What portion of a $10,000 scholarship is considered taxable income if $7,500 is used for tuition, $2,000 for room and board, and $500 for books?

In determining the taxable portion of a scholarship, it's essential to understand how the IRS treats different types of expenses covered by the scholarship. Generally, scholarships are non-taxable if they are used for qualified education expenses, which typically include tuition and fees. However, any amount used for non-qualified expenses, such as room and board, is considered taxable income.

In this scenario, the breakdown of the $10,000 scholarship is as follows:

• $7,500 is used for tuition, which is a qualified expense and therefore non-taxable.

• $2,000 is allocated for room and board, which are non-qualified expenses and must be included in taxable income.

• $500 is spent on books, which can vary by interpretation but is usually considered a qualified expense and thus non-taxable.

Taking into account this analysis, the amount that is taxable is the $2,000 that was used for room and board. Therefore, this portion of the scholarship must be reported as taxable income.