Please note: 1098T forms are handled by Onestop Student Services. If your question is not answered here, please contact Onestop directly at 612-624-1111 or 1-800-400-8635 or helpingu@umn.edu
Education Tax Benefits Frequently Asked Questions
When are you mailing 1098-T and 1098-E forms?
What address is the 1098-T form mailed to?
What is a 1098-T?
Why did I get a 1098-T form?
Why didn't I get a 1098-T form?
What are qualified charges?
Why do you list ‘amounts billed for qualified tuition’ (Box 2) rather than ‘payments received for qualified tuition’ (Box 1)?
What box on the 1098-T form should I use for my taxes?
Are the 1098-T forms available electronically?
Can I get a duplicate copy of my 1098-T form for prior years?
Can you give me the amount of qualified tuition paid over the phone?
I haven't paid my tuition and fee charges from 2007, will I still get a 1098-T?
Can a student and a parent both qualify for the tax credit?
Can you mail my 1098-T to my parents for me?
Can you fax my 1098-T form directly to my tax preparer?
Who do I contact if there is an error on my 1098-T?
What if my Social Security Number is incorrect on the 1098-T?
I purchased books and a computer at the University bookstore. Why are these charges not showing on my 1098-T?
Why doesn’t the student health insurance fee count as qualified charges on my 1098-T since it is a mandatory fee?
Does study abroad tuition count as qualified charges on my 1098-T?
My student is a high school student (i.e., Post Secondary Education Option, College in the Schools). Why did my student get a 1098-T form?
I’m an international student. Will I be sent a 1098-T?
I'm an active graduate/professional student working on my thesis credits and registered for GRAD 0999. Why didn't I get a 1098-T so that I can claim that I'm a student on my taxes?
When are you mailing 1098-T and 1098-E forms?
1098-T forms will be sent via U.S. Mail no later than January 31st. The 1098-T forms are mailed by the University of Minnesota. Your student loan servicers will mail the 1098-E forms to you directly.
What address is the 1098-T form mailed to?
The 1098-T form is mailed to the home/permanent address listed on your University of Minnesota student record. To check this address, go to onestop.umn.edu and click on the Personal Information quick link. If there is no home/permanent address on your student record, the 1098-T is mailed to your current mailing address listed on the Personal Information quick link.
The information on the 1098-T form is being provided to assist the student with filing for the education tax benefits/tax credit deductions, such as the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit, Hope Scholarship Tax Credit, or the Above-the-Line Tax Deduction for Qualified Higher Education Expenses. See the IRS web site at irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p970.pdf for more information.
Why did I get a 1098-T form?
The University of Minnesota is required to send a 1098-T form to any student that was enrolled and had qualified tuition billed during the previous calendar year.
Why didn't I get a 1098-T form?
There are several reasons why a 1098-T form may not be generated or received:
- If you received more scholarships and/or grants than the amount of qualified tuition and fees billed.
- If you are classified as a Non Resident Alien on the University of Minnesota’s student record database.
- If you didn’t provide us with your Social Security Number (SSN). If you provide your SSN to One Stop Student Services, we can send a 1098-T form to you.
- If your 1098-T form was sent to an old or incorrect address. If you provide your current mailing address to One Stop Student Services, we can resend a 1098-T form to you.
What are qualified charges?
Qualified charges include tuition and fees a student is required to pay “out-of-pocket” in order to be enrolled at or attend the University of Minnesota. Amounts paid for any course or other education involving sports, games, or hobbies are not eligible for the credit unless the course or other education is part of the student’s degree program. Charges and fees associated with room, board, student activities, athletics, insurance, books, equipment, transportation, and similar personal, living, or family expenses are not qualified.
Qualified expenses paid with student’s earnings, a loan, gift, inheritance, or personal savings are included; however, expenses paid with a Pell Grant, other tax-free scholarship, tax-free distribution from Education IRA, or tax-free employer provided educational assistance are not counted. You can find additional information at irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p970.pdf.
Why do you list ‘amounts billed for qualified tuition’ (Box 2) rather than ‘payments received for qualified tuition’ (Box 1)?
