Thoughts on fellowship/stipend

happymomof1
Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:12:30 +0000

I was looking for this kind of stuff yesterday. Here’s what I found:

[Publication 970 (2010), Tax Benefits for Education](Publication 970 (2022), Tax Benefits for Education | Internal Revenue Service)

Reporting Scholarships and Fellowships

Whether you must report your scholarship or fellowship depends on whether you must file a return and whether any part of your scholarship or fellowship is taxable.
If your only income is a completely tax-free scholarship or fellowship, you do not have to file a tax return and no reporting is necessary. If all or part of your scholarship or fellowship is taxable and you are required to file a tax return, report the taxable amount as explained below. You must report the taxable amount whether or not you received a Form W-2. If you receive an incorrect Form W-2, ask the payer for a corrected one.
For information on whether you must file a return, see Publication 501, Exemptions, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information, or your income tax form instructions.

How To Report

How you report any taxable scholarship or fellowship income depends on which return you file.
Form 1040EZ. If you file Form 1040EZ, include the taxable amount in the total on line 1. If the taxable amount was not reported on Form W-2, also enter “SCH” and the taxable amount in the space to the left of line 1.
Form 1040A. If you file Form 1040A, include the taxable amount in the total on line 7. If the taxable amount was not reported on Form W-2, also enter “SCH” and the taxable amount in the space to the left of line 7.
Form 1040. If you file Form 1040, include the taxable amount in the total on line 7. If the taxable amount was not reported on Form W-2, also enter “SCH” and the taxable amount on the dotted line next to line 7.

Schedule SE (Form 1040). To determine your net earnings from self-employment, include amounts you receive under a scholarship as pay for your services that are reported to you on Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Income. If your net earnings are $400 or more, you must pay self-employment tax. Use Schedule SE, Self-Employment Tax, to figure this tax.

It looks to me like IF there was an expected work component related to that fellowship (teaching a class, running a lab, etc.) then at least some of the income would qualify as SE income which means that it can be used toward a Roth.