1098T Tax Form

What is the 1098-T form? 

The 1098T form, Tuition Statement, is an American IRS tax form filed by USI to report payments received by the school for a student's qualified tuition and expenses, as well as the student's total scholarships and grants. A 1098T form is considered for informational purposes only and must be provided to each student that qualifies. This form serves to alert students that they may be eligible for federal income tax education credits. Eligible educational institutions are required to submit the student's name, address, taxpayer's identification number, enrollment status, academic status, payments (up to the amount of QTRE (qualified tuition and related expenses)), and scholarships & grants. 

Opt-in to Electronic 1098-T

Students may opt in to receiving their 1098-T electronically through TouchNet. To enroll, log into your TouchNet account via MyUSI and click on the Consents and Agreements link. Changes to delivery options can be later made if the student wishes to withdraw their electronic delivery consent in the future. 

Students who do not enroll in electronic delivery options for their 1098-T will receive a paper form mailed to the address the University has on file by January 31 every tax year. 

Information on your 1098-T

Filer’s name and address box: The University’s address and phone number is printed in this box.

Filer’s federal identification number box: The University’s FEIN number is printed in this box.

Student’s taxpayer identification number box: The student’s social security number or individual taxpayer identification number is printed in this box. If the student did not provide a SSN, there will be no SSN reported.

Student’s name and address box: The student’s name and address are printed in this box.

• Box 1: This box will include the total amount of payments received for qualified tuition and related expenses (see list below) from all sources during the calendar year. The amount reported is the total amount of payments received less any reimbursements or refunds made during the calendar year that relate to the payments received for qualified tuition and related expenses during the same calendar year.

• Box 2: Blank 

• Box 3: Blank

• Box 4: This box contains any billing adjustments relating to payments received for qualified tuition and related expenses that were made during the calendar year for a prior calendar year.

• Box 5: This box contains the total amount of scholarships/grants received during the calendar year.

• Box 6: This box contains any scholarship/grant adjustments that were made during the calendar year for a prior calendar year.

• Box 7: Box 7 shows whether the amount in box 1 includes amounts for an academic period beginning January – March. This box indicates if any of the amounts received include amounts for a semester that begins in an academic period during the following year. If payments for an upcoming spring semester occurs in October – December, this box will be checked.

• Box 8: This box is checked if the student was enrolled in 6 or more credit hours in the fall semester, spring semester and summer semesters.

If there is a need to update/revise your information, please be sure to contact the University by mid-March at the latest. Requests received after this period may not be accommodated.

Why didn't I receive a 1098-T form?

Not all students are eligible. If you did not receive an IRS 1098-T From, it is for one of the following reasons:

• You were enrolled in non-degree/non-credit programs: 100% Audit
• You did not earn credit for credit courses that you may have been enrolled in
• You do not have any Qualified Tuition and Related Expenses (QTRE) or your QTRE are entirely waived or paid entirely with grants/scholarships
• Your payment was received during another tax year
• Students whose boxes contain all zeros 

What are QTRE (Qualified Tuition & Related Expenses)?

The following are examples of qualified tuition and related expenses:

• Tuition- resident and non-resident
• Mandatory course fees such as online learning, lab, & program fees
• Student activity fee
• University Services fee
• Athletics fee
• New student fees - Enrollment, Assessment, and Matriculation
• Archie's Book Bundle

The following are examples of non-qualified tuition and related expenses:

• Housing related charges
• Dining and meal plans
• Transportation and parking fees
• Study Abroad program fees
• Insurance 
• Medical expenses (including Deaconess Office Visit Plan and Counseling fee)
• Application, transcript, graduation, diploma and loan processing fees
• Student fees, unless required as a condition of enrollment or attendance
• Same expenses paid with tax-free educational assistance
• Same expenses used for any other tax deduction, credit or educational benefit 

Do you send a copy of my 1098-T form to the IRS? 

Yes, we do. The University of Southern Indiana is an eligible educational institution and is required by law to file all 1098-T forms to assist taxpayers and the IRS in determining eligibility for the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC). It is required that 1098-T forms are filed with the IRS no later than March 31st of each tax year.

I am a parent who needs to access a 1098-T form. How do I do that?

The 1098-T form is considered part of a student's academic record and therefore protected under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974. USI must obtain consent from your student to allow the parent access to their 1098-T form. Your student may do this by adding you as an authorized user in TouchNet, an app located in the student's MyUSI. 

What is the timeline for the 1098-T form?

USI will report all payments made and scholarships/grants awarded, limited to QTRE, for a given calendar year (January 1 - December 31).

Why does the University of Southern Indiana need my Social Security Number?

As it pertains to the 1098T form, USI needs to have the correct social security number for all students that attend the University to comply with the IRS requirements. Every year, as an eligible educational institution, USI must report enrollment information for all eligible students in connection with the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) and the Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC).

*Please be advised that the Bursar's Office does not provide legal, tax, or accounting advice to students.