What is the difference between the 1098-T and the W-2?

Form 1098-T is an informational tax document prepared by colleges and universities to report payments of qualified tuition and related expenses (QTRE), as well as scholarships and grants paid out during the calendar year. The form helps students and their families determine eligibility for education tax credits when filing a U.S. tax return.

Qualified tuition and related expenses includes tuition and student life fees. Expenses such as housing, meals, books, supplies, and health insurance are not included.

MIT issues a 1098-T to degree-seeking students whose scholarships and grants do not exceed qualified tuition and related expenses for the calendar year. Consistent with IRS regulations, MIT does not issue Form 1098-T to:

• Students in non-degree programs
• Students whose QTRE is fully covered by scholarships and grants

Yes, you may still be eligible for an education tax credit without the 1098-T form. The form is primarily for informational purposes and does not determine eligibility for tax credits or deductions. You can provide an overview of your expenses, especially those not reported on the 1098-T, by downloading and printing your student account statements.

The 1098-T is available electronically via Heartland ECSI by January 31 each year.

You can access your 1098-T online by logging into MITPay. If you didn’t opt in for electronic delivery, a paper copy will be mailed to your permanent address.

If you no longer have access to MITPay, you can access the forms from 2020 onwards, via Heartland ECSI. If you need a 1098-T prior to 2020 and no longer have access to MITPay, please contact us at sfs@mit.edu.

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MIT has partnered with Heartland ECSI to provide students a self-service option to access their 1098-T forms. If you have a 1098-T form on file but no longer have access to your MITPay account, we have you covered. You can retrieve your form by clicking here and following these steps:

Step 1: Create a Profile – (Note: If you already have an ECSI account profile, proceed to Step 3.)

Step 2: Sign In – Once your account profile is created and verified, click here and enter your “Username” and “Password” under “Sign In To An Existing Profile”.

Step 3: Connect Account – Enter your 17-character Heartland Key on the right and click “Continue” to connect your tax forms. If you don’t know your Heartland Key, find it by selecting the lookup link for 1098-T forms under “Search for Heartland Key” on the right side of the page. Enter details and click “Find My Heartland Key.” Alternatively, call ECSI at (866) 428-1098.

Box 1: Reports amounts paid for qualified tuition and related expenses during the calendar year. This may include payments for future terms made within the current year

Box 4: Adjustments made to prior years’ QTRE payments

Box 5: Scholarships and grants disbursed during the calendar year, including those from third parties

Box 6: Adjustments to scholarships or grants reported in a prior year

Box 1 reports qualified tuition and related expenses (QTRE) charged and paid within the calendar year, running January 1 to December 31. It also includes any unpaid QTRE carried over from the previous year.

Box 1 may include any unpaid qualified tuition and related charges from the previous year, in addition to the charged and paid amount for the current 1098-T calendar year.