1098T Frequently Asked Questions

1. Q1:  What is a Form 1098T and why do I need one?
2. Q2:  When will I receive my 1098T?
3. Q3:  What address will my 1098T be mailed to?
4. Q4:  How can I get a duplicate copy of my 1098T?
5. Q5:  My name or social security number are incorrect on my 1098T.  How can I have this corrected?
6. Q6:  Why is box 1 blank on my 1098T form?
7. Q7:  What does an amount in box 4 mean?
8. Q8:  What does an amount if box 5 mean?
9. Q9:  What does an amount in box 6 mean?
10. Q10:  What charges are considered "qualified" or "eligible" for reporting in Box 2?
11. Q11:  Why are my Spring 2008 charges not showing up on my 1098T?
12. Q12:  I am a parent.  Can I receive a copy of my child's 1098T form?
13. Q13:  My tax preparer and I have questions regarding how to use the 1098-T form in preparing my tax return.  Who can I contact for assistance with completing my tax return?
14. Q14:  I still have questions that you haven't addressed here.  Who at Trinity can I contact?

 A1:  The 1098-T form is a "Tuition Payment Statement" that all higher educational institutions are required to provide to eligible students and to the IRS.  Higher education costs may be eligible for tax benefits, and students are provided with the 1098-T form to assist in the preparation of your 2008 tax return. 

A2:  All 1098-T forms will be mailed to students by January 31, 2009. 

A3:  Your 1098-T form will be mailed to the permanent address on your student account.  This is the same address that you receive other Trinity mailings, such as statements and payment arrangements information.

A4:  If you did not receive the 1098-T form, or need a duplicate form, please go to the website of our service provider at www.tsc1098t.com.  

Trinity's site ID is 10436, which is needed to log in to the website.  Using your powercampus ID as the ID, and the last four digits of your social security number as the password, you will be able to print out a duplicate form for your records. 

NOTE:  If you do not know your Powercampus ID, please log into IQ Web and click on "Unofficial Transcript."  Your Powecampus ID is shown as "ID" at the top of the page.  If you do not have an IQWeb account, or are unable to log onto the www.tsc1098t.com website, please contact the  Business Office here.

A5:  Contact the Business Office here.  The Business Office will correct your information online within 48 hours of your request, and then you can go to www.tsc1098t.com to print out a corrected form.

A6:  Payments received for qualified tuition and related expenses will be blank for all Trinity students.  Colleges and Universities are directed to choose a method of reporting, etiher by reporting the payments received for qualified tuition in Box 1 or be reporting the amounts billed for qualified tuition and related expenses in Box 2.  Trinity has chosen the second method.  This does not mean that your "payments received for qualified tuition and related expenses" are zero.  To review all payments and other credits applied to your account during the calendar year, please review your account in IQWeb.

A7:  Box 4, "Adjustments made for a prior year" shows an amount if qualified tuition and related expenses that were reported on a 1098-T form for a prior year were subsequently adjusted or reduced during 2008.

A8:  Box 5, "Scholarships or grants" shows the net amount of certain forms of educational assistance that was received or applied to your student account between January 2008 and December 2008, regardless of the term for which the funds were originally intended. 

A9:  Box 6, "Adjustments to Scholarships or Grants for a Prior Year" shows an amount if scholarships or grants that were reported on a 1098-T for a prior year year were subsequently adjusted or reduced in 2008.

A10:  Eligible or qualified charges are any tuition charges plus the student activity fees, laboratory fees, graduation fees, and enrollment fees.  All other charges to your student account, including room and board, are not considered eligible charges.

A11: Students automatically charge their accounts by registering for classes.  If you registered for Spring 2008 during the regular registration period (typically November and December 2007), you charged your account at that time, making those charges eligible to claim the previous years.  These would have been reflected on the 2007 1098-T.  Similarly, if you have altready registered for Spring 2009, these charges will be included on this year's 1098-T form.

A12:  Students must make all information requests.  The student is responsible for providing information to other parties in accordance with FERPA (Family Education Right to Privacy Act).  See http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html.

A13:  Trinity employees are not authorized to offer any personal tax advice.  Please address all questions and concerns regarding personal tax matters to a tax consultant/advisor or the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040.  Alternatively, you may want to consult the following websites before calling the IRS:

• www.irs.gov  (Type 1098-T in search box)
• www.nasfaa.org/AnnualPubs/TaxBenefitsGuide.html
• www.ed.gov/updates/97918tax.html

A14:  The Trinity Business Office is responsible for the generation of the 1098-T forms.  For all questions and concerns regarding your 1098-T form, please complete the following form, and a member of the Trinity Business Office will get back in touch with you within 48 hours of receipt

Please note that we are unable to provide an immediate response to your 1098-T inquiry, so please ensure that you have your questions answered prior to your appointment with your tax preparer.  Thank you.