An institution may choose to report either payments received (box 1) or amounts billed (box 2) for qualified education expenses. The university reports amounts billed for qualified tuition (box 2); however, the amount in box 2 of Form 1098-T may be different than what you actually paid. When figuring for education tax benefits purposes, use only the amounts you paid out-of-pocket in 2007.
What box on the 1098-T form should I use for my taxes?
Please contact the IRS or your personal tax preparer for assistance or review the information at irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p970.pdf.
Are the 1098-T forms available electronically?
1098-T forms are not available electronically yet; however, students can view their tuition and related fees assessed at onestop.umn.edu and then click on the Student Account quick link. Use the ‘Transactions by Date’ link at the top to sort and display all financial transactions by date for the calendar year.
Can I get a duplicate copy of my 1098-T form for prior years?
Yes. Contact One Stop Student Services for a reprint or duplicate copy for prior calendar years.
Can you give me the amount of qualified tuition paid over the phone?
Yes, if you were eligible to receive a 1098T- form. Contact One Stop Student Services for this information.
I haven't paid my tuition and fee charges from 2007, will I still get a 1098-T?
You will be sent a 1098-T since you have qualified tuition and fees that were billed; however, you will not be able to claim an education tax benefit for 2007 since the charges were not paid.
Can a student and a parent both qualify for the tax credit?
No. Only one tax filer can claim the education tax benefit; however, if both the student and the parent are students and have qualified charges paid, then both may be eligible for education tax benefits. Please contact the IRS or your personal tax preparer if you have further questions.
Can you mail my 1098-T to my parents for me?
If you would like your parents to receive a copy of your 1098-T form, please photocopy your 1098-T and mail it to them directly. If you’ve misplaced your copy of the 1098-T, please contact One Stop Student Services for a duplicate copy.
Can you fax my 1098-T form directly to my tax preparer?
Faxing 1098-T forms directly to tax preparers is not a service the University of Minnesota offers.
Who do I contact if there is an error on my 1098-T?
Please read the information available at tax.umn.edu/Education%20Benefits.html. If you still feel there is an error, please contact One Stop Student Services for assistance.
What if my Social Security Number is incorrect on the 1098-T?
Please contact One Stop Student Services for assistance. You will be asked to produce a copy of your social security card as verification.
I purchased books and a computer at the University bookstore. Why are these charges not showing on my 1098-T?
Charges and fees associated with room, board, student activities, athletics, insurance, books, equipment, transportation, and similar personal, living, or family expenses are not qualified charges.
Why doesn’t the student health insurance fee count as qualified charges on my 1098-T since it is a mandatory fee?
Charges and fees associated with room, board, student activities, athletics, insurance, books, equipment, transportation, and similar personal, living, or family expenses are not qualified charges.
Does study abroad tuition count as qualified charges on my 1098-T?
The tuition and fees portion of the student abroad program fee is deemed as qualified tuition for the purposes of determining education tax credits; however, personal expenses and fees for costs such as room and board, books, insurance, medical expenses, transportation and similar living or family expenses are excluded from the definition of“tuition and related expense”.
My student is a high school student (i.e., Post Secondary Education Option, College in the Schools). Why did my student get a 1098-T form?
If your student had more qualified charges (Box 2) than they had in scholarships and grants (Box 5), the University of Minnesota is required to send the 1098-T form. High school students are not precluded from these tax benefits.
I’m an international student. Will I be sent a 1098-T?
If you are classified as a Non Resident Alien as defined by the IRS and are coded as such in the University of Minnesota student records system, you will not be sent a 1098-T form. Please contact the IRS or your personal tax preparer for assistance.
I'm an active graduate/professional student working on my thesis credits and registered for GRAD 0999. Why didn't I get a 1098-T so that I can claim that I'm a student on my taxes?
A 1098-T form is not meant to give student status certification. If you were not billed for qualified tuition and fees or those qualified charges were less than the scholarships/grants you received, you will not be sent a 1098-T form.
©2008 University Tax Management Office
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. All rights reserved. this page was last updated on April 7, 2008