Your school mails or emails your 1098-T by January 31 each year

The 1098-T is a tax form that reports may have access to education expenses you paid during the tax year. Your school is required by the IRS to send it to you and to the IRS by January 31 of the following year. Most schools mail the form to your address on file, though some offer it through a student portal or email instead.

If you do not receive your 1098-T by early February, contact your school's financial aid office or registrar to request it. They can tell you whether it was mailed, emailed, or posted online, and can resend it if needed. Keep in mind that your school only issues a 1098-T if you paid may have access to education expenses — tuition, fees, course materials — during that tax year.

Key Takeaways

  • Your school must send your 1098-T by January 31 of the year after you paid the expenses.
  • Check your mail, email, and student portal, since schools use different delivery methods.
  • Contact your school's financial aid office if the form does not arrive by early February.
  • Your school reports the same information to the IRS, so the IRS will have a record even if you do not receive your copy.
  • You need the 1098-T only if you plan to claim an education tax credit on your return.

Where to look for your 1098-T

Start by checking the most common places your school sends the form. Many schools mail it to your permanent address on file in their system. Others email it to your school email address or post it in a find student portal that you log into with your student ID.

Log into your school's student information system or financial aid portal first — this is often the fastest way to find it. If your school uses a portal, the 1098-T is usually under a section labeled "Tax Documents," "1098-T," or "Financial Aid Documents." If you do not have portal access or are unsure how to use it, call the financial aid office and ask them to walk you through it or to resend the form by email.

What to do if you have not received it by February

If January 31 has passed and you still do not have your 1098-T, contact your school directly. Call or email the financial aid office and provide your full name, student ID number, and the tax year you are asking about. Ask them to confirm whether the form was sent and to what address or email.

If your address or email has changed since you attended, tell them the new information and ask them to resend it. If the form was never generated — for example, because your school did not record your expenses correctly — the financial aid office can issue a corrected or replacement form. This process usually takes a few business days to a week.

Understanding what your 1098-T shows

Your 1098-T lists the may have access to education expenses your school recorded for you during the tax year. Box 1 shows may have access to tuition and fees. Box 2 shows scholarships or grants your school paid on your behalf. Box 5 shows any adjustments or corrections from prior years.

The amounts on your 1098-T may not match what you actually paid out of pocket, because the form only includes expenses your school processed through its system. If you paid for books, supplies, or room and board directly to a vendor rather than through your school, those do not appear on the 1098-T — but you may still be able to include them when you calculate your education credit, depending on which credit you claim.

If you lost your copy or need a duplicate

You can request a duplicate 1098-T from your school at any time, even years later. Contact the financial aid office or registrar and ask for a copy of your 1098-T for the specific tax year. Most schools can email or mail a duplicate within a few business days at no cost.

You do not need your original copy to file your taxes. The IRS receives a copy directly from your school, so your tax software or preparer can cross-reference it. If the amounts on your return do not match what the IRS received, the IRS will contact you — but having your own copy makes it easier to spot errors before you file.

What to do if the amounts on your 1098-T are wrong

If you believe your 1098-T contains an error — for example, if it shows expenses you did not pay or omits expenses you did pay — contact your school's financial aid office right away. Explain what is incorrect and provide documentation if you have it, such as receipts, billing statements, or payment records.

Your school can issue a corrected 1098-T, which is called a corrected 1098-T or "1098-T-C." The corrected form will be sent to you and to the IRS. If your school issues a corrected form after January 31, it will be marked as a correction so the IRS knows to disregard the original. Make sure to use the corrected amounts when you file your tax return.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need my 1098-T to claim an education tax credit?

You do not need to have received your 1098-T to claim a credit, but you do need to report the correct amounts. If you have not received it by the time you file, you can use your own records of what you paid. The IRS will have a copy from your school, so make sure your numbers match.

What if my school says they did not send a 1098-T because I did not pay anything?

Some students receive scholarships or grants that cover all their expenses, so the school records zero out-of-pocket payment. In this case, no 1098-T is issued. However, you may still be able to claim an education credit if you paid expenses yourself that were not covered by aid. Check with your school about what expenses they recorded in your account.

Can I get a 1098-T from a school I attended years ago?

Yes. Schools keep records for many years and can issue copies of old 1098-T forms. Contact the financial aid office or registrar with the tax year you need and your student ID. There is usually no charge for a duplicate, though it may take a week or two to receive.

What if I attended multiple schools in one tax year?

Each school will issue its own 1098-T showing only the expenses they recorded. You will receive separate forms from each institution. When you file your taxes, you will need to combine the information from all of them to calculate your total may have access to expenses and determine which education credit you can claim.