Form 1098-T Tuition Tax FAQs

What do all the boxes on my 1098-T mean?
Please reference the Explanation of IRS Form 1098-T and 1098-T Supplemental Information page for more information.

Am I eligible for a tax credit?
Information Services for the Tuition and Fees Deduction and the Education Credits

College of Mount Saint Vincent cannot provide personal tax advice to students as each student’s tax situation depends upon his/her own individual circumstances. Each student and/or their parents must determine eligibility for the tuition and fees deduction or one of the education credits (American Opportunity or lifetime learning credit).

For authoritative information, we recommend that you visit the IRS web site at www.irs.gov/formspubs/index.

You can contact the IRS for telephone assistance, including requesting forms and publications, at 1-800-829-1040.

At the IRS website you can review:

• IRS Publication 970 “Tax Benefits for Higher Education,” which includes chapters on the Hope credit, the lifetime learning credit, and the tuition and fees deduction
• Form 8863 “Education Credits (American Opportunity, Hope and Lifetime Learning Credits)”
• Instructions for Form 1040 or 1040A
• IRS Publication 17 “Tax Guide for Individuals”

The tax rules regarding eligibility for, calculation of, and limitations on the tuition and fee deduction and education credits can be complex. For this reason, you may want to consult your tax advisor to determine whether you are qualified to claim the education expense tax credits and deduction.

I am not a US Citizen. What does 1098-T mean to me?
Information for Nonresident Aliens

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) does not require College of Mount Saint Vincent to file a Form 1098-T for foreign students who are not US residents for tax purposes. This is because non-resident alien students are not eligible for education tax benefits. However, College of Mount Saint Vincent cannot definitively determine which foreign students are residents for tax purposes. Also, the IRS does require College of Mount Saint Vincent to provide a 1098-T to a non-resident alien student who requests one. For these reasons we provide 1098-T forms to all students, including foreign students who may or may not be eligible for an education tax benefit.

What is a 1098-T?

• The IRS Form 1098-T is an information form filed with the Internal Revenue Service
• The IRS Form 1098-T that you received reports amounts billed to you for qualified tuition and related expenses, as well as other related information
• You, or the person who may claim you as a dependent, may be able to take either the tuition and fees deduction or claim an education credit on Form 1040 or 1040A for the qualified tuition and related expenses that were actually paid during the calendar year
• The 1098-T Supplemental Information page that College of Mount Saint Vincent is providing over the Internet can assist you and your tax preparer in completing your tax return. Follow the instructions provided on the 1098-T Supplemental Information page to view and print paid tuition information
• There is no need to attach Form 1098-T to your tax return
• All information and assistance that College of Mount Saint Vincent can provide to you is contained in this notice
• There is no IRS requirement that you must claim the tuition and fees deduction or an education credit. Claiming education tax benefits is a voluntary decision for those who may qualify

Why didn’t I receive my 1098-T?
If you did not receive an IRS Form 1098-T for the current calendar year, possible explanations are:

• College of Mount Saint Vincent did not have a valid social security number on file for you. Call the Registrar department at (718) 405-3484 to verify your social security number or email at registrar@mountsaintvincent.edu.
• The amount of qualified tuition and related fees billed during the calendar year was zero. See Explanation of IRS Form 1098-T Tuition Statement for more information regarding how billed tuition and related fees were determined.
• College of Mount Saint Vincent did not have a current mailing address for you. Please ensure that your address information is up to date through Self-Service.

You can view your current or prior 1098-T forms online at any time by logging in to Self-Service, selecting the “Student” tab at the top of the page, selecting the “Student Account” option and clicking on the “Select Tax Year” link.  On the next screen, enter the year you would like to view.

Can I view a current or prior year’s 1098-T?
You can view your current or prior 1098-T forms online at any time.

You can view all 1098-T tax forms by logging in to Self-Service, selecting the “Student” tab at the top of the page, selecting the “Student Account” option clicking on the “Select Tax Year” link. On the next screen, enter the year you would like to view. On the next screen, select the year you would like to view by clicking the links available.

What is included in my 1098-T?
Box 2 of Form 1098-T reports the qualified tuition and related expenses billed to you during the calendar year. Qualified tuition and related expenses are sometimes referred to as qualified education expenses, although the terms are not always interchangeable. For purposes of the Form 1098-T provided by College of Mount Saint Vincent, the following categories of charges are included or not included in qualified tuition and related expenses:

Qualified Tuition and Related Expenses

Billed Tuition vs. Paid Tuition
College of Mount Saint Vincent is choosing to report qualified tuition and related expenses that were billed during the calendar year, rather than the amount that was paid. In general, qualified tuition and related expenses are considered to be billed when you register for classes. The billed amount of tuition and fees reported in box 2 is reduced by the following deductions:

Qualified Tuition and Related Expenses Reduced By:

• Current year reductions in billed amounts for semesters billed during the calendar year. For example, a reduction due to withdrawal from classes. The reductions may or may not have resulted in a refund, depending on whether the billed amounts had been paid prior to the reduction.
• Tuition charges waived during the calendar year due to the student’s status as a benefits eligible College of Mount Saint Vincent faculty or staff member or the spouse or dependent of a College of Mount Saint Vincent faculty or staff member.
• Tuition charges waived during the calendar year due to the student’s status as an eligible research or teaching assistant/associate.

Additional detailed information regarding the amount reported in box 2 is available by logging in to Self-Service. Click on the Student Tab from the Tabs across the top and then “Student Account” from the Quick Links on the left-hand side. Next, select Statement and Payment History to view qualified tuition and related expenses billed by semester and type of fee. This detailed information is supplemental and is not reported to the IRS.

The amount shown in box 2 for qualified tuition and related expenses billed during the calendar year may represent an amount that is different from the amount actually paid during the calendar year, although for many students the amounts will be the same. Under section 25A of the Internal Revenue Code and the associated regulations, a taxpayer may take a tuition and fee deduction or claim an education tax credit only with respect to qualified tuition and related expenses actually paid during the calendar year. You may not be able to take a tuition and fee deduction or claim an education credit with respect to the entire amount billed and reported in box 2. Please link to the 1098-T Supplemental Information page of this web site for directions on how to access supplemental information being provided by College of Mount Saint Vincent regarding qualified tuition and related expenses that were paid during the calendar year.