Your lender must send you a 1098 by January 31 each year

Your mortgage lender is required by the IRS to mail you a Form 1098 (Mortgage Interest Statement) by January 31 of the year following the one in which you paid mortgage interest. This form shows how much interest you paid on your mortgage during the previous tax year. You do not need to request it — your lender sends it automatically to the address on file with your loan account.

If you have not received your 1098 by early February, the delay is usually because your lender has the wrong mailing address on record, or because you paid off the loan or refinanced partway through the year. Your next step depends on which situation applies to you.

Key Takeaways

  • Your lender mails the 1098 to the address they have on file for your mortgage account, so a recent move is the most common reason you do not receive it.
  • You can call your lender's customer service line and ask them to mail a replacement 1098 or provide the mortgage interest total over the phone.
  • If you refinanced during the year, you will receive a separate 1098 from each lender for the months you owed them.
  • The 1098 shows interest paid, not principal, and only the interest portion is deductible on your tax return.
  • If your lender does not send a 1098 when required, you can report the missing form to the IRS using Form 8275.

Check your mailing address with your lender first

Before assuming the 1098 is lost in the mail, verify that your lender has your current address. Call the customer service number on your mortgage statement or log into your online account to check the address on file. If you moved during the year or recently, your lender may have mailed the form to an old address.

If the address is wrong, update it when ready and request that your lender mail a replacement 1098. Most lenders can reissue the form within a few business days. Ask them to confirm they have your correct address before they send it.

Request a replacement 1098 or interest statement from your lender

Contact your lender's customer service department by phone or through your online account portal. Tell them you need a copy of your 1098 for the tax year you are filing. Have your loan number ready — you will find it on your monthly statement.

Some lenders offer options: they can mail a replacement form, email a PDF copy, or read your total mortgage interest paid over the phone. If you need the information quickly for your tax return, ask if they can provide the interest total when ready by phone. Write down the amount they give you and the name and date of the person who provided it.

If your lender says they already mailed the 1098, ask them to confirm the address it was sent to. If it went to an old address, request they mail a second copy to your current address.

What to do if you refinanced during the year

If you paid off one mortgage and took out a new one during the tax year, you will receive two separate 1098 forms — one from your original lender for the months you owed them, and one from your new lender for the remaining months. Both forms are correct and both should be included with your tax return.

Contact both lenders if you are missing either form. The original lender may have mailed their 1098 to an address you no longer use, and the new lender may not have your correct address yet. Request replacement copies from each one.

Report a missing 1098 to the IRS if your lender will not send one

If your lender refuses to send a 1098 or cannot locate your account, you have a path forward. First, document your mortgage interest paid by gathering your monthly statements for the year. Add up the interest portion of each payment — your statement breaks down principal and interest separately.

File your tax return with the interest amount you calculated from your statements. Attach a note explaining that your lender did not provide a 1098. You can also file Form 8275 (Disclosure Statement) with your return to explain the discrepancy. Keep copies of your mortgage statements and any written communication from your lender as proof of your effort to obtain the form.

If the IRS contacts you later, you will have documentation showing you reported the correct amount and made a good-faith effort to get the official form.

Understand what the 1098 shows and what it does not

The 1098 lists the total mortgage interest you paid during the year, not the principal. Only the interest portion is deductible on your federal tax return if you itemize deductions. The form also shows property taxes paid (on some versions) and points paid on the loan.

The 1098 does not show your loan balance, your monthly payment amount, or how much principal you paid down. If you need that information for another reason, your lender can provide it separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I get my 1098 after I already filed my tax return?

You can file an amended return using Form 1040-X if the interest amount on your 1098 differs significantly from what you reported. However, if you used your own calculation from your statements and it matches the 1098, no amendment is needed. Keep the 1098 with your tax records in case the IRS asks about it later.

Do I need the 1098 to file my taxes?

You do not need the physical 1098 to file, but you do need the mortgage interest amount. If you have not received your 1098 by the time you file, use your monthly statements to calculate the total interest paid. You can always file an amended return later if the 1098 shows a different amount.

Why does my 1098 show less interest than I expected?

Early in a mortgage, most of your payment goes to interest, but as you pay down the principal, the interest portion shrinks. If you made extra principal payments or refinanced partway through the year, your total interest will be lower than in previous years. Your 1098 reflects only the interest actually paid during that specific year.

Can I deduct mortgage interest if I do not itemize deductions?

No. Mortgage interest is only deductible if you itemize deductions on Schedule A. Most taxpayers now use the standard deduction, which means they cannot deduct mortgage interest. Your tax software or tax preparer can tell you whether itemizing or taking the standard deduction saves you more money.

What if my lender sends a 1098 but I paid off the loan early?

Your lender will send a 1098 showing only the interest paid before you paid off the loan. This is correct — you deduct only the interest you actually paid during the year, not interest you would have paid if you had kept the loan open.