1098-T Tax Information
Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997
The following information is not intended as legal or tax advice. Please refer with a personal tax advisor or the Internal Revenue Service to determine your eligibility for education tax credits.
The Taxpayer Relief Act (TRA) of 1997, created tax benefits for families or students who are paying for higher education or repaying student loans. Through Virginia Tech, students, or the persons who can claim them as dependent, may be able to claim an education credit on Form 1040 or 1040A, only for the qualified tuition and related expenses that were actually paid during a Calendar Year.
Virginia Tech reports the amount billed during the calendar year, regardless of the term, in Box 2. The amount shown in Box 2 may represent an amount other than what was actually paid.
Box 2. Shows the total amounts billed for qualified tuition and related expenses less any reductions in charges that relate to those amounts billed. Box 4. Shows any adjustment made for a prior year for qualified tuition and related expenses that were reported on a prior year Form 1098-T. This amount may reduce any allowable education credit that you claimed for the prior year (may result in an increase in tax liability for the year of the refund). See recapture in the index to Pub. 970 to report a reduction in your education credit or tuition and fees deduction. Box 5. Shows the total of all scholarships or grants administered and processed by the eligible educational institution. The amount of scholarships or grants for the calendar year (including those not reported by the institution) may reduce the amount of the education credit you claim for the year. Box 6. Shows adjustments to scholarships or grants for a prior year. This amount may affect the amount of any allowable tuition and fees deduction or education credit that you claimed for the prior year. You may have to file an amended income tax return (Form 1040X) for the prior year. Expenses that do not qualify are insurance, medical expenses (including health fee), room and board, transportation (including bus fee), or similar personal, living, or family expenses, etc.
Students who will not receive a 1098-T:
May Graduates where Spring semester charges were applied prior to the tax calendar year. Scholarships, Grants, or a Department Award equal or greater than qualified tuition and related expenses. If academic credit hours were not achieved during the calendar year for which the 1098-T is produced.
To see if you qualify for the credit, or for help in calculating the amount of your credit, please see the following Internal Revenue Service websites.
www.irs.gov Tax Benefits for Education Information Center Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education Education Credits Form 8863 Tuition and Fees Deduction Form 8917
In addition, you may need to contact a personal tax advisor and the Internal Revenue Service at 800/829-1040 for more information or to determine if you are eligible for the tax credits.
The University encourages all students to receive their 1098-T form online through Hokie SPA. Students not registering to view the form online will receive it by standard mail. Please be aware that Virginia Tech is not responsible for forms lost or delayed in the mail. If a mailed 1098-T form is not received the student must obtain their form online through Hokie SPA.
Qualified students may receive a detail breakdown of box 2 and 5 by retrieving their electronic form online through the Hokie Spa. Authorized Payers do not have access to view or print the form through the Authorized Payer System.
If your social security number or any information on your 1098-T form appears to be incorrect, please contact the Office of the University Bursar.
Phone: 540/231-2175
Email: bursar@vt.edu
Please include or have available your Family Educational Rights to Privacy Act password.