Having trouble entering multiple 1098-T forms on H&R Block software?

Thanks for the info! I'm actually having the exact same problem but with TurboTax. Do you know if the process is similar there? I can't seem to find any "add another" option and I attended 3 different colleges last year (don't ask lol).

For TurboTax, the process is similar but slightly different. After entering your first 1098-T, you need to look for a "Add Another 1098-T" link which usually appears after you complete the first one. If you don't see that option, try navigating back to the main Education Credits section and there should be an option to add additional educational institutions. If you're still having trouble, sometimes trying a different browser can help as certain buttons might not display correctly depending on your browser. TurboTax also has a pretty responsive support chat that can walk you through adding multiple schools while you're actively in the software.

This sounds interesting but I'm curious - does it actually file your taxes for you or just help organize the documents? I'm paranoid about security with these newer tax services.

Can it handle other education-related issues? I have a weird situation where I got scholarships that weren't reported on my 1098-T but I still need to account for them somehow.

The service doesn't file your taxes for you - it analyzes all your documents and provides you with the properly organized information that you can then enter into whatever tax software you prefer. It's more about making sure nothing gets missed or entered incorrectly. Regarding scholarships not reported on your 1098-T, yes it handles those situations too. You can upload additional documentation like scholarship award letters, and the system will help you determine what's taxable and what isn't. It specifically flagged a housing stipend for my daughter that we wouldn't have realized was actually taxable income.

Wait, does this actually work? I've literally never been able to get through to the IRS despite calling at all hours of the day. How much do they charge for this service?

Sounds like a scam tbh. The IRS doesn't partner with third-party services to manage their call queue. How would some random company have access to the IRS phone system?

Yes, it absolutely works! It uses an automated system that navigates the IRS phone menu and stays on hold so you don't have to. When it detects a human has picked up, it calls you and connects you directly. I had the exact same skepticism initially! They don't have special access to the IRS systems - they just use technology to handle the waiting for you. Think of it like having someone else wait in a physical line for you, then texting when they're about to reach the front. The service doesn't have any special relationship with the IRS; they're just solving the hold time problem.

Thank you so much for these detailed steps! I couldn't find the option anywhere in the normal flow but your method worked perfectly. I was able to enter both my 1098-Ts and H&R Block calculated the correct amount for both American Opportunity Credit and Lifetime Learning Credit. Did you have any issues with the IRS questioning the multiple education credits when you filed? I'm a bit worried they might flag my return or something.

I didn't have any issues with the IRS questioning my return. As long as you have legitimate 1098-Ts from accredited institutions and you meet the eligibility requirements for the education credits, having multiple schools isn't a red flag by itself. Just make sure you're not double-counting any expenses or claiming the same type of credit twice if that's not allowed. The key thing is being clear about which expenses apply to which credit. If you're eligible for both the American Opportunity Credit and Lifetime Learning Credit, you might need to strategize which expenses to apply to each for maximum benefit.

I can confirm this! I switched to the desktop version specifically because of this issue. The desktop software has a very clear "Add Another Institution" button right on the education screen. The online version hides this functionality for some reason.

This is really helpful advice, especially as a backup option! I'm curious though - when you manually combine the amounts like this, do you need to be careful about which type of education credit you're claiming? I know there are different rules for American Opportunity Credit vs Lifetime Learning Credit, and I'm wondering if combining the 1098-T info could mess up the eligibility calculations somehow. Also, has anyone who used this method ever been audited or had the IRS ask for clarification? I want to make sure this approach won't cause problems down the road.

