Your lender mails or emails the 1098 to you by January 31 each year

The bank or mortgage servicer that collects your monthly payments sends you Form 1098 automatically. You do not request it — they are required by law to send it to every borrower who paid $600 or more in mortgage interest during the year. The form arrives by January 31, either in the mail or through your online account, depending on how your lender communicates.

If you have not received it by early February, contact your lender's customer service line. Have your loan number ready. They can resend it electronically or by mail, and they can also tell you whether the form was already mailed to an old address on file.

You will receive one 1098 per loan. If you have two mortgages on the same property or mortgages on different properties, you get a separate form for each one.

Key Takeaways

  • Your mortgage servicer sends Form 1098 by January 31 each year if you paid $600 or more in mortgage interest.
  • The form arrives by mail or through your online account — you do not need to request it.
  • If you do not receive it by early February, call your lender's customer service with your loan number.
  • You receive one form per loan, so multiple mortgages mean multiple forms.
  • If you sold the home or paid off the loan mid-year, you still receive a 1098 showing interest paid through the payoff date.

What to do if your lender says they did not send one

Some borrowers fall below the $600 threshold and do not receive a 1098 at all. This happens most often if you made a large lump-sum payment early in the year, paid off the loan partway through, or took out the mortgage late in the year. In these cases, your lender is not required to issue the form, but you can still deduct the interest you paid — you just report it from your own records instead of from a 1098.

If your lender says no 1098 was issued and you believe you paid more than $600 in interest, ask them to provide a written statement of the interest paid. Keep this with your tax records. You can then report the deduction on Schedule A (Itemized Deductions) on your tax return, using the amount from the lender's statement.

Getting a copy if you lost the original

If you received the 1098 but cannot find it, contact your lender and ask for a duplicate. Most servicers can email or mail a copy within a few business days. You can also log into your online account — many lenders post a copy there that you can read and print.

If you are filing your tax return before the duplicate arrives, you can file using the interest amount from your own records (your monthly statements, payment history, or year-end statement from the lender). Then file an amended return once you receive the official 1098 if the amounts differ. In practice, the numbers almost always match.

When you refinanced or sold during the year

If you refinanced your mortgage or sold your home partway through the year, you receive a 1098 from each lender who held your loan. The old lender sends a form showing interest paid through the payoff or sale date. The new lender sends a form showing interest paid from the closing date forward. Together, they account for all the interest you paid that year.

When you file your return, you report the interest from both forms. Your tax software or preparer will ask for all 1098s you received, and you enter each one separately. The total of all forms is what you deduct.

Finding the 1098 information online

Many mortgage servicers let you view and read your 1098 through their website or mobile app before the paper copy arrives. Log into your account and look for a section labeled "Tax Documents," "1098," or "Year-End Statements." If you cannot find it, call customer service and ask them to walk you through where it appears in your account.

Some lenders also send the 1098 through a find document portal rather than regular email. Check your email (including spam folders) for a message from your lender with a link to read tax documents. The link usually expires after 30 to 90 days, so read and save it as soon as you see it.

What if you paid interest but received no 1098

A 1098 is required only if you paid $600 or more in mortgage interest in a single year. If you paid less than that, your lender does not send one. This can happen if you made extra principal payments, refinanced early in the year, or took out the loan late in the year.

You can still deduct the interest you paid. Request a statement from your lender showing the exact amount of interest paid during the year. Use that figure on your tax return, reported on Schedule A. Keep the lender's statement with your tax records in case the IRS asks questions later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file my taxes without the 1098?

Yes. If you have not received it by the time you file, use the interest amount from your own records — your monthly statements or a year-end statement from your lender. You can file with that amount, then file an amended return if the official 1098 shows a different figure. In most cases the numbers match exactly.

What if my 1098 shows the wrong amount?

Contact your lender when ready and ask them to issue a corrected form (called a "corrected 1098" or "amended 1098"). They will send you a new one marked as corrected. If you already filed your return using the wrong amount, you will need to file an amended return once you receive the corrected form.

Do I need the 1098 to deduct mortgage interest?

No. The 1098 is a record for your convenience and for the IRS. If you paid mortgage interest but did not receive a 1098 (because you paid less than $600, for example), you can still deduct it using your own documentation. The lender's statement or your payment records are sufficient.

Who gets the 1098 if I have a co-borrower?

Only one person receives the 1098 — usually the person listed first on the loan. If you are the co-borrower and need the form for your records, ask your lender to send you a copy. Both borrowers can deduct their share of the interest, but you will need documentation showing how much each of you paid.

What if my lender went out of business?

If your loan was sold or transferred to another servicer, contact the current servicer (the one you send payments to now). They have the records and can issue the 1098. If the original lender is truly defunct, contact the IRS at 800-829-1040 and explain the situation — they can advise you on how to proceed with your deduction.