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The Daily Insight

Do I have to do anything with my 1098-T?

Author

Sarah Duran

Published Feb 11, 2026

No, you don’t have to report your 1098-T, not unless you want to claim an education credit. However if your grant/scholarship amount (box 5) is more than your tuition (box 1/box 2) you may want to report it because excess scholarship money may be treated as taxable income on your return.

What is included on a 1098-T?

A form 1098-T, Tuition Statement, is used to help figure education credits (and potentially, the tuition and fees deduction) for qualified tuition and related expenses paid during the tax year. You can claim the $2,500 American Opportunity Credit for each qualifying student on your federal income tax return.

What does box 4 show on a 1098-T?

Box 4. Shows any adjustment made by an eligible educational institution for a prior year for qualified tuition and related expenses that were reported on a prior year Form 1098-T. This amount may reduce any allowable education credit that you claimed for the prior year (may result in an increase in tax liability for the year of the refund).

Who is required to send out 1098-T form?

Who gets the 1098-T form. Schools must send Form 1098-T to any student who paid “qualified educational expenses” in the preceding tax year. Qualified expenses include tuition, any fees that are required for enrollment, and course materials required for a student to be enrolled.

What happens if you claim tuition on a prior year 1098-T?

Shows any adjustment made for a prior year for qualified tuition and related expenses that were reported on a prior year Form 1098-T. This amount may reduce any allowable education credit that you claimed for the prior year (may result in an increase in tax liability for the year of the refund).

Can a Penn student use a 1098-T?

Penn does not provide a 1098-T to non-resident aliens, or any student whose qualified charges are fully funded by grant, scholarship or tuition waivers, or any student who was enrolled in non-credit courses during the academic year.