Does anyone know if scholarship money affects the 1098-T reporting? I had a partial scholarship for my last semester before graduating and I'm confused about how that impacts potential tax credits.

Great question! I was in a similar situation when I graduated in 2023. Yes, you'll definitely receive your 1098-T for 2024 since you paid tuition during that tax year. One thing I wish someone had told me - make sure to keep all your payment receipts and compare them to what's on the 1098-T when you get it. Also, since this is your first time filing after graduation, you might want to check if you're still being claimed as a dependent by your parents. If they're claiming you, they would be the ones eligible for the education credits, not you. If you're filing independently now, those education credits could be really valuable - the American Opportunity Credit can be worth up to $2,500. Don't leave money on the table!

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation right now in California - separated for 4 years but not divorced, and my ex is completely ignoring my requests for tax information. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! I'm going to follow the advice about documenting my attempts to contact him and filing Form 8958 with just my information, noting that he refused to cooperate. It's such a relief to hear from people like Ryder and Dylan who actually went through this process successfully. One question for anyone who's been through this - did you file an extension first to buy more time, or did you just go ahead and file by the regular deadline with the incomplete information? I'm torn between trying to get more time versus just getting it done and filed properly with what I have. Also, has anyone had experience with this situation affecting future tax years? Like, does the IRS flag your account or anything once you've filed this way? I'm worried about creating problems for myself down the road, but it sounds like most people had smooth experiences. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this community is amazing for helping people navigate these complicated situations!

I've been following this thread closely as someone who went through a very similar situation in Texas about two years ago. What really struck me was how much stress and anxiety this whole process caused me initially, but looking back, it was much more straightforward than I feared. Like many of you mentioned, I documented every attempt to contact my ex - texts, emails, even a certified letter that went unclaimed. When I finally filed Form 8958, I wrote "spouse refused to provide information despite multiple requests" in the sections requiring their data and attached a brief summary of my contact attempts. The IRS processed my return without any issues, and I haven't had problems in subsequent years either. What I learned is that the IRS is much more understanding about these situations than I expected - they deal with uncooperative spouses regularly, especially in community property states. One practical tip: I used TurboTax and was initially frustrated because the software kept prompting me for the missing spouse information. I ended up calling their support line, and they walked me through how to properly note the uncooperative spouse situation in their system. Most tax software has provisions for this scenario once you know how to access them. For anyone still feeling anxious about this approach, remember that you're taking reasonable steps to comply with tax law. The IRS isn't going to penalize you for your ex's lack of cooperation when you've made good faith efforts to get the required information.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Emily. I went through this exact situation when my father passed away earlier this year, and I completely understand the frustration with the SSA's systems. One thing that worked for me was calling the SSA at exactly 8:00 AM when their phone lines open. The wait time was much shorter (about 20 minutes instead of hours), and I was able to speak with a representative who specialized in deceased beneficiary cases. When you call, make sure you have these documents ready: your father's Social Security number, his date of death, your identification showing you're the executor, and the death certificate number (you don't need to mail it, just have the information available). The representative was able to verify everything over the phone and expedite the 1099-SSA to my address. Also, don't forget that if your father received Social Security benefits and had federal taxes withheld, you might also need Form 1042-S if he was receiving benefits while living abroad previously, or if there were any special withholding situations. The whole process took about 7 business days once I got through to the right person. Hang in there - I know it's overwhelming to deal with government agencies while grieving, but you'll get through this.

I'm really sorry for your loss, Emily. I just went through this same situation with my mother's estate a few months ago, and I know how frustrating and overwhelming it can be. One approach that worked well for me was calling the SSA's main number (1-800-772-1213) first thing in the morning around 8:05 AM and asking to speak with someone in "deceased beneficiary services." The wait time was significantly shorter than calling later in the day - about 25 minutes instead of the 2+ hours I experienced when calling in the afternoon. When you do get through, have everything organized: your father's full SSN, his exact date of death, your identification as executor, and the death certificate details. The specialist I spoke with was able to process my request over the phone and mail the 1099-SSA within about 10 business days. Also, if you're worried about missing tax deadlines while sorting this out, remember you can file Form 4868 for an automatic 6-month extension on his final return. This takes a lot of pressure off and gives you time to get all the documents properly. One last tip - if the SSA rep mentions anything about benefit overpayments or discrepancies, ask them to flag it in your case file. Sometimes there are complications that don't show up until you're actually filing the return, and having it noted ahead of time can save you calls later. Hang in there - this process is exhausting but you will get through it. The hardest part is just getting connected to someone who understands these estate situations.

your friend is buggin if he thinks this will work lmaoo. my cousin tried sum similar claiming his gf brother who was locked up. he got the money initially but then boom 6 months later irs sent a letter saying he was getting audited. had to pay everything back plus like $1500 in penalties. tell your boy not to mess with the irs man they don't play around!!

Your coworker is absolutely setting himself up for disaster. I've seen this exact scenario play out multiple times, and it never ends well. The IRS has sophisticated cross-referencing systems that will catch this - they receive data from correctional facilities and will flag returns claiming incarcerated individuals as dependents. Even if the refund gets processed initially (which sometimes happens), the IRS will eventually audit and demand repayment with penalties and interest. The "support test" is crystal clear - when someone is incarcerated, the government (not your friend) is providing their housing, food, medical care, and other basic needs. There's no way your coworker can legitimately claim he's providing more than half of this person's support. The fact that H&R Block's software shows a refund means nothing - tax software only processes the information entered, it can't verify if that information is truthful. Your friend is essentially committing tax fraud, and the IRS takes this very seriously. The $4,000 refund isn't worth the audit, penalties, potential criminal charges, and years of dealing with the IRS. Show him these responses and maybe he'll reconsider before he ruins his financial future over what amounts to theft from the government.

Has anyone used the actual Publication 15-T to verify this? I downloaded it and tried to follow along but the tables are confusing af. There's like 10 different methods depending on if your W-4 is old or new and what payroll system your employer uses.

I had the exact same issue with my semi-monthly paycheck calculations! What finally helped me was realizing that the IRS withholding system uses different formulas than just applying tax brackets directly to your income. The key thing you're missing is that withholding tables already account for the standard deduction and use annualized calculations that are then divided by your pay frequency. Your employer isn't just taking your pay period income and applying tax brackets - they're estimating what your annual tax liability will be and spreading it across all pay periods. Also, since you mentioned having an old W-4 with allowances, your employer is using a conversion method that doesn't work the way you calculated. Each allowance doesn't simply reduce your taxable income by a fixed dollar amount per pay period like it used to. I'd recommend either using the IRS Withholding Estimator online or filling out a new W-4 form. The new system is actually much more straightforward and gives you better control over your withholding amounts. You can even specify exact additional dollar amounts to be withheld if you want to fine-tune it.