In previous years, IRS Form 1098-T included a figure in Box 2 that represented the qualified tuition and related expense (QTRE) the university billed to the student account for the calendar (tax) year. Due to a change to institutional reporting requirement under federal law, beginning with tax year 2018, the university will report in Box 1 the amount of QTRE paid during the year.
Depending on the student's income (or family income, if the student is a dependent), whether the student is considered full or half-time enrolled, and the amount of qualified educational expenses for the year, the student may be eligible for a federal education tax credit. (Student or their family can find detailed information about claiming education tax credits in IRS Publication 970, page 9.)
The dollar amounts reported on the Form 1098-T may assist in completing the IRS Form 8863 - the form used for calculating the education tax credits that a taxpayer may claim as part of their tax return.
Case Western Reserve University is unable to provide students or their families with individual tax advice, but should you have questions, please seek the counsel of an informed tax preparer or adviser.
Below is a blank sample of the 2018 Form 1098-T, that students with qualified tuition and related expenses will receive in January 2019, for your general reference. For more information about Form 1098-T, visit http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1098t.pdf.
