1098-T FAQ

The Form 1098-T is an informational document that colleges and universities are required to issue to certain students. It provides the total dollar amount paid towards the students account for what is referred to as qualified tuition and related expenses (or "QTRE") in a single tax year.

Resident and Non-resident tuition, program specific charges, required fees (excluding medical fees), textbooks, education and technology fees, student activity fees.

Housing, dining, insurance, late fees, interest, orientation fees, library fines, parking permits or fines, medical fee, other health services charges, departmental charges for non-return or damage.

Your Form 1098T will be available to you electronically on or before January 31^st.

There are potentially many reasons for this discrepancy.

First, the amount in Box 1 only represents amounts paid for qualified tuition and related expenses (QTRE). Charges for room and board, insurance, health service fees, or parking are not considered mandatory education expenses for tax purposes.

Secondly, payments made towards room and board, insurance, or health services fees may be allocated to other qualified tuition related expenses including a future term. Form 1098-T reports amounts that the student paid in a certain year, and the pay date does not necessarily correspond to the dates that the classes were attended. For example, tuition for the Spring semester is typically billed in the prior year so non QTRE payments may allocate towards a future term, or a student may have paid tuition for the Spring semester in December even though classes do not start until January. The best and most accurate source of information about the amounts that you paid for qualified tuition and related expenses will be your Fee Statements.

Yes, charges for textbooks are qualified tuition and related expenses Undergraduate students are charged for textbooks and is included on their fee statement. Payments towards textbooks are reported in Box 1 and can include the textbook waiver should a student decide to opt out and purchase their textbooks elsewhere. (Also See:” Why are waivers included in Box 5?)

Scholarships, grants, waivers, third party sponsored payments, military tuition assistance.

All waivers are a form of payment towards QTRE and are reported in Box 1. Waivers are also reported in Box 5 because they are a non-monetary payment and ensures that the reported net amount of Box 1 & 5 remains compliant with IRS guidelines to ensure accuracy of how much QTRE is eligible for the tax credit.

Example:

Textbooks qualify as a tuition and related expense (QTRE).

Student opts out, book waiver payment is reported in Box 1

Student is not technically paying the textbook charge to SHSU.

The waiver amount for the books is reported in Box 5

Net amount for textbooks in Box 1 & 5 is zero since no credit can be taken for the textbook charge.

If you opted for your 1098-T form to be submitted electronically than you will receive it on your MySam account.

If you no longer have access to your account, you can contact the IT@SAM help desk at (936) 294-1950 and they can assist you in re-gaining access to retrieve your form.

If you did not consent for it to be electronically delivered, it will automatically be mailed to your address on file.

If you do not receive it through the above options, please reach out to Student Financial Services to mail a 1098-T to your address on file.

For security purposes, we are unable to email 1098-T forms.