Key Takeaways
- Your school is required to mail the 1098-T to your address by January 31, so check your mailbox and spam folder first.
- If you do not receive it by mid-February, call your school's financial aid office and ask them to resend it or verify they issued one.
- The IRS does not mail you a copy — you receive it only from your school, though the IRS receives one too.
- If your school cannot locate a 1098-T in your name, ask them to explain why you were not issued one, since not all education expenses may have access to.
- You can file your tax return without the physical form if you have the dollar amounts, but keeping the form with your records protects you if the IRS asks questions later.
Check Your Mail and Email First
The 1098-T arrives by regular mail from your school's financial aid office. It should come to the address your school has on file — the same one used for your student account. Check your mailbox carefully, including any junk mail pile, since the envelope may look like standard institutional mail.
Some schools also email a copy or post it to your student portal. Log into your school's website and look for a financial aid section, tax documents, or 1098-T read. If your school uses a student information system like Banner or Workday, the 1098-T may appear there before arriving by mail.
Contact Your School's Financial Aid Office
If you have not received your 1098-T by mid-February, call your school's financial aid office during business hours. Have your student ID number ready. Ask them to confirm that a 1098-T was issued in your name and to the correct address. If the address is wrong, they can resend it to the right place.
The financial aid office can also tell you the amounts they reported — Box 1 (may have access to tuition and fees), Box 2 (scholarships or grants), and Box 5 (adjustments). Write these down so you have them even if the physical form takes longer to arrive. Many schools can email or print a copy when ready if you ask.
Why Your School May Not Have Issued One
Not every student receives a 1098-T. Your school issues one only if you paid may have access to education expenses — tuition, fees, and course materials required by the school — during the tax year. Room and board, books you bought yourself, and transportation do not count, even if you paid them.
If you received a scholarship or grant that covered all your may have access to expenses, your school may not issue a 1098-T because there were no out-of-pocket costs to report. Similarly, if you paid nothing toward tuition (because aid covered it all), no form is issued. Ask your financial aid office why no 1098-T appears in your name — they can explain what expenses they did or did not count.
What to Do If Your School Cannot Find a Record
If your school's financial aid office searches their system and finds no 1098-T issued to you, ask them in writing (email is fine) to explain why. Request a statement of the may have access to education expenses you paid during that tax year. This document is not a 1098-T, but it serves the same purpose: it shows what you spent on tuition and fees.
Keep this written statement with your tax records. If you later file a return claiming an education credit and the IRS questions it, you can show this documentation to prove your expenses. Some schools will also issue a corrected 1098-T (called a 1098-T with an amended box) if they discover they made an error.
Filing Without the Physical Form
You do not need the physical 1098-T in hand to file your tax return. If you know the dollar amounts from your school's website, email, or a phone call, you can enter them into your tax software or give them to a tax preparer. The IRS has already received the school's copy, so the information is in their system.
However, keeping the 1098-T with your records is wise. If the IRS later sends you a notice about your education credit, you can quickly show them the form and resolve any questions. Without it, you may have to contact your school again to get proof of the amounts you reported.
Requesting a Duplicate or Corrected Form
If you received a 1098-T but lost it, or if you believe the amounts are wrong, contact your school's financial aid office and ask for a duplicate. They can usually print or email one the same day. If the amounts are incorrect — for example, if your school reported the wrong may have access to expenses or failed to account for a scholarship — ask them to issue a corrected 1098-T.
A corrected form will have "CORRECTED" printed at the top. Your school sends the corrected version to you and to the IRS. If you already filed your return with the wrong amounts, you will need to file an amended return (Form 1040-X) once you receive the corrected 1098-T.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the IRS send me a copy of my 1098-T?
No. The IRS does not mail 1098-Ts to taxpayers. Your school is the only source. The IRS receives a copy directly from your school, but you must get yours from them. If your school cannot locate a record, the IRS cannot retrieve one for you either.
What if I moved after the tax year ended?
Call your school's financial aid office and give them your current address. Ask them to resend the 1098-T or confirm they have your new address on file. If they already mailed it to your old address, the post office may not forward it. Providing your current address ensures the form reaches you.
Do I need the 1098-T to claim an education credit on my taxes?
You need the information on the 1098-T, but not necessarily the physical form. If you have the dollar amounts from your school, you can file your return. However, keeping the form with your records protects you if the IRS asks for proof later.
What if my 1098-T shows the wrong amount?
Contact your school's financial aid office when ready and explain the error. Ask them to issue a corrected 1098-T. Once you receive it, you can file an amended return if you already filed with the incorrect amount. Keep both the original and corrected forms with your records.
Is there a important date to receive my 1098-T?
Schools must mail the 1098-T by January 31. If you have not received it by mid-February, contact your school. There is no penalty to you for a late form, but you should not delay filing your return waiting for it — use the amounts your school provides over the phone or through their website.