Tax incentives exist for families who are saving for college, are already paying for college, or who are repaying student loans. The 1098-T tax form is provided for your use in preparing your tax returns. It is the taxpayer’s responsibility to determine eligibility for any tax credits. Visit the IRS Tax Benefits for Education Information Center for more information.

Social Security Number/Tax Identification Number Requirement

Students are required to provide a Social Security number (SSN) or Taxpayer Identification number (TIN) to the University of Colorado Boulder for tax purposes (Section 6109 of the Internal Revenue Code). If we do not have a U.S. SSN or TIN for you, the Office of the Registrar will send you an email twice a year requesting that you mail, fax or hand-deliver a completed and signed Social Security Number/Taxpayer Identification Number Update Form  to the Office of the RegistrarDo not email SSN/TIN information. Email is not secure.

What We Report on the 1098-T Form

We report Qualified Tuition and Related Expenses paid (Box 1). We are required to indicate whether the student was enrolled at least half time for one semester during the calendar year. The IRS also requires the university to indicate if the student was enrolled exclusively in graduate level courses. If this indicator is marked, it could mean the student is not eligible for the American Opportunity Credit. For more information, please consult a tax advisor.

For details, see 1098-T Boxes Explained and FAQs.