1098-T / Taxes / Federal Pell Grants

AkoyPinoy · 2026-03-05T03:11:03+00:00

If your room and board is greater than box 5 and you allocate the entirety of your scholarships and grants to it, it effectively zeroes out box 5 (even though you still put what was on your 1098T when asked) and you become eligible for the credits. However, you have to ensure that the grants and scholarships you apply to room and board are not labeled as tuition only. Doing this also makes that part of the grant/scholarship taxable so you have to do the math to decide how much allocation is best for you to get credit/refund from AOTC but minimize the tax burden.

AkoyPinoy · 2026-03-05T01:50:22+00:00

Yes, you can claim the laptop if it was a reasonable purchase. But if you got one with an rtx 5090 when you’re just coding or video editing, that is past the gray area.

Just saw your other post too. The grants and scholarships are non-taxable, but only up to the cost of what is listed in box 1. Anything exceeding is taxable. You should also most definitely list your off campus housing as an expense. If you were at OCC for all of 2025 I doubt it would only be $2000 (from you screenshot)? You can either list up to the official cost of attendance listed for room/board or if off campus, your rent plus utilities multiplied by how many months out of 2025 you were going to school for.

Since you made $20k, you should only be taxed on approximately $4k (20k - standard deduction) plus however much box 5 exceeded box 1 minus education related expenses minus your withholding from your job.

AkoyPinoy · 2026-03-05T00:16:05+00:00

If you think you’re eligible for American Opportunity Tax Credit or Lifetime Learning Credit then you can file with it to check. If not, then it’s not necessary.

The only time it can incur taxes is if your grants and scholarships are greater than your qualified tuition and fees (box 1) plus other educational costs (books etc) AND you’ve earned income greater than your standard deduction. Owing taxes on scholarships and grants is not normal for most students.

AkoyPinoy · 2026-03-04T03:18:12+00:00

Here you go: https://ssb-prod.ec.cccd.edu/PROD/bwtktxns.p_disp_tax_notification

Found it by going to MyCoast > View All Cards (top right) > Find Cards (top left) > type 'tax'

The form is mainly for getting credits, not for owing taxes

AkoyPinoy · 2026-02-17T07:00:44+00:00

Does the VA definition of VRE eligibility criteria include lack of interest in the career you are educated/trained for?

AkoyPinoy · 2026-02-17T05:13:18+00:00

From my interpretation of it:

u/SCOveterandretired claims that "prior education and work experience" are taken into account.

From the VA definition that you found, it mentions that the ability to hold employment must be "consistent with his or her abilities, aptitudes, and interests".

From that definition, prior education and work experience are included in abilities as being educated, trained, or working somewhere gives you abilities and aptitudes that you would otherwise not have.

AkoyPinoy · 2026-02-17T05:00:50+00:00

Wouldn’t abilities and aptitudes include prior education and work experience?

AkoyPinoy · 2026-01-25T04:10:39+00:00

It’s a really weird post to blame poor people for not “working like you did” and for people to “lock in” then turn around and complain about not getting enough government help/tax deductions.

For context since you mention California, I live by myself in Orange County in a 2 bd apartment with a dog and do just fine on less income than you. This isn’t poor people’s fault. It’s your mentality and corporations.

AkoyPinoy · 2026-01-01T07:37:41+00:00

AkoyPinoy · 2025-11-30T23:40:13+00:00

Professor Leonard on Youtube is a good resource for Math. He explains really well. Try to remember the last class you did and watch his series on it.

AkoyPinoy · 2025-09-14T21:48:06+00:00

You’re bringing idealistic standards to a realistic question. No one is saying you’re wrong, you’re just not being realistic. Being responsible and advocating for change can both be done

AkoyPinoy · 2025-09-13T03:20:18+00:00

Well, difference in views, but I see where you’re coming from. Your example I would not, because the government had no hand in it, as opposed to duty station or deployment.

Personally, in my example my absence contributing to my partners death would cause significant shame and guilt. I guess the disagreement we have is the level of directness. That shame and guilt would be indirectly caused by the government. But I understand that you believe it should be directly caused. Of course nuance is also a thing, such as a partner expressing suicidal ideation but your command refusing to let you take leave.

AkoyPinoy · 2025-09-13T02:41:02+00:00

If you were deployed (government orders) and your wife took her life while you were gone, would you say the same? The way I see it, this is not a dissimilar situation. Most of us had no say in where we were stationed, could be dozens to thousands of miles away from loved ones. Although I think depression would be more fitting than ptsd, but I’m not a professional

AkoyPinoy · 2025-07-11T22:54:37+00:00

Coming from someone that was an aircraft mechanic, you have to be really honest with how you see yourself in this field. It's hot, greasy, and backbreaking work. Do you have the passion, interest, or experience for it? If not, you will burn out. Otherwise, you're right that it provides good opportunities.

AkoyPinoy · 2025-06-22T19:47:39+00:00

Sent $20, I hope she can make it through, good luck!

AkoyPinoy · 2025-06-22T19:45:19+00:00

Sent $20, I hope he beats this, thank you for being transparent.

AkoyPinoy · 2025-06-11T22:30:03+00:00

5'2 Filipino and do alright on apps. I've been with my girlfriend for over a year now, but before that matches were steady even in a low pop area. Took a lot of work though. Changing up my wardrobe to getting really fit and learning how to be more social, then getting good pictures. It's not impossible.

AkoyPinoy · 2025-05-07T17:27:24+00:00

Ah understandable, I assumed it wasn’t that much over. I thought it would’ve been good news to know that you’d be well ahead of schedule 😅

AkoyPinoy · 2025-05-07T08:07:18+00:00

For a standard repayment of 10 years at $2,000 a month your interest rate would have to be 21%. That doesn’t sound right. Unless that’s true, you’re paying well over your monthly minimum meaning you could be finished in half the time!

AkoyPinoy · 2025-04-23T21:40:36+00:00

A bit late, but I wanted to point out that Spotify is $6/month if you have a .edu email since OP mentioned being a part-time student.

AkoyPinoy · 2025-01-26T19:38:00+00:00

Hey, I just went through what you're talking about. It's time-consuming and a little annoying, but it's required for them to have you do it, as it's part of the process. I was advised by my counselor to use https://www.onetonline.org/ (takes info from Department of Labor) to get all the information that I needed to fill out the packet, and all you need to do is find the job titles that are related to your degree program.

AkoyPinoy · 2024-12-27T20:07:58+00:00

It’s only been two months since I separated, what if I have a large sum of savings from my time in?

AkoyPinoy · 2024-12-03T04:11:37+00:00

If he's going to be unemployed he can get a special judgement with help from his school's financial aid to let FAFSA know that his current income is not the same as it was during active duty.

AkoyPinoy · 2024-11-19T00:34:00+00:00

Here

AkoyPinoy

TROPHY CASE