Your lender mails or emails your 1098 form by January 31 each year

Your mortgage lender is required to send you a Form 1098 by January 31 of the year after you paid mortgage interest. Most lenders mail it to the address on file with your loan, though some offer electronic delivery through their online banking portal. If you do not receive it by early February, contact your lender's customer service line — they can resend it or confirm they sent it to the wrong address.

The form shows the total mortgage interest you paid during the previous calendar year, which you may use when itemizing deductions on your tax return. Your lender sends a copy to the IRS at the same time they send it to you, so the IRS already has a record of your interest payments.

Key Takeaways

  • Your lender mails or emails the 1098 form by January 31, addressed to the borrower at the address on your loan account.
  • If you do not receive it by early February, call your lender's customer service department and ask them to resend it or verify the mailing address.
  • You can often read a copy from your lender's website or mobile app under loan documents or tax forms.
  • If your lender goes out of business or you cannot locate the form, the IRS can provide a transcript showing your reported interest payments.

Check your lender's online banking portal first

Most large mortgage lenders now allow you to read your 1098 form directly from their website or mobile app. Log in to your account, look for a section labeled "Documents," "Tax Forms," "Statements," or "Loan Details," and search for the 1098 or tax documents. You can usually read it as a PDF and print it when ready — you do not have to wait for the mailed copy.

This is often faster than waiting for mail delivery and gives you a backup copy if the physical form gets lost. Some lenders also let you choose electronic delivery only, which means they email the form instead of mailing it.

Call your lender's customer service if the form is missing

If you do not see the 1098 on your lender's website and have not received it by mid-February, contact your mortgage company directly. Have your loan number ready and ask for the tax department or customer service. Tell them you need a copy of your 1098 form and provide the address where it should have been sent.

The lender can resend the form by mail or email within a few business days. If they confirm they sent it to the wrong address, ask them to update your account information so future forms go to the correct place. Keep a record of who you spoke with and when, in case you need to reference the conversation later.

What to do if your lender no longer exists

If your mortgage was sold to another lender or your original lender went out of business, the company that currently services your loan is responsible for sending the 1098. Contact your current loan servicer — the name and phone number appear on your monthly statement. They should have records of your interest payments and can send you the form.

If you cannot locate your current servicer or they cannot provide the form, you can request a transcript from the IRS showing the interest income they received from your lender. Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 or visit irs.gov to request an Account Transcript, which lists reported mortgage interest by year.

Understand what information appears on the 1098

The 1098 form lists your name, address, and loan number in the top section. Box 1 shows the total mortgage interest you paid during the year. Box 2 shows points you paid to obtain the loan, if any. Boxes 3 through 5 contain information about property taxes, insurance, and other items that vary by lender and loan type.

The form is divided into two copies: one for you to keep with your tax records, and one that the lender sends to the IRS. Make sure the name, address, and loan number match your records. If any information is wrong, contact your lender and ask them to issue a corrected form.

Keep copies of your 1098 forms for your records

Store your 1098 forms with your tax return and supporting documents for at least three years. The IRS can audit your return for up to three years after you file, so having the original form or a clear copy protects you if questions arise about your deductions.

If you itemize deductions on your tax return, you will reference the mortgage interest amount from Box 1 of your 1098. If you use tax software or work with a tax professional, they will ask you to provide this number. Keeping the form with your other tax papers makes it straightforward to find when you need it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I paid off my mortgage during the year?

Your lender still sends a 1098 form showing the interest you paid before the loan was paid off. The form covers only the months you had the mortgage, so the interest amount will be lower than a full year. You still receive the form by January 31.

Can I get a 1098 form from a previous year?

Yes. Contact your current lender or loan servicer and ask for a copy of the 1098 from the year you need. If the lender no longer has records, you can request an IRS Account Transcript showing reported interest by year. The IRS keeps records for at least seven years.

Do I need the 1098 form to file my taxes?

You only need it if you itemize deductions on your tax return. If you take the standard deduction instead, you do not report mortgage interest and do not need the form. A tax professional can tell you which approach saves you more money.

What if the 1098 shows the wrong amount of interest?

Contact your lender when ready and ask them to review your account. If they confirm an error, they will issue a corrected 1098 form marked "Corrected." You then file the corrected form with your tax return instead of the original. Keep both copies for your records.