1098-T Frequently Asked Questions

• What is a 1098-T and why do I need one?

  OSU is required annually to furnish a Form 1098-T, Tuition Statement, which reports qualified tuition and related expenses associated with enrollment at OSU. This form is intended to assist you or your parents in the preparation of your federal income tax return.  The University sends them out to assist you in preparing your taxes and reports the information to the Internal Revenue Service. Your accountant, tax preparer, or the Internal Revenue Service can best advise you in the utilization of this form when preparing your taxes.

• What is a 1098-E?

  Student loan interest payments are reported on the IRS Form 1098-E, Student Loan Interest Statement. Your student loan servicer (who you make payments to) will provide a copy of your 1098-E if the interest you paid during the calendar year met or exceeded $600. ECSI is the billing servicer for your Perkins Loans. Interest paid is indicated on the ECSI monthly billing statement and ECSI ebills for 3 months.

   

  You may contact ECSI at 888-549-1438 if you have questions.

• How do I update my Social Security Number or ITIN?

  Bring either a Social Security card or IRS letter issuing an ITIN, and a valid government-issued photo ID (ex: passport, driver’s license, military ID) in person to the Office of the Registrar or you may submit the SSN change form with the supporting documentation via fax 405-744-8426 or via postal mail:
                                                                                                                   
  Office of the Registrar
  322 Student Union
  Stillwater, Ok 74078
   
  Please note that failure to furnish a correct SSN or TIN may result in the IRS assessing you a $50 penalty.

• When will my 1098-T be mailed to me?

  Oklahoma State University generates thousands of 1098-T forms each year. Each form must be postmarked (if mailed) by January 31. You could receive yours prior to the deadline.

• Where can I find my 1098-T online?

  Log into Student Self-Service. Under Quick Links, click on "OSU Stillwater/Tulsa Bursar Account." Your 1098-T statement is located on the welcome screen below Statements.

• Why can't I view my 1098-T?

  Viewing electronically requires Adobe Reader. The PDF file is not viewable in other PDF readers, including Apple Preview. Please consult Viewing & Printing Your 1098-T.

• If I did not provide electronic consent, what address will my 1098-T be mailed to?

  It will be listed in Student Self-Service under Personal Information.. The “Billing” address is our first choice. If that is not available, we send to the “Permanent” address and then “Local” address.

• Can you fax a copy of my 1098-T to my accountant?

  The fastest way to obtain your 1098-T information is to log into Student Self-Service. Under Quick Links, click on "OSU Stillwater/Tulsa Bursar Account." Your 1098-T statement is located on the welcome screen just below Statements and you can print a copy for you to fax to your accountant.

• What information will be provided on my 1098-T?

  The amount paid up to the tuition and qualified fees amount is reported in Box 1 for the tax year. The Box 1 amount paid includes not only personal payments, but loans, scholarships, waivers, and third party contract payments. Your scholarships, including those sent from third-parties, and grants administered by the University are reported in Box 5. The 1098-T also indicates graduate student classification and half-time or greater enrollment.

• Where is the total for my tuition and fees coming from in Box 1?

  The amount paid during the tax year up to the tuition and qualified fees (QTRE) amount is reported in Box 1 for the tax year. The Box 1 amount paid includes not only personal payments, but loans, scholarships, waivers, third party contract payments and refunds. There are four fees NOT allowable by IRS regulations; therefore, NOT included in the calculation: Activity Fee- Athletic, Transportation Fee, O’Colly Fee, and Health Service Fee. They do not meet the tax code requirements for educational expenses. Per NACUBO (National Association of College and University Business Officers) guidelines, tuition waivers reduce the amount of QTRE. It is possible you may have a carry forward amount if you paid more this tax year than the current QTRE and did not pay the total QTRE amount from the prior tax year; if this occurs, Box 1 amount will be greater than the current tax year QTRE. NOTE: A 1098-T statement in no way suggests that you are eligible for a tax credit. 1098-T statements are for informational purposes only. Consult your accountant, tax preparer, or the Internal Revenue Service for more information.

• Why does the amount of my tuition and fees seem so low?

  If you received a tuition waiver, the amount of your tuition and fees reported is reduced by the amount of the waiver.

• What is included in Box 5 Scholarships or Grants of the 1098-T?

  The total amount of any scholarships or grants administered and processed by Oklahoma State University during the calendar year for the payment of the student’s cost of attendance (which includes non-qualified expenses such as books, room and board). Scholarships and grants include payments received from 3rd parties (excluding family members and loan proceeds). This includes payments received from governmental and private entities such as the Department of Defense, civic, and religious organizations, and nonprofit entities. This includes payments received from governmental and private entities such as the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, civic, and religious organizations, and nonprofit entities. Tuition/Fee waivers are reported in Box 1 as a reduction to tuition and fees.

• Why isn’t my Oklahoma’s Promise award showing as a reduction to my tuition and fees, instead of as a scholarship?

  Your Oklahoma’s Promise award is scholarship (not a tuition waiver) up to the amount of your tuition; however, it can be used to pay other charges when the tuition is paid by another source.  Tuition waivers can only be applied to tuition.

• I am looking at my 1098-T and I don’t see what I spent on books.

  The information on this form is what is required by OSU to report to the Internal Revenue Service.  We do not report your expenditures on books. You may want to speak with your accountant, tax preparer, or the Internal Revenue Service about your book expenditures and how they relate to your tax preparation.

• I’m a parent. Can I have my student’s 1098-T form sent to me?

  Students may authorize users to view the form. Students login to Student Self-Service, click on OSU Stillwater/Tulsa Bursar Account under Quick Links. Click on the Authorized User tab at the top of the page. Enter the authorized user email address and click Yes to the questions listed. The authorized user receives two emails; the first is an email acknowledging the authorized user; the second email is the temporary password. Once both emails are received, the authorized user must go online to the bursar website and click on the authorized user link to access. The 1098-T statement is located on the eBills screen just below 1098-T Tax Statement.

   

  If you are not an authorized user, the student is responsible for providing information to other parties in accordance with FERPA (Family Education Right to Privacy Act).

• I did not receive (or lost) my 1098-T form. Where can I get another one?

  Online through Student Self-Service. Under Quick Links, click OSU Stillwater/Tulsa Bursar Account.

• How is the information on my 1098-T form useful to me?

  It provides you and your tax preparer with information on amounts which may reduce your tax liability.

• How does this affect my taxes?

  Consult your accountant, tax preparer, or Internal Revenue Service on which amounts you can include for tax purposes.

• How much can I deduct from my taxes?

  Consult your accountant, tax preparer, or the Internal Revenue Service for that information.

• Where on my tax form do I put this information?

  You may obtain information from your accountant, tax preparer, or Internal Revenue Service about the Hope Credit and Lifetime Learning Credit for higher education expenses.

• Where can I find a record of the payments I made?

  Your monthly billing statements contain payments made and are available on-line.  You need to log into Student Self-Service and under Quick Links, click on OSU Stillwater/Tulsa Bursar Account.  Once logged in, click on the Bursar Services link located under the Payment Info header. Click on the eStatements link at the top.  A drop down menu will appear allowing you to select statements for the billing period you wish to view.  Dependent upon when you made your payments, you may have to view several statements.