1098-Ts

1098-T Tax Forms – What You Need to Know

What is a 1098-T Form?

The 1098-T is a tax form that shows how much you paid for qualified tuition and how much you received in scholarships or grants during the calendar year. The University is required to furnish a 1098-T form to each student with qualifying payments and/or scholarships every calendar year. The University also sends this form to the IRS. You don’t need to include it with your tax return, but you should keep it for your records.

Where Can I Find My 1098-T?

Your 1098-T form is available in the eBill system by January 31st each year. You can find it on the homepage or under the Statements section. If you gave access to an authorized user, they can view it too. If you didn’t agree to get your form electronically, it will be mailed to the address you have on file. To make sure you receive emails about your form, add @ecsi.net to your list of trusted email domains.

What’s Reported on the 1098-T?

Box 1: Payments made for qualified tuition and related fees.
Box 5: Scholarships and grants received.

To see your billing details, go to Account Activity in the eBill system under Student Accounts. Please consult with your tax professional for any questions related to the tax impact of your reported amounts.

Important Notes About 529 Plans

The 1098-T form should not be used to verify Form 1099-Q, which reports payments from 529 college savings plans. Even though 529 funds can be used for things like room and board, the IRS does not allow those payments to be included in Box 1 of the 1098-T. Instead, you can use your account statements to show how your 529 funds were spent.

1098T Breakdown

Amounts Paid for Qualified Tuition and Related Expenses

BOX 1 of IRS Form 1098-T reports the qualified tuition and related expenses paid during the calendar year. Sometimes this is referred to as qualified education expenses, although the two are not always interchangeable. Consult a tax professional for explanation. For purposes of IRS Form 1098-T, GW has determined based on interpretation of the limited IRS guidance provided that the following charges are included or not in qualified tuition and related expenses. Please note, IRS Publication 970 states that "the amount on form 1098-T might be different from the amount you actually paid and are deemed to have paid." Further IRS Form 8863 instructions state that "The amount of qualified Tuition and related expenses reported on Form 1098-T may not reflect the total amount of the qualified tuition and related expenses paid during the year for which you may claim the tax credit. You may include qualified tuition and related expenses that are not reported on IRS Form 1098-T when claiming one of the related credits if you can substantiate payment of these expenses."

Included in Qualifying Tuition and Related Expenses: Resident and Non-resident Tuition Program specific charges (i.e. Tuition Differential for Masters Programs such as MBA, MS Accounting, MS Analytics, MHA, MS Athletic Training) Required General Fees (Excludes Health Services Access Charge) Book Rental Fee ASG Fee (Association of Student Government) Education & Technology Fee Safety & Security Fee Student Activity Fee (Summer charged separately, Fall/Spring included in General Fee - Both are included)

Not Included in Qualifying Tuition and Related Expenses: Housing related charges Dining, Meal Plans, Express Account Charges Insurance (such as BCBS Student Blue Medical Insurance & Intern Practicum Charge (liability insurance) Late Fees, Interest on Past Due Account Library Fines, Fees Orientation Fees Parking Permit or fines Health Services Access Fee Other Health Service charges, Department fees for non-return or damage (i.e. Books not returned, Chemistry Breakage) Wellness Service Fee

Adjustments Made for a Prior Year

BOX 4 of IRS Form 1098-T reports adjustments made to qualified tuition and related expenses calculated in a prior year. The amount reported in Box 4 represents a reduction in tuition billed during a prior calendar year. For example if you were billed in Nov-Dec 2022 and later had a reduction in the QTRE charges in 2023 (ie withdrawal, courses dropped), Box 4 reports the decrease in billed tuition due to the withdrawal or drop. The amount reported in BOX 4 reports the decrease in QTRE from the withdrawal or drop of courses that reduced the QTRE. The amount reported in Box 4 for adjustments to qualified tuition and related expenses may reduce any allowable education credit you may claim for the prior year. See your tax advisor and/or IRS Form 8863/IRS Publication 970 for more information.

Note: It is possible for the other boxes to be empty and only have a number in BOX 4. This means as stated above that there was a reduction in qualified tuition and related expenses calculated on the 2023 1098-T that was reduced after December 31, 2022 but had no other reportable activity for the 2022 calendar year. Please consult a tax advisor and/or IRS Form 8863 and IRS Publication 970 for assistance.

Scholarships and/or Grants

BOX 5 of IRS Form 1098-T reports the total of scholarships or grants administered or processed by the Office of Student Accounts and/or the Office of Student Financial Aid during the calendar year.

Please note that the timing of each charge and scholarship are important regarding which year they are reported in. Many students have charges from Nov-Dec of 2022. Because in 2022 many students had payments larger than their QTRE, the BOX 1 amount for the Spring 2023 term may have been included in the 2022 1098-T. Also in many of those same circumstances, the student also received scholarships and grants for Spring 2022 that did not post until January 2023. This may cause the 2023 1098-T to have zero in BOX 1 but BOX would be populated. Please consult a tax prepared regarding what this means to your individual tax situation.

The amount reported in BOX 5 does not include:

Tuition waivers provided during the calendar year. Student Loans

Per IRS instruction, Veteran's Education Benefit amounts received are included in BOX 5.

Work Study
Employment
Scholarships, grants, reimbursements or other types of sponsorships not administered by the Office of Student Accounts and/or the Office of Student Financial Aid.

Per IRS instruction, Veteran's Education Benefit amounts received are included in BOX 5.

Adjustments to Scholarships or Grants For a Prior Year

BOX 6 of IRS Form 1098-T reports adjustments made to scholarships or grants reported on a prior year Form 1098-T that was in BOX 5. The amount reported in BOX 6 represents a reduction in scholarships or grants reported for a prior calendar year. The amount reported in BOX 6 for adjustments to scholarships or grants may affect the amount of the education credit you may claim for the prior year. See IRS Form 8863 for how to report these amounts.

Additional Information Reported

BOX 7 indicates, if checked, that BOX 1 includes amounts for an academic period beginning in the next year (2024). For example, if you registered and paid for the upcoming Spring Semester during November or December, this box will be marked.
BOX 8 shows whether you are considered to be at least one-half of the normal full-time workload for at least one academic period during the calendar year.

BOX 9 shows whether you are considered to be enrolled in a program leading to a graduate level degree, certificate, or other recognized education credential.

Additionally, the links below may be helpful in understanding the instructions, purpose, and applicability of the 1098-T for your individual tax situation. All of the information that GW can provide to you is either on the 1098-T form or is included on this webpage. We are not allowed to discuss tax implications or give tax advice. Please consult your tax professional with all questions related to this document. Some helpful links to the IRS at the bottom of this page may provide you more information related to how form 1098-T may affect you. Please seek guidance from a tax professional.

1098-T FAQs

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/students

https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc421

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/foreign-students-and-scholars

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-benefits-for-education-information-center

https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-970