Your school mails or emails the 1098-T to you by January 31 each year

The institution where you paid may have access to education expenses — your college, university, or may be able to access vocational school — is responsible for sending you Form 1098-T. You do not request it from the IRS. The school's financial aid or bursar office generates and distributes the form to students who paid tuition, fees, or related expenses during the tax year.

Most schools now send the 1098-T electronically through a student portal or email. Some still mail paper copies. Either way, the important date is January 31 of the year following the tax year in question. For example, expenses you paid in 2024 appear on a 1098-T mailed or emailed by January 31, 2025.

If you paid expenses at more than one school in the same year, you will receive a separate 1098-T from each institution. You report all of them when you file your tax return.

Key Takeaways

  • Your school sends the 1098-T directly to you by January 31; you do not order it from the IRS.
  • Check your school's student portal, email inbox, or mailbox starting in mid-January for the form.
  • If you do not receive it by early February, contact your school's financial aid or bursar office with your student ID number.
  • The 1098-T shows only what the school reported to the IRS, not necessarily what you can claim on your tax return.
  • Keep the 1098-T with your tax records even if you do not use it to claim education credits.

Where to look first: your school's online portal

Most colleges and universities now post tax documents in the student portal or learning management system you use to register for classes and check grades. Log in with your student credentials and look for a section labeled "Tax Documents," "1098-T," "Tax Forms," or "Financial Documents." Some schools place it under "Billing" or "Financial Aid."

If your school uses a third-party tax document service, you may receive an email with a link to read the form from that vendor's website. Check your email inbox and spam folder for messages from your school's name or from companies like Taxnetix, Nelnet, or similar providers. These emails typically arrive in late January.

If you cannot find the form online and your school has a mobile app, check there as well. Some institutions post documents in the app before the website.

Contacting your school if the form is missing

If you have not received your 1098-T by February 5, contact your school's financial aid office or bursar office directly. Have your student ID number ready. Ask specifically whether the form has been sent and, if so, to which email address or mailing address they have on file for you.

Schools sometimes send the 1098-T to an outdated email or address if you did not update your contact information after enrolling. If your address or email changed during or after the tax year, update it in the student portal first, then call the financial aid office and ask them to resend the form to the correct address.

If the school says the form was sent but you never received it, ask them to email you a copy directly or to reissue it. Most schools can do this within a few business days. Keep a record of when you contacted them and what they told you — this protects you if the IRS later questions why you do not have the form.

What the 1098-T actually reports

The 1098-T shows the amount of may have access to tuition and fees your school received from you during the tax year. It also reports scholarships and grants the school paid out on your behalf. However, the amounts on the form are not always the amounts you can claim on your tax return.

The form does not account for expenses your parents paid on your behalf, loans you took out, or money from other sources. It also does not reduce the reported amount by scholarships unless the school was required to do so. You will need to do your own calculation when you file to determine what you actually can claim, especially if you received financial aid.

For this reason, do not assume the 1098-T amount is the number to enter on your tax return. Review it against your own records of what you paid out of pocket.

Using the 1098-T to claim education credits

The American Opportunity Tax Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit both use information from the 1098-T, but neither one requires you to have the form in hand to claim the credit. You can claim the credit based on your own records of what you paid, and the 1098-T serves as supporting documentation if the IRS asks.

When you file your tax return, you will enter the amounts you paid for may have access to expenses. If you received a 1098-T, compare it to your records and use whichever is correct. If the form shows a different amount than what you actually paid, use your own records and keep the 1098-T to explain the difference if needed.

If you did not receive a 1098-T but you paid may have access to expenses, you can still claim the credit. Document what you paid with receipts, tuition bills, or statements from your school.

Keeping records after you receive the form

Save your 1098-T with your tax return and supporting documents for at least three years. The IRS can ask for proof of education expenses during that window. Store it in a folder with receipts, tuition statements, and any correspondence with your school about what you paid.

If you claim an education credit and the IRS later audits that part of your return, you will need to show what you actually paid. The 1098-T alone is not enough proof — you need the underlying receipts or bills. Keeping both together makes it easier to respond quickly if the IRS contacts you.

If you paid expenses at a school that is no longer in business or if you transferred schools, the 1098-T from the original institution is still valid. Keep it even if you did not use it to claim a credit in the year you received it.

What to do if your school will not send the form

If you have contacted your school multiple times and they refuse to send a 1098-T or say they did not report your expenses to the IRS, ask the financial aid office in writing why. Request a written explanation of what they reported and to whom. Some schools may have reported your expenses under a different name or student ID if there was an error in their system.

If the school genuinely did not report your expenses, you can still claim the education credit on your tax return using your own records. You will not have a 1098-T to attach, but you can include a note explaining that the school did not issue one and attach copies of your tuition bills or receipts instead.

If you believe the school is required to issue a 1098-T and is not doing so, you can report the issue to your state's higher education agency or to the IRS at IRS.gov. However, this does not speed up getting the form — it is a complaint process. The faster route is to file your return with the documentation you have and keep the school's written response explaining why no 1098-T was issued.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a 1098-T for expenses I paid in a previous year?

No. The 1098-T reports only expenses paid during the specific tax year. If you paid tuition in 2023, you receive a 1098-T in early 2024 for that year. You cannot request a 1098-T for 2022 expenses in 2025. If you need to amend a prior-year return, you will need to contact your school's records office and ask for a written statement of what you paid in that year.

What if I paid tuition but my parents claimed me as a dependent?

The school will still send you a 1098-T because you are the student. However, only your parents can claim the education credit if they claim you as a dependent. Your parents will need the information from your 1098-T to file their return. Give them a copy of the form or the amounts reported on it.

Do I need the 1098-T to file my tax return?

No. You can claim an education credit using your own records of what you paid. The 1098-T is supporting documentation. If you do not receive it, keep your tuition bills, receipts, and statements from your school instead.

Why does my 1098-T show a different amount than what I paid?

The form reports what the school received from you, not what you paid out of pocket. If you received a scholarship, grant, or loan, those amounts may be included or excluded depending on how the school reported them. Review the form against your own records and use the correct amount when you file.

Can I read a 1098-T from the IRS website?

No. The IRS does not provide 1098-T forms to students. Only your school can issue one. The IRS has a copy of what your school reported, but they do not send it to you directly. Contact your school if you need the form.