Congratulations, you’ve been awarded a scholarship or fellowship grant to help you out on the path of higher education! However, you might be asking, "Do you pay taxes on scholarships and grants?" It’s a little-known fact that the IRS does indeed tax some types of scholarships as income.
There are, of course, rules and stipulations regarding the taxation of scholarships and fellowship grants. IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education, goes into detail on the various tax implications of pursuing your education, and how to go about reporting scholarships that are not tax-exempt.
Taxable Scholarships and Fellowships
If your scholarship or grant includes provisions for travel, room and board or any supplies, books and equipment not needed to obtain your degree, then all or a portion of your scholarship is taxable. Some scholarships provide for both living expenses as well as tuition and other fees. In this instance, you would have to report and file taxes on the room and board you were given, but you would not have to claim the portion of the scholarship or grant that was earmarked and used for your tuition or books.
Read More: How Much of a School Tuition is Tax Deductible?
Tax-free Scholarships and Fellowships
The IRS classifies scholarships and fellowship grants as either tax-free or taxable. According to the IRS Publication 970, a scholarship or fellowship grant is tax-free only if the awarded amount isn't more than your qualified education expenses, isn't used for room and board, and doesn't include research payments or service requirements in order to be approved for the funds.
In layman’s terms, if you receive a scholarship or grant, and it is used solely for the cost of your tuition, books and supplies needed for courses related to obtaining your degree from an eligible educational institution, then this type of scholarship is tax-exempt. Scholarships or grants received from the Armed Forces Health Professionals, National Health Services Corps or a Financial Assistance Program are also exempt for tax purposes.
Income Taxes and Scholarships 2021
When you’re awarded a scholarship or grant, you will receive an IRS Form 1098-T. This form is similar to a W-2 or 1099-NEC that employees receive, as it details the amount of income you received in the form of a scholarship or grant. Unless you’re a dependent, you have to report the information from your 1098-T on your personal tax return using IRS Form 1040.
These grants are claimed in the year they were received, and not the year they were actually applied. For example, if you received a grant in late 2021, but did not use it until 2022, you would have to report this income on your 2021 return. For help in filing taxes and navigating Form 1098-T, go to the IRS website and use the worksheet "Instructions for Forms 1098-E and 1098-T – Student Loan Interest Statement and Tuition Statement."
Read More: 1098-T: Understanding the 1098-T IRS Tax Forms for Students
Filing Your Taxes
While certain scholarships and grants are subject to tax, it doesn’t mean that you are automatically required to file. The IRS has income thresholds in place to determine whether taxpayers are required to file a return in a given year. The income thresholds before you must file a return are adjusted annually to account for inflation and vary depending on your filing status.
To find out if you are required to file taxes for a particular year or not, visit the IRS website and use the Interactive Tax Assistant tool to help you determine your filing requirement and status. In order to complete the tax assistant interview, you’ll need basic information on how to calculate your gross income (including taxable scholarships), your filing status and any federal taxes you had withheld.
Read More: Tax Return Preparation: Tax Services, Tax Help & More
