Key Takeaways
- Your school is required to send you a 1098-T by January 31 if you paid may have access to education expenses in the previous tax year.
- Check your school's student portal, email, or mailbox first — many schools now deliver forms electronically rather than by paper.
- If your school cannot locate a 1098-T for you, contact the financial aid office with your student ID and the tax year in question.
- You do not need the 1098-T to file your taxes, but you do need the information on it to claim education credits.
- Keep your 1098-T with your tax records for at least three years in case the IRS asks questions about your education expenses.
Where Schools Send the 1098-T
Schools are required by the IRS to send you a copy of your 1098-T by January 31 of the year after you paid the expenses. The form goes to the address you have on file with the school — usually your permanent address or the one listed in your student record. If you have moved since you enrolled, update your address with the registrar or student services office before the end of January.
Many schools now use electronic delivery instead of paper mail. Check your student email account and your school's online portal (sometimes called a student dashboard, learning management system, or student information system). Some schools post the 1098-T in the same place you view your grades or account balance. If you are unsure where to look, call the financial aid office and ask whether they mail forms or post them online.
What to Do If You Haven't Received It
If it is early February and you have not received your 1098-T by mail or email, start by checking your spam or junk folder — some schools' automated systems get caught by email filters. Then log into your student portal and search for "1098-T" or look in a documents or forms section.
If you still cannot find it, contact your school's financial aid office or bursar office directly. Have your student ID number ready. Tell them the tax year you need the form for and ask them to either resend it or direct you to where it is posted online. Most schools can retrieve and resend a 1098-T within a few business days. If your school says they did not issue one for you, ask why — it may be that your expenses did not meet the IRS threshold for that year, or there was an error in how your account was coded.
Understanding What Information Is on the Form
The 1098-T shows the may have access to education expenses your school recorded for you in a given tax year. Box 1 lists may have access to tuition and related education fees. Box 2 shows scholarships or grants your school paid out. Boxes 5 and 6 contain information about the American Opportunity Tax Credit and Lifetime Learning Credit — these tell you whether you can claim a credit on your tax return.
The amounts on your 1098-T may not match what you actually paid out of pocket. The form reports what the school charged and received, not what you paid after scholarships, loans, or other aid. If you paid expenses that the school did not report — such as books you bought off-campus or housing costs — those do not appear on the 1098-T, but you may still be able to include them when you calculate your education credit.
When You Need the Form vs. When You Don't
You do not technically need the physical 1098-T to file your taxes. The IRS receives a copy directly from your school, so the information is already in the system. However, you do need the information from the form to report your education expenses correctly on your tax return. If you are claiming the American Opportunity Tax Credit or Lifetime Learning Credit, you will need to know the amounts from your 1098-T to fill out Form 8863.
If you cannot locate your 1098-T, you can contact your school and ask them to provide the amounts in writing, or you can call the IRS at 800-829-1040 and ask them to mail you a copy of what they have on file. The IRS copy will match what your school sent them, so either source works for tax filing purposes.
Keeping Your 1098-T for Your Records
Store your 1098-T with the other documents you use to file your taxes that year. The IRS can audit your return for up to three years after you file, and sometimes longer if they suspect underreported income. If they question your education credit claim, you will need to show the 1098-T along with receipts for any expenses you claimed that were not on the form.
Make a copy or take a photo of the form before filing, and keep the original in a folder with your tax documents. If you file electronically, you do not need to mail the form to the IRS, but you should still keep it for your own records.
If Your School Issues a Corrected Form
Sometimes a school discovers an error after sending the original 1098-T — for example, if a scholarship was recorded incorrectly or if may have access to expenses were miscalculated. When this happens, the school sends a corrected form, usually marked "CORRECTED" at the top. The IRS also receives the corrected version.
If you already filed your taxes using the original form and then receive a corrected one, you may need to file an amended return. Compare the two forms to see what changed. If the change affects your education credit or your tax liability, contact a tax professional or call the IRS to determine whether amending is necessary. In many cases, small corrections do not require you to refile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a 1098-T for a year I already graduated?
Yes. Schools issue 1098-T forms based on when you paid the expenses, not when you graduated. If you paid may have access to education expenses in a prior tax year and did not receive a form at the time, contact the financial aid office and request one for that specific year. They can issue a corrected or late form.
What if my school says they did not issue a 1098-T because I received a full scholarship?
Schools are not required to issue a 1098-T if the student paid zero out-of-pocket expenses. However, if you paid any portion of your tuition or fees yourself — even a small amount — the school should have issued one. Ask the financial aid office to review your account. If you truly paid nothing, you cannot claim an education credit that year.
Do I need to submit my 1098-T with my tax return?
No. You file your return without attaching the 1098-T. The IRS receives its own copy from your school. Keep your form for your records in case the IRS asks about your education credit claim.
What if I attended multiple schools in one year?
Each school sends its own 1098-T. You will receive one form from each institution where you paid may have access to education expenses. When you file your taxes, you combine the information from all forms to calculate your total education credit.
Can I get a 1098-T if I paid expenses but the school has no record of me attending?
No. The 1098-T is issued only by the school you attended. If you paid tuition to a school but they have no enrollment record for you, the school will not issue a form. Contact the admissions or registrar office to confirm your enrollment status and may support your account is set up correctly.