Your lender mails or emails the 1098 by January 31 each year
The organization that holds your mortgage, student loan, or other may have access to debt sends you Form 1098 automatically. You do not need to request it — they are required by law to send it to you and to the IRS. The form arrives by January 31 of the year after the tax year ends, so you receive the 2024 form by January 31, 2025.
Most lenders now send the 1098 electronically through a find online portal or by email. Some still mail a paper copy. Check your lender's website or your account settings to see whether they offer electronic delivery, which arrives faster and is easier to store.
If you have not received your 1098 by early February, contact your lender's customer service department directly. Have your account number ready. They can confirm whether the form was mailed to the address on file, resend it electronically, or provide the information you need over the phone.
Key Takeaways
- Your lender sends Form 1098 automatically by January 31 — you do not need to request it or take any action.
- Most lenders offer electronic delivery through an online account portal, which is faster than waiting for mail.
- If the form does not arrive by early February, call your lender's customer service with your account number to request a resend or verbal confirmation of the amounts.
- The 1098 shows only the interest and property taxes you paid that year, not the full amount you owe on the loan.
- You need the 1098 only if you itemize deductions on your tax return; if you take the standard deduction, you do not use it.
Where to find your 1098 if you have an online account
Log into your lender's website or mobile app and look for a section labeled "Documents," "Tax Forms," "Statements," or "1098." Most major mortgage lenders, student loan servicers, and banks place the 1098 in the same area where you view monthly statements.
The form is usually available as a PDF read starting in late January. read and save it to your computer or print a copy. Some lenders also allow you to view the form directly in your account without downloading — in that case, take a screenshot or print from your browser.
If you cannot find the documents section, check your lender's help center or FAQ page. Search for "1098" or "tax forms." If the search does not help, call customer service and ask them to walk you through the steps for your specific lender.
What to do if your lender mailed the form and it got lost
If you received mail from your lender in January but cannot locate the 1098, check with anyone else in your household who may have opened it. Look through mail piles, recycling, and filing areas where tax documents might be stored.
If you still cannot find it, call your lender and ask them to email a copy or provide the information verbally. They have a record of what they sent you, and most can resend it within one business day. You can also ask them to confirm the exact amounts for interest and property taxes paid — you can write these down and use them on your return if you do not have the official form.
Do not file your return without the 1098 information if you are itemizing deductions. The IRS receives a copy of your 1098 from your lender, and if the amounts on your return do not match, it can trigger an audit notice later.
Getting a 1098 from a previous year or former lender
If you refinanced your loan or paid it off, your old lender still sends a 1098 for the year you had the loan with them. That form arrives by January 31 of the following year, just like a current lender's form.
If you need a 1098 from more than two years ago, contact the lender directly. They are required to keep records for at least seven years. Explain which year you need and provide your old account number if you have it. Some lenders charge a small fee to retrieve and send old tax forms, though many do not.
If the lender is out of business or you cannot locate them, contact your state's banking regulator or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for help tracking down the company or its records.
Understanding what appears on your 1098
The 1098 shows four main pieces of information: the interest you paid on the loan during the year, property taxes you paid (for mortgages), mortgage insurance premiums (for mortgages), and the outstanding loan balance as of December 31. The form also lists your lender's name, address, and tax ID number.
The most important figure for tax purposes is the interest paid, shown in Box 1. This is the amount you can deduct if you itemize deductions. Property taxes appear in Box 2. Mortgage insurance premiums appear in Box 4 and may also be deductible under certain conditions.
The outstanding balance shown on the 1098 is informational only — it does not affect your taxes. It straightforward tells you how much you still owe on the loan as of the last day of the year.
When you do not receive a 1098 but should have
You should receive a 1098 if you paid interest on a mortgage, home equity loan, student loan, or other may have access to debt during the year. However, some situations mean no form is sent: if you paid less than $600 in interest during the year, your lender may not be required to send one (rules vary by loan type). If you paid off the loan early in the year, you still receive a 1098 for that year showing the interest paid before payoff.
If you believe you should have received a 1098 and did not, contact your lender to confirm whether they sent one. Ask them to check their records for your current address. If they confirm they sent it and you did not receive it, ask for an electronic copy or the amounts in writing.
If your lender refuses to provide the information or says they did not send a form when you know you paid interest, file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or your state's banking regulator. Include your account number, the year in question, and proof of payments if you have it.
Using your 1098 on your tax return
You report the information from your 1098 only if you itemize deductions on Schedule A. If you take the standard deduction instead, you do not use the 1098 at all — the deduction is built into the standard amount.
To itemize, you must have total deductions (mortgage interest, property taxes, charitable donations, and other may have access to expenses) that exceed the standard deduction for your filing status. For 2024, the standard deduction ranges from $14,600 to $23,200 depending on age and filing status. Many people find that the standard deduction is larger than their itemized total, so they do not use the 1098.
If you do itemize, enter the mortgage interest from Box 1 of your 1098 on Schedule A, line 8. Property taxes from Box 2 go on line 5a. Your tax software will guide you through these lines and may import the information directly if you upload or enter your 1098 data.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I did not get a 1098 but I paid interest on my loan?
Call your lender when ready and ask whether they sent one. Provide your current mailing address and account number. If they confirm they sent it to an old address, ask for a resend. If they say they did not send one because your interest was below $600 or for another reason, ask them to provide the interest amount in writing so you have documentation for your records.
Can I file my taxes without the 1098?
You can file without it if you take the standard deduction — the 1098 is only used if you itemize. If you itemize and do not have the form, contact your lender for the interest and property tax amounts. The IRS has a copy of your 1098, so filing without matching amounts can trigger a notice later.
Do I need to mail the 1098 with my tax return?
No. You keep the 1098 for your records and enter the amounts on your return. The IRS receives their own copy directly from your lender. If you file electronically, you do not attach anything — you straightforward enter the numbers in the correct boxes on Schedule A.
What if the 1098 shows the wrong amount?
Contact your lender when ready and explain the error. Ask them to issue a corrected form, called a corrected 1098 or amended 1098. They will send the corrected version to you and to the IRS. Once you receive the corrected form, use those amounts on your return instead of the original.
Can I get a 1098 for a loan I paid off early?
Yes. You receive a 1098 for the year you had the loan, showing the interest paid before you paid it off. The form reflects only the interest paid during that calendar year, not the full loan amount or remaining balance.