1098-Ts will be provided by January 31st.
1098-T Electronic Consent
Rensselaer has partnered with Heartland ECSI to offer students the opportunity to receive their 1098-T Tuition Statement electronically. Please visit http://www.heartland.ecsi.net/index.main.html#/access/eConsent to consent to electronic delivery.
If electronic consent is not received by January 1st, the 1098-T will be mailed to the student's permanent address on file as of the date the 1098-T is created. Unfortunately, consent after January 1st cannot be retroactively applied for the prior tax year.
For electronic access to your form, you need to register for an account with Heartland if consent was not received prior to January 1st. See: How can I access my form 1098-T? below.
Tax Credits
Two tax credits, the American Opportunity Tax Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit, took effect to help families reduce out-of-pocket expenses for tuition and certain expenses paid to a post-secondary institution that participates in federal student aid programs.
The American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) is a credit for qualified education expenses paid for an eligible student for the first four years of higher education. You can get a maximum annual credit of $2,500 per eligible student. If the credit brings the amount of tax you owe to zero, you can have 40 percent of any remaining amount of the credit (up to $1,000) refunded to you.
The amount of the credit is 100 percent of the first $2,000 of qualified education expenses you paid for each eligible student and 25 percent of the next $2,000 of qualified education expenses you paid for that student.
The Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC) is for qualified tuition and related expenses paid for eligible students enrolled in an eligible educational institution. This credit can help pay for undergraduate, graduate and professional degree courses — including courses to acquire or improve job skills. There is no limit on the number of years you can claim the credit. It is worth up to $2,000 per tax return.
Frequently Asked Questions
Go to: https://heartland.ecsi.net/index.main.html#/access/lookup
Type your school name under the school name box. Select your school and click "Submit".
There are three steps to access your 1098-T tax form.
Step 1: Create a Profile
You will need to create a profile to connect an account and access your 1098-T tax form. See
Create a Profile below for step-by-step instructions.
If you already have a profile, you can skip Step 1 and go directly to Step 2 to connect your tax
form account to your existing profile.
Step 2: Sign In To Your Profile
Now that you have created your profile, you will need to sign in to the profile to complete step 3
of this process. See Sign In To Your Profile for step-by-step instructions.
Step 3: Connect an Account
Once you have created a profile, you will need to connect your tax form account to your profile.
See Connect An Account for step-by-step instructions.
IMPORTANT! You will need your Heartland Account Number to connect your account.
If you signed up to receive your tax form electronically (completed the electronic consent
application) prior to receