Room & Board refunds, 529s and taxes

So is the procedure described in post #11 the recommended way to deal with a refund? That’s better than depositing refund into parental checking and paying whatever college bill comes next with it?

OR (if this is an option), leaving the refunds as credits at the school (I don’t know if this is possible…neither of my kids’ colleges have communicated their refund info yet). Thanks!