TRA97 created two education tax credits for students and families:

The Hope tax credit provides up to $1,500 per student for qualified tuition and related expenses for the first two years of postsecondary education. To be eligible, students must be enrolled at least halftime in a degree- or certificate-granting program. The Hope credit is available for expenses paid within the calendar year.

The lifetime learning tax credit is more broadly applicable to any postsecondary education to acquire or improve job skills. It provides a credit equal to 20 percent of qualified expenses of no more than $5,000 per taxpayer (i.e., family). This credit is available for fees charged within the calendar year.

IRS Form 1098-T: Tuition Payments Statement

What is it?
An eligible educational institution, such as The University of Texas at Tyler, that receives qualified tuition and related expenses on a student's behalf must furnish form 1098-T to the student. This statement will help you to determine whether you, or the person who may claim you as a dependent, may claim an income tax credit for the new Hope credit or Lifetime Learning credit. For information about these credits, see IRS Pub. 970, Tax Benefits for Higher Education.

The University will send a 1098-T form to students who incurred tuition and fee expenses billed within the calendar year. Taxpayers are not required to include the form with their tax return. To help taxpayers determine qualified expenses eligible for the credit, a summary of tuition and fee charges and refunds made within the calendar year will be made available through the cashiers' office for a $5.00 fee. This financial information should not be construed as tax advice. It is simply a summary of The University's financial records. Financial information will also be provided on the 1098T form (totals only).

When and where will the form be mailed?
Forms will be mailed to the student's address on file with the Registrar's Office by the IRS due date each year. Please allow two (2) weeks for delivery before calling our office about your form. Forms can also be accessed online by clicking on the link above.

What if I don't receive a form?
If the form does not reach you by February 14, confirm that the permanent address on your student record is correct. If the address is incorrect and you are having your mail forwarded, your form may be delayed. If the address is correct, please review our frequently asked questions (FAQs)for other reasons why you may not have received a form.

Where should I call with questions?
Getting through to our office may be difficult. Before calling us, please look at our frequently asked questions to see if the answer to your question is there. Questions can be sent to cashiers@uttyler.edu.

Student Loan Interest Deduction

Beginning January 1, 1999, taxpayers who have taken loans to pay the cost of attending an eligible educational institution for themselves, their spouse, or their dependent generally may deduct interest they pay on these student loans.

IRS Form 1098-E: Student Loan Interest Statement

What is it?
A person (including an educational institution) that is engaged in a trade or business and, in the course of such trade or business received interest of $600 or more on a student loan in the calendar year must furnish this form to you.

When and where will the form be mailed?
Forms will be mailed to the borrower's current billing address the last week of January. Please allow two(2) weeks for delivery before calling our office about your form.

What if I don't receive a form?
If the form does not reach you by February 14, please email cashiers@uttyler.edu for assistance.

Resources

The University cannot provide tax advice. However, we have put together a list of resources that may help you determine your eligibility. Click on the following links for additional information.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
IRS Publication 970 - Tax Benefits for Higher Education
IRS Forms & Publications
IRS Publications can also be obtained by calling the IRS, 1-800-TAX-FORM

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did I receive this form?
You received a form because higher education costs may be eligible for federal tax benefits. Our records show that you were enrolled in courses at the University, which were paid for within the calendar year. Additional information regarding the purpose can be found on the 1098-T form.

What should I do with this form?
You received a form because higher education costs may be eligible for federal tax benefits. The University cannot provide tax advice. Whether you may take advantage of these tax credits depends upon your individual facts and circumstances - information which is known only to you. To find out more about the credits and your eligibility, you may consult a tax professional or IRS publications. You may also call 1-800-TAX-FORMS for IRS publications and forms.

Am I eligible to claim the tax credit?
The University cannot provide tax advice. Whether you may take advantage of these tax credits depends upon your individual facts and circumstances, information which is known only to you. To find out more about the credits and your eligibility, you may consult a tax professional or IRS publications. You may also call 1-800-TAX-FORMS for IRS publications and forms.

When and where will the 1098-T be mailed?
Forms will be mailed to the student’s address on file with the Registrar's Office at the time the form was prepared. Please allow 2 weeks for delivery before requesting a duplicate. The address may be verified by calling the Registrar’s office at (903) 566-7215 or through Campus Connect.

Did you send me a 1098-T form / Why haven't I received my 1098-T form?
In certain situations, a 1098-T may not have been generated for you:

Your charges were not in the calendar year being report even though you attended you classes during the year. When reviewing your records please take into consideration actual dates for your charges.
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You received financial aid that equaled or exceed your tuition and fees charges.

We cannot report information to the IRS if we do not have a valid SSN. To change the SSN on the 1098-T, the student must complete IRS Form W-9S. You may obtain a form W-9S by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM. Complete the form and mail it to the Cashiers' Office, 3900 University Blvd., Tyler TX 75799. We will re-issue a 1098-T form with the new SSN within five (5) working days of receiving the W-9S.

We did not have a valid or current address on file.

If these situations do not apply, a 1098-T should have been generated and mailed to the student's address. Please verify the address by calling the Registrar’s office at (903) 566-7215 or through Campus Connect.

If the address is correct, please wait until February 14 to allow sufficient time for delivery. Beginning February 14, you may email the cashiers' office at cashiers@uttyler.edu to request a duplicate 1098-T form. Duplicate form requests are processed within 5 business days of receipt. If the address is incorrect, you will need to update your address first with the Registrar's Office or through Campus Connect.

The tuition and fee payments reflected on my 1098-T form do not match my records. Why not?

When reviewing your records please take into consideration actual dates the charges were placed on to your account in order to reconcile your records to the amounts on the form. The 1098-T form reflects charges and refunds made within the calendar year.

Why does my statement show zero for the total amount paid?
The total amount charged is net of tuition and fee refunds which could show the net amount of charges as zero if you paid for your tuition and fees then dropped and received a 100% refund.

I know I didn't pay this much in tuition. Why are the figures on my statement so high?
The 1098-T form reflects total tuition and fee charges. Therefore, the statement may include amounts paid by financial aid, tuition waivers, exemptions, etc.

The SSN on the 1098-T is wrong. How can I get it corrected?
To correct the SSN on the 1098-T, the student must complete IRS Form W-9S. You may obtain a form W-9S by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM. Complete the form and mail it to the Cashiers' Office, 3900 University Blvd., Tyler, TX 75799. We will re-issue a 1098-T form with the new SSN within five (5) working days of receiving the W-9S.

The SSN on the student record may also be incorrect. If it needs to be corrected, you may do so through the Registrar’s office by calling (903) 566-7215.

My records are incomplete. How can I get a copy of past semester bills?
To get copies of past semester payments, email the cashiers' office at cashiers@uttyler.edu. There is a $5.00 reprint fee.