Tax forms and the 1098-T
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Who receives a Form 1098-T?
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
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Am I still eligible for an education tax credit without a 1098-T?
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.
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When is the 1098-T made available?
The 1098-T is available electronically via
Heartland ECSI by January 31 each year.
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How do I view my 1098-T online?
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.
Please ensure your pop-up blocker is disabled to view the form.
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What does each box on Form 1098-T report?
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
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Why doesn’t Box 1 reflect all the payments I made in the calendar 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.
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Why is the Box 1 amount more than what I paid, and was charged for, in the calendar 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.
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What is the American opportunity tax credit?
The American opportunity tax credit is a credit for qualified education expenses, paid for an eligible student, for the first four years of higher education. You can get a maximum annual credit of $2,500 per eligible student. More information can also be found on the
IRS website.
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What is the lifetime learning credit?
The lifetime learning credit is for qualified tuition and related expenses paid for eligible students enrolled in an eligible educational institution. This credit can help pay for undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree courses — including courses to acquire or improve job skills. There is no limit on the number of years you can claim the credit. It is worth up to $2,000 per tax return. More info can be found on the
IRS website.
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Can I claim both the American opportunity tax credit and the lifetime learning credit?
No, only one education tax credit can be claimed per student, per tax year.
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Can I claim the education tax credits if I am not a U.S. citizen?
Generally, only U.S. citizens and resident aliens are eligible for these credits, with some exceptions for certain nonresident aliens. More information can be found on the
VPF website.
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What is the W-2 Form?
The W-2 is an income statement reflecting taxable wages and associated taxes, provided by MIT to it's employees. Contact the MIT payroll department at
payroll@mit.edu with any questions you may have.
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What is the 1042-S?
The Form 1042-S reports fellowships and grants for international students and is not issued to U.S. citizens or permanent residents. If you need a 1042-S for royalty payments, prize or award payments, or for services performed in the U.S., please contact MIT Payroll by emailing
payroll@mit.edu.
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What is the difference between the 1098-T and the W-2?
The 1098-T reports tuition payments and scholarships/grants, while the W-2 reports taxable income and taxes withheld.
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What is the difference between the 1098-T and the 1042-S?
The 1098-T reports tuition payments and scholarships/grants, while the 1042-S reports fellowships and grants for international students.
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I am Canadian and need to complete a TL11A form. Who should I contact for help?
For assistance completing a TL11A form, please email us at
sfs@mit.edu.
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What if I still need help?
If you have general questions regarding your 1098-T, feel free to reach out to us at
sfs@mit.edu. Please note: MIT cannot provide personal tax advice. For specific individual income tax advice, please consult a tax preparer. See
Tips for Choosing a Tax Preparer for assistance.
General tax information provided by MIT can be found on the
VPF wesite. You can also consult
IRS Publication 970 for further guidance, visit
IRS.gov, or call the IRS helpline at 800-829-1040 for assistance.
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What is a 1098-T?
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.
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What resources are available to help with my tax forms?
The IRS has detailed information about each tax form, we have listed a few here to get you started, however, you can visit the forms section of the
IRS website for your particular form. Please note: MIT cannot provide personal tax advice. For specific individual income tax advice, please consult a tax preparer. See
Tips for Choosing a Tax Preparer for assistance.
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If I no longer have access to MITPay, how would I access my 1098-T form?
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.