1098-T Forms
Indiana State University is required to issue Form 1098-T, Tuition Statement, which may be used to assist taxpayers in determining the education credit on the federal tax return. In years prior to 2018, the 1098-T from ISU reported qualified tuition and related expenses billed to the student account in the calendar year in Box 2. Due to a change to reporting requirements under federal law, beginning with tax year 2018, ISU began reporting in Box 1 for the amount paid to the University for qualified tuition and related expenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
General Information
How can I get a copy of my 1098-T?
Every ISU student eligible to receive a 1098-T will have electronic access to their form by January 31st. Mailed forms will be post-marked by January 31st and will be sent to the mailing address in the University's records as of the post-mark date. To access your 1098-T through your MyISU Portal, follow the steps below.
- Log into the MyISU portal, and ensure that you are seeing the Student page.
- Select the "Student Self Service" badge.
- Select the "Financial Resources" tab.
- Under the Tax Forms menu, select "Tax Notification (1098-T)".
- Enter the Tax Year, and click "Submit".
- Once you’ve accessed your 1098-T, you can print it from your Portal by selecting the Print icon shown at the top, right corner of the screen. You can also view the details behind the numbers on your form at the bottom of the screen. Note that you are not required to submit a copy of the 1098-T with your tax return.
How can I get a copy of my 1098-T if I no longer have account access?
If you no longer have access to your account, you can request a copy of a 1098-T form in writing by sending an email to 1098t@indstate.edu The University cannot accept requests for forms by phone. You will need to provide your student identification number. If emailing from a non-Sycamores email account, you may also be asked for additional information for identity verification. Proxies must email from the proxy email address on record and provide the passphrase.
What does the amount in Box 1 represent?
Box 1 (Payments received for qualified tuition and related expenses) reflects the total amount of payments received for “qualified tuition and expenses” during the tax year. “Qualified tuition and expenses”, as defined by the IRS, includes tuition and related fees that are required for enrollment or attendance by the University. Examples of those fees include the recreation fee, distance education delivery fee and lab fees. Box 1 WILL NOT include expenses paid for room and board.
Why is Box 1 missing payments for my Spring 2018 term on my 2018 1098-T Form?
If a student registered and was billed for Spring 2018 before December 31, 2017, those charges would have been reported in Box 2 of the 2017 1098-T form. Since those charges were reported in a prior year, payments related to that term will not be reported on the 2018 form. A student may still be eligible to claim an education credit for those payments, but they must maintain and show proof of those payments. This can be done by obtaining a Student Account Summary. These have been emailed to all students and can also be requested by emailing 1098t@indstate.edu
Why is Box 2 on my form blank on my 2018 1098-T Form?
Due to a change to reporting requirements by the IRS, beginning with tax year 2018, institutions will no longer be reporting in Box 2 for qualified charges billed. Qualified charges billed are still calculated and the detail is still shown on the MyISU Portal below the form to indicate the maximum amount of payments that can be reported in Box 1.
What does the amount in Box 4 represent?
Box 4 (Adjustments made for a prior year) reflects any billing adjustments relating to payments received for qualified tuition and related fees that were made during the tax year that were related to a previous tax year. The amount in Box 4 may reduce any allowable education credit you claimed for a prior year (may result in an increase in tax liability for the year of the adjustment). It is recommended to contact your tax preparer for advice.
What does the amount in Box 5 represent?
Box 5 (Scholarships or grants) reflects any scholarships or grants for the payment of the individual's cost of attendance that the institution "administered and processed" during the calendar year. The 1098-T was not designed as a way to capture information on taxable scholarships.
Are CARES ACT Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (CARES HEERF) reported in Box 5 of my 1098-T?
Sections 3504, 18004, and 18008 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), enacted on March 27, 2020, allow higher education institutions to use certain funds allocated by the Department of Education to support students and higher education institutions with expenses and financial needs related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Based on guidance provided by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), we have not included any CARES HEERF Funds that were awarded to students in the 1098T. See IRS Frequently Asked Questions concerning CARES HEERF Fund Awards
What does the amount in Box 6 represent?
