Greetings sabrown:
I've been giving this a lot of thought, and after considering the flows and usage of the funds, two things come to mind:
- First, kudos for you for trying to be ethical in the use and reporting of your 529 withdrawal.
- Second, it sounds to me like you have used the $6,000 for its intended purpose: Qualified Higher Education Expenses (QHEEs). You took a withdrawal and used it to pay your tuition.
So long as you are going to use the $6,000 in scholarship funds, which are tax-free for QHEEs (source), keep diligent records of your expenses, report the qualified 529 withdrawal (which was used for QHEEs) if and as required by your State, and use the scholarship money for its intended purpose.
So long as all of the funds from your scholarship reimbursement are used for QHEE, there shouldn't be an issue. However, if you are still concerned, consider seeking the advice of a professional tax advisor.
Study hard,
Brian Boswell
VP, Research & Development