dependant who's transferring unused tuition amounts to you
  4. Select Transfer my Child's Tuition and Education Amounts, then select Continue
  5. Follow the on-screen instructions to select Tuition Transfer, enter the amount(s) of the transfer(s), then select Continue

Thanks for choosing TurboTax.

Level 2
Mar 8, 2025 12:29:32 PM

Perfect.  That worked. Thank you !

Level 1
Mar 9, 2025 11:27:40 AM

I am having the exact same issue. I went through the same steps and it still not transferring over for me. Help!