1098-T Tax Overview and FAQs

Stanford is required to issue 1098-T forms to students for a given tax year. You may be able to file these forms with your tax returns to see if they are eligible for Educational Tax Credits. 

If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and your enrollment credits are leading to a post-secondary degree, you will receive a completed 1098-T form from Stanford.

For more information on IRS form 1098-T, visit www.irs.gov and search for Publication 970 and review the Am I Eligible to Claim an Education Credit? webpage.

What is a 1098-T Tax Form?

The 1098-T form is used by eligible educational institutions, including Stanford, to report information about its degree-seeking students to the IRS as required by the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997.

The form is Stanford’s report to you of the amount of tuition and related expenses that have been paid during the calendar year, as well as any scholarships or grants that have been credited to your account during that year.  

Information included:

• Student name
• Address
• Social security number OR tax identification number
• Enrollment status
• Academic status
• Amounts  paid for qualified tuition
• Scholarship or grant amounts
• (If applicable) Adjustments to prior year’s qualified tuition and/or adjustments to prior year scholarships

What am I supposed to do with my tax form when I receive it?

The dollar amounts reported on your Form 1098-T may assist you in completing IRS Form 8863 – the form used for calculating the education tax credits that a taxpayer may claim as part of your tax return. 

You can find detailed information about claiming education tax credits in IRS Publication 970, page 9. 

1098-T FAQs

When will I receive the 1098-T form?

Stanford’s Student Financial Services team sends 1098-T forms out to you by January 31st of each year.

Electronic delivery

If you have opted in to electronic receipt of the 1098-T form in Axess (recommended) before December of the previous year you will receive an email notifying you when your 1098-T form is ready to view and print in Axess.

Mail delivery

A paper copy of the 1098-T forms is completed and mailed on or before January 31st if you did not opt for electronic delivery.  The 1098-T form is mailed to you at your Permanent Home Address listed on Axess.

Who does not automatically receive a 1098-T form?

You do not receive a 1098-T form if you are a:

• nonresident alien (international student)
• students enrolled in courses that do not lead to a post-secondary degree at Stanford University (e.g. Continuing Studies students  or non-matriculated Summer Session students)
• students with a Third Party Contract which pays 100% of tuition

I no longer have access to Axess. How can I get a copy of my 1098-T?

To obtain a copy of your 1098-T form, request help from the Student Services Center.

What is the definition of qualified educational expenses?

Educational expenses include all tuition and related fees – such as course fees and lab fees, document fee, student activities fees, health insurance, campus health service fee, and necessary books, supplies and equipment. See Qualified Education Expenses.

I just became a U.S. resident. How can I get a copy of the 1098-T?

To obtain a copy of your 1098-T form, submit a help request to the Student Services Center. 

Where can I get general 1098-T form information?

You can find official IRS guidelines on the IRS website. You can find overview information on Education Tax Credits on this IRS webpage.

You can also check the Mind Over Money website for tax information and to attend workshop offerings to understand your taxes better. 

Who should I contact with questions about the content of my 1098-T form?

You can contact the Student Services Center with any questions about the content of the 1098-T or to request a 1098-T be provided.

What do the values in Box 6 mean?

Box 6 shows an amount of scholarships or grants reported on a 1098-T in a prior year that were subsequently adjusted or reduced in the current tax year.  In most Stanford cases, Box 6 adjustments are the consequence of departments or the Financial Aid Office changing the source of aid from one internal account to another.  When departments make this change, it creates a deficit from a prior year (Box 6) and this amount is then included in Box 5 along with the current year’s aid.

If you have Box 6 adjustments, please request an itemized breakdown for further assistance and explanation. You may want to speak with a tax consultant to understand how to include box 6 into your calculations.
 

Disclaimer: The items presented here are for general information only and do not constitute tax advice. The university does not endorse nor independently confirm the information presented in any other website referred to in this document. The university encourages users of this page to seek qualified tax counsel when appropriate.