Great question about the credit types! When manually combining 1098-T amounts, you definitely need to be strategic about which expenses you allocate to which credit. The American Opportunity Credit has a higher value but stricter eligibility requirements (first 4 years, degree-seeking, at least half-time), while the Lifetime Learning Credit is more flexible but lower value. If both schools qualify you for the American Opportunity Credit, you can combine their qualified expenses up to the $4,000 limit. But if one school makes you eligible for AOC and the other only for LLC, you'll want to maximize the AOC expenses first, then apply remaining expenses to LLC. I used this combining method two years ago and haven't had any issues with the IRS. The key is keeping detailed records of which expenses came from which school, even if you entered them combined in the software. If questioned, you can provide the breakdown along with your original 1098-T forms. Just make sure your combined total doesn't exceed what you actually paid out of pocket after scholarships and grants!

Great question about the credit eligibility! You definitely need to be careful when combining 1098-T information, especially since the American Opportunity Credit and Lifetime Learning Credit have different rules and limitations. For the American Opportunity Credit, you can only claim it for the first four years of post-secondary education per student, and the student must be enrolled at least half-time. The Lifetime Learning Credit doesn't have these restrictions but has a lower maximum benefit. When manually combining 1098-T amounts, you should still track which expenses came from which school internally (keep detailed notes). This way if the IRS does ask questions, you can break down exactly how much qualified tuition was paid to each institution and demonstrate that you're not double-dipping on credits. I haven't been audited personally using this method, but I always attach a brief explanation letter with my return when I combine forms, explaining that I attended multiple institutions and listing each school with their respective amounts. This proactive documentation has helped me avoid any follow-up questions so far. The key is making sure your total claimed expenses don't exceed what you actually paid in qualified tuition and fees across all institutions combined.

Great question about the credit types! When manually combining 1098-T amounts, you definitely need to be strategic about which credits you're claiming. The American Opportunity Credit has a $4,000 annual limit per student and can only be claimed for the first 4 years of college, while the Lifetime Learning Credit has a $10,000 limit but covers all post-secondary education. If you're eligible for both credits from different schools, you'll want to allocate your expenses to maximize your benefit. Generally, the American Opportunity Credit gives better returns (up to $2,500 vs $2,000 for Lifetime Learning), so you'd want to apply qualifying expenses to that first if possible. I haven't been audited using this method, but I always keep detailed records showing which expenses came from which school, just in case. The key is making sure your total claimed expenses don't exceed what you actually paid and that you're not claiming the same expenses for multiple credits.

Great question about the credit types! When manually combining 1098-T information, you definitely need to be strategic about which expenses you allocate to which credit. The American Opportunity Credit has a $4,000 limit on qualified expenses and can only be used for the first 4 years of undergraduate study, while the Lifetime Learning Credit has a $10,000 limit but covers a broader range of educational situations. If you're eligible for both credits (say, undergraduate courses at one school and graduate courses at another), you'll want to optimize which expenses go toward which credit for maximum benefit. The AOC gives you up to $2,500 while the LLC maxes out at $2,000, so you'd typically want to allocate your first $4,000 in expenses to the AOC if you qualify. I haven't been audited personally, but I did call the IRS to confirm this approach was acceptable before using it. The agent told me that as long as you maintain proper documentation (copies of all 1098-Ts) and don't double-count any expenses, combining the information is perfectly fine. The key is being able to provide the breakdown if requested.

Great question about the credit types! You definitely need to be careful when combining 1098-T information manually. The American Opportunity Credit has specific per-student limits ($2,500 max per eligible student), while the Lifetime Learning Credit has an overall household limit ($2,000 max total). If you combine the amounts from multiple institutions, you'll want to make sure you're still calculating the credits correctly based on the individual student eligibility. For example, if both schools were for the same student, you'd typically want to maximize the American Opportunity Credit first (if eligible) since it's more generous, then apply any remaining expenses to Lifetime Learning Credit if needed. I haven't been audited using this method, but I always keep detailed records showing which expenses came from which institution, just in case. The key is being able to substantiate your total claimed amounts with the original 1098-T forms if the IRS ever asks. If you're nervous about the manual combination approach, honestly the desktop software or taxr.ai options mentioned earlier might give you more peace of mind since they handle the multiple institution logic automatically.