Where to get your 1098 form

Your mortgage lender sends you a 1098 form by January 31st each year if you paid $600 or more in mortgage interest during that tax year. You do not need to request it — the lender is required by law to mail it to you. The form arrives at the address on file with your loan servicer, which may be different from your property address.

If you have not received your 1098 by early February, contact your loan servicer directly. You can find the phone number on your monthly mortgage statement or loan documents. Have your loan number ready when you call.

Some lenders also make the 1098 available through their online portal or mobile app. Log in to your account and look for a section labeled "Tax Documents," "1098," or "Statements." This option lets you read and print the form yourself without waiting for mail delivery.

Key Takeaways

  • Your lender mails the 1098 to you by January 31st if you paid $600 or more in mortgage interest that year — you do not need to request it.
  • If the form does not arrive by early February, call your loan servicer with your loan number to request a replacement or electronic copy.
  • Many lenders post the 1098 in their online account portal, where you can read it when ready rather than waiting for the mail.
  • The 1098 shows only mortgage interest paid, not principal, and you will need it to itemize deductions on your tax return.

What to do if your lender will not send it

Occasionally a lender claims you did not meet the $600 threshold, or says the form is not available for your loan type. If you paid mortgage interest and believe you should receive a 1098, ask the lender in writing to explain why. Request a detailed breakdown of your interest payments for the year.

If the lender still refuses and you have proof you paid interest, you can report the issue to your state's banking regulator or to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). You can also file your tax return without the 1098 — the IRS has records of what lenders reported — though having the form in hand makes the process simpler.

Obtaining a replacement 1098

If you lost your 1098 or it was damaged, contact your loan servicer and ask for a duplicate. Provide your loan number and the tax year you need. Most lenders can email or mail a replacement within five to ten business days at no charge.

If your loan was sold or transferred to a new servicer during the year, you may receive two 1098 forms — one from each servicer covering the months they held your loan. Both are correct. When you file your taxes, add the interest amounts from both forms together.

Reading your 1098 form

The 1098 is a one-page document with boxes containing dollar amounts. Box 1 shows the mortgage interest you paid that year. This is the number you use if you itemize deductions on your tax return. Box 2 shows points paid on the loan (a one-time fee some borrowers pay to lower their interest rate). Box 3 shows the outstanding mortgage principal at the end of the year.

Boxes 4 through 6 contain information about property taxes, insurance, and other escrow items if your lender collects them. These are informational only and do not affect your 1098 deduction. The form also lists your lender's name, address, and tax ID number so the IRS can cross-check the information you report.

When you do not receive a 1098

You may not receive a 1098 if you paid less than $600 in mortgage interest that year. This sometimes happens early in a loan when most of your payment goes toward principal, or if you paid off the loan partway through the year. It can also happen if you refinanced and the new lender did not hold the loan long enough to reach the threshold.

If you paid any mortgage interest at all, you can still deduct it on your tax return even without a 1098. Keep your own records — your monthly statements or a year-end interest summary from your lender — to support the deduction. The 1098 is a convenience, not a requirement to claim the deduction.

1098 forms for different loan types

A standard 1098 applies to conventional mortgages, FHA loans, VA loans, and USDA loans. If you have a home equity line of credit (HELOC) or home equity loan, you receive a 1098-H instead, which works the same way but is a separate form. If you have both a first mortgage and a HELOC, you will receive two forms.

Reverse mortgages do not generate a 1098 because the borrower does not make regular interest payments. Construction loans and bridge loans may not produce a 1098 either, depending on the lender's structure. Ask your lender which form to expect if you have an unusual loan type.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get my 1098 before January 31st?

Most lenders do not release the 1098 until late January because they need time to calculate the exact interest paid for the full year. Some lenders post it to their online portal in mid-January. If you need the form early for tax planning, contact your servicer and ask if they can provide an estimate based on your payments through December.

What if I paid off my mortgage during the year?

Your lender will still send a 1098 for that year showing the interest paid through the payoff date. The form is accurate and you can use it to deduct that year's interest. You will not receive a 1098 the following year because the loan no longer exists.

Do I need the 1098 to file my taxes?

You do not need the physical form to file, but you do need the information on it — the mortgage interest amount. If you lost the form, you can reconstruct the number from your monthly statements or request a duplicate from your lender. The IRS receives a copy of your 1098 from the lender, so they will know if your reported interest matches.

What if the 1098 shows the wrong interest amount?

Contact your lender when ready and ask them to review the calculation. Errors do happen — sometimes a payment is posted late or a refinance is dated incorrectly. The lender can issue a corrected 1098 (marked as a correction) before you file your taxes. Keep documentation of the error and the correction in case the IRS asks questions later.

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

No. Mortgage interest is only deductible if you itemize deductions on Schedule A of your tax return. If you take the standard deduction instead, you cannot use the mortgage interest. Many homeowners find that the standard deduction is larger than their itemized deductions, so they do not benefit from the 1098 at all.