The 1098-T is a tax form that reports may have access to education expenses you paid during the year

The Form 1098-T, officially called the "may have access to Tuition and Related Educational Expenses Statement," is a document your school sends to you and the IRS. It shows how much you or someone else paid for tuition, fees, and related costs at an accredited college, university, or may be able to access vocational school during a specific tax year. The form exists so you can claim education-related tax credits on your federal return if you meet the requirements.

Schools are required to send you a 1098-T by January 31 if you paid may have access to expenses and the school received federal student aid funds. You receive Copy 1 (for your records) and Copy 2 (to attach to your tax return), and the school sends Copy A to the IRS. The form does not determine whether you can claim a credit — it straightforward reports what the school recorded as your expenses.

Key Takeaways

  • Your school sends you the 1098-T by January 31 if you paid may have access to education expenses during the tax year.
  • The form reports tuition, fees, and course materials but not room, board, transportation, or personal expenses.
  • You use the amounts on the 1098-T to calculate whether you can claim the American Opportunity Tax Credit or the Lifetime Learning Credit on your federal tax return.
  • The 1098-T reports expenses paid during the year, not the amount of financial aid or scholarships you received.

What expenses appear on the 1098-T

Box 1 of the 1098-T shows may have access to tuition and fees you paid. This includes tuition charged by the school and mandatory fees required for enrollment. It does not include optional fees, lab fees, or activity fees unless they are mandatory for all students in your program.

Box 2 shows scholarships or grants the school paid on your behalf during the tax year. This amount is important because scholarships reduce the may have access to expenses you can use to claim a credit. If you received a $5,000 scholarship and paid $8,000 in tuition, only $3,000 counts as your out-of-pocket may have access to expense.

Expenses that do not appear on the 1098-T include room and board, books and supplies purchased outside the school bookstore, transportation, health insurance, loan fees, and personal expenses. Some schools include books and supplies if you purchased them through the school; others do not. If your school does not report them on the 1098-T, you may still be able to count them if you have receipts and meet other requirements when you file your return.

How the 1098-T differs from financial aid documents

The 1098-T reports expenses you paid, not the aid you received. A student might receive a 1098-T showing $10,000 in may have access to expenses but also receive $8,000 in grants and $5,000 in loans. The form shows only the $10,000 expense side. Your financial aid award letter, FAFSA confirmation, or school billing statement shows the aid side.

This distinction matters because tax credits are based on expenses you paid out of your own money or with loans, not on aid that covered the cost. If scholarships or grants paid your entire bill, you have no out-of-pocket expenses and cannot claim a credit, even though you received a 1098-T.

When you receive the 1098-T and what to do if it is missing

Schools must send the 1098-T to students by January 31 of the year after the tax year ends. If you paid may have access to expenses in 2024, you should receive the form by January 31, 2025. The form arrives by mail or email, depending on how your school distributes it. Check your school's student portal or contact the registrar's office if you do not receive it by early February.

If your school does not send you a 1098-T, it may be because you did not pay may have access to expenses, your expenses were covered entirely by scholarships or grants, or the school did not receive federal student aid funds. You can still claim an education credit if you have receipts and documentation of what you paid. Contact your school's financial aid office to confirm whether they issued a form and why.

Using the 1098-T to claim education tax credits

The 1098-T itself does not claim a credit for you. Instead, you use the information on it to complete Form 8863 (Education Credits) when you file your federal tax return. Form 8863 walks you through calculating how much of your may have access to expenses you can use and which credit you are may be able to access for.

The two main credits are the American Opportunity Tax Credit (up to $2,500 per student per year) and the Lifetime Learning Credit (up to $2,000 per return per year). You can claim only one credit per student per year. Your income, the student's enrollment status, and whether you or someone else claimed you as a dependent all affect which credit you can use and how much it is worth.

Correcting errors on your 1098-T

If the 1098-T shows an incorrect amount, contact your school's registrar or financial aid office when ready. Schools can issue a corrected form (marked as a correction) if the error is their mistake. Ask them to send a corrected Copy 1 to you and a corrected Copy A to the IRS.

If you disagree with what the school reported but the school says the amount is correct, you can still file your return with the amount you believe is accurate. Keep your receipts, billing statements, and payment records. If the IRS questions your return, you will have documentation to support your position.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to attach the 1098-T to my tax return?

No. You keep Copy 2 for your records, but you do not staple it to your return. The IRS receives Copy A directly from the school. You use the information from the 1098-T to complete Form 8863, which you do attach to your return if you claim an education credit.

What if I paid expenses but did not receive a 1098-T?

You can still claim an education credit if you have receipts and documentation of what you paid. The 1098-T is helpful but not required. Gather your billing statements, cancelled checks, credit card statements, or receipts showing tuition and fee payments, then use those amounts on Form 8863 when you file.

Does the 1098-T show student loan interest I paid?

No. Student loan interest is reported on Form 1098-E, a separate document from your loan servicer. The 1098-T covers only tuition and fees paid to the school. You claim student loan interest on a different line of your tax return.

Can I use the 1098-T if someone else paid my tuition?

Yes, but only if you are the student listed on the form. If your parent paid your tuition, the school still reports it on your 1098-T. Your parent can claim the education credit if you are their dependent and they paid the expenses, but they use the amount from your 1098-T to do so.