Box 6 (Adjustments to scholarships or grants for a prior year) reflects any adjustments of scholarships or grants that were originally applied in a previous tax year. Adjustments of scholarships or grants shown in Box 6 could affect an education credit filed in a previous tax year. It is recommended to contact your tax preparer for advice.
What does the check mark in Box 7 mean?
If there is a check mark in Box 7, it means that Box 1 will include amounts paid for tuition and fees for an academic semester beginning between January and March of the new tax year. For instance, the ISU Spring semester begins in January, but the tuition and fees for that semester are billed in December. If tuition is paid before December 31st, it will be reported in that tax year. This does not occur with the Fall or Summer semesters, which are billed and take place in the same tax year.
What does the check mark in Box 8 mean?
If there is a check mark in Box 8, it means that you were considered at least a half-time student during the tax year. At ISU, "at least half-time" is considered to be 6 or more credit hours in a semester
What does the check mark in Box 9 mean?
If there is a check mark in Box 9, it means that you are considered to be enrolled in a program leading to a graduate degree, graduate-level certificate, or other recognized graduate-level educational credential.
What if I believe there is an error on my 1098-T?
If you believe there is an error on your 1098-T, please email the Office of the Controller at 1098t@indstate.edu, allowing one business day for a response. Please provide the student identification number in your message. If you are a parent or other individual emailing on behalf of a student, you must have Proxy Access granted by the student, you must email from the proxy email address on record and provide the passphrase.
What if I am an international student?
Indiana State University is not required to supply Nonresident Aliens (NRA) with the form 1098-T according to the guidelines established by the Internal Revenue Service. This is because nonresident alien students are not eligible for education tax benefits. However, because ISU cannot definitively determine which foreign students are residents for tax purposes, we will generate one at the request of a student and forward the information to the IRS. We may ask for a completed Form W-9S, Request for Student’s or Borrower’s Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification, or similar statement to obtain the student’s name, address, and taxpayer identification number.
What education credits are available and where can I get information regarding the credits?
The University cannot provide tax advice. Contact the IRS or consult with a reputable tax preparation service. Please visit the IRS education credit website for information and frequently asked questions regarding education credits. You can also refer to IRS Publication 970, “Tax Benefits for Education” for additional information about educational credits.
The IRS Form 1098-T is informational and should not be attached to your tax return when filed.
Online Access
How do I opt out of receiving the printed copy of the 1098-T and access it only through the MyISU Portal?
It's easy! Just log into your MyISU Portal, and follow the directions below:
- Log into the MyISU portal, and ensure that you are seeing the Student page.
- Select the "Student Self Service" badge.
- Select the "Financial Resources" tab.
- Under the Tax Forms menu, select "1098-T Opt Out of Printed Copy".
- After reading the Electronic 1098-T Disclosure Statement, select that you have read and accept the acknowledgement and click "Submit".
The Electronic Disclosure Statement will open on a separate window. Once you have read and accepted the acknowledgement, you can go back to the "Financial Resources" page and follow the steps below to access the form:
- Under the Tax Forms menu, select "Tax Notification (1098-T)".
- Enter the Tax Year, and click "Submit".
- Once you’ve accessed your 1098-T, you can print it from your Portal by selecting the Print icon shown at the top, right corner of the screen. You can also view the details behind the numbers on your form at the bottom of the screen. Note that you are not required to submit a copy of the 1098-T with your tax return.
Please note that electronic access refers to obtaining a copy of the form through the MyISU Portal. It does not mean that the form will be emailed to you.
If I elected to access an electronic copy of my 1098-T in a previous year, do I need to do it again this year?
No, once you have elected to receive the 1098-T electronically, your election stays in effect for the remainder of your time at ISU, unless you chose to cancel it.
When will my 1098-T form be available?
The forms will be available online by January 31st. You will receive email notification when your form is available.
Can another person access my 1098-T online?
Yes, if you have set up another person as your proxy and gave them the “1098-T” authorization, your proxy can view and print your 1098-T from the student account. Click here for information about how to set up proxy access.