Your school or the IRS will send you a 1098-T if you paid may have access to education expenses

The 1098-T form comes from the school where you paid tuition, fees, or other may have access to education costs. Your school's financial aid or bursar office prepares and mails it to you by January 31 each year for the prior tax year. If you paid expenses at multiple schools, you will receive a separate form from each one.

You should receive your 1098-T in the mail or through your school's online student portal. Some schools email it; others require you to read it from your account. Check your school's website or contact the bursar's office to find out how they deliver it.

If your school does not send you a 1098-T, or if you need a copy for a prior year, the IRS can provide one. You can request a transcript that includes 1098-T information by calling the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 or by visiting IRS.gov and using the Get Transcript tool.

Key Takeaways

  • Your school mails or emails the 1098-T by January 31 for the prior tax year, so check your mail and your student account.
  • If you attended multiple schools, each one sends its own form showing only the expenses paid to that school.
  • The bursar's office or financial aid office can tell you whether your form was mailed, emailed, or posted to your account.
  • The IRS can send you a transcript showing 1098-T information if your school did not provide one or if you need a copy from an earlier year.

Contacting your school's bursar or financial aid office

Start by reaching out to the office that handles student accounts and payments. This is usually called the bursar's office, student accounts office, or business office. They maintain records of what you paid and prepare the 1098-T. You can find contact information on your school's website under "Student Services" or "Billing."

When you contact them, have your student ID number ready and ask whether your 1098-T has been mailed, emailed, or posted to your online account. If it has been sent, ask them to confirm the mailing address on file. If it has not been sent yet and it is past January 31, ask them to resend it or explain why one was not issued.

Some schools also allow you to read your 1098-T directly from the student portal or account management system. Log in and look for sections labeled "Tax Documents," "1098-T," or "Financial Aid Documents." If you cannot find it, the bursar's office can walk you through where to look.

Requesting a transcript from the IRS

If your school cannot provide a 1098-T or if you need one from a year your school no longer has on file, you can request an IRS transcript. The IRS maintains records of 1098-T forms that schools have reported, and you can order a transcript that shows this information.

The fastest way is to use the IRS Get Transcript tool at IRS.gov. You can create an account, verify your identity online, and read a transcript when ready. You will need your Social Security number, date of birth, filing status, and a valid email address. The transcript will show any 1098-T information the IRS received from your school.

If you prefer to call, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 and ask for a transcript that includes education credits information. You can also mail Form 4506-C to the IRS address listed on the form, though this takes longer. The IRS will mail the transcript to you within 5 to 10 business days.

What to do if your school says it did not issue a 1098-T

Schools are required to issue a 1098-T only if you paid may have access to education expenses — tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for enrollment. Room and board, transportation, and personal expenses do not count, even if you paid them while in school. If your school says no 1098-T was issued, ask them which expenses they counted as may have access to and which they did not.

It is also possible your school issued the form but it went to the wrong address. Ask the bursar's office to confirm the mailing address they have on file. If it is wrong, ask them to correct it and resend the form, or to provide you with a copy directly.

If your school confirms that may have access to expenses were paid but still refuses to issue a form, you can report this to the IRS. You have the right to claim education credits based on expenses you actually paid, even without a 1098-T. Keep your receipts, tuition bills, and payment records. When you file your tax return, you can report the expenses yourself and the IRS will verify them against any 1098-T information they received from your school.

Using a 1098-T from a prior year

If you need a 1098-T from several years ago, your school may no longer have it available. Schools typically keep records for 7 to 10 years, but policies vary. Contact the bursar's office and ask whether they can provide a copy of the form from that year. If they cannot, the IRS can.

Request an IRS transcript for the year you need. The transcript will show the 1098-T information the IRS has on record for that tax year. This works even if your school no longer has the original form, because the IRS keeps copies of all 1098-T forms schools have reported.

What information appears on the 1098-T

The 1098-T shows your name, Social Security number, and the school's name and address. It lists the may have access to education expenses your school recorded for that tax year, broken down by category: may have access to tuition and fees, scholarships or grants received, and adjustments. The form also shows whether you are a graduate or undergraduate student.

The amounts on the 1098-T may not match what you actually paid out of pocket. Scholarships, grants, and student loans reduce the amount reported as your expense. If you received a scholarship that covered part of your tuition, the 1098-T will show only the portion you paid yourself. This is important because you can only claim education credits for expenses you paid with your own money, not with scholarship money.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a 1098-T if I paid for someone else's education?

Yes, if you paid the expenses directly to the school. The school will issue the 1098-T in your name because you are the one who paid. You can then claim education credits based on those expenses, even though the student is someone else — a spouse, child, or dependent.

What if I paid tuition but my school has not sent the 1098-T by February?

Contact the bursar's office and ask them to resend it or confirm it was mailed to the correct address. If they say it was mailed but you did not receive it, ask them to issue a replacement. If they cannot or will not, request an IRS transcript instead, which will show the same information.

Do I need the 1098-T to claim education credits on my tax return?

No. You can claim education credits based on may have access to expenses you paid, even without the form. However, having the 1098-T makes it easier to document your expenses. If you do not have it, keep receipts, tuition bills, and payment records to show the IRS what you paid.

What if the 1098-T shows the wrong amount?

Contact your school's bursar office when ready and ask them to correct it. Explain which expenses are wrong and provide documentation — receipts, tuition bills, or payment records. Ask them to issue a corrected form. If they refuse or cannot correct it, you can report the correct amount on your tax return based on your own records.

Can I get a 1098-T for expenses I paid in cash?

Only if your school recorded the payment. Schools issue 1098-T forms based on their own records of what you paid them. If you paid in cash but the school has no record, ask the bursar's office to look up your account. If they find the payment, they can issue the form. If they cannot find it, you will need a receipt or other proof of payment to claim the credit yourself.