1098-T Statement

The 1098-T Form is used by educational institutions to report information about their U.S. resident students to the IRS as required by the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997. Vassar reports certain enrollment and identifying information regarding U.S. resident students for whom Vassar has received payments of “qualified education expenses” for the corresponding tax year. Included in the 1098-T form are payments received and financial assistance received for the corresponding tax year. 

The form is designed to help you determine if you qualify for education tax credits, such as the American Opportunity or Lifetime Learning Credits. Please keep in mind that the 1098-T is an informational form only; it does not directly determine your taxable income or your eligibility for a tax credit.    

The form reports "Payments Received for Qualified Tuition" (Box 1) and "Scholarships" (Box 5) made within a specific calendar year. The amount reported in Box 1 may differ from the total payments you made to Vassar in 2025. There are several reasons for this difference:

• Qualified vs. Non-Qualified Expenses: IRS guidelines dictate that Box 1 reports only "Qualified Tuition and Related Expenses". Payments made for non-qualified charges such as housing, food, and insurance are excluded from this total.
• Reporting Period Timing: Per IRS regulations, the college reports financial activity based on the calendar year (January 1 through December 31), not the academic year. Therefore, if a payment was made in late 2024 or early 2026, it will not be reflected on the 2025 statement.
• Formulaic Caps: Box 1 reporting is capped at the total amount of qualified tuition billed within the same calendar year.

Students and families interested in finding out more about the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) and Lifetime Learning tax credits, and other education-related tax provisions of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 may find the following consumer information pieces useful.

• Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education. For an explanation of all the federal tax benefits that help pay for college.
• IRS Form 8863, Education Credits (PDF) This is the form you need to file with your 1040. Instructions are included.

Vassar College is unable to provide students and families with tax advice. Should you have any questions, you should seek the counsel of an informed tax preparer or adviser. If you have additional questions about your eligibility for the education tax credits, you can call the IRS at 1-(800) 829-1040.

Consent

To view and download your 1098-T form online, you must give consent on your Student Account Portal. 

Access Your 1098T

• CLICK HERE to access your Student Account Portal. Authorized Users may use this link.
• Navigate to My Account > Statements > 1098-T Tax Statement.

If you do not consent to receive your form electronically, you will be mailed a statement to the permanent home address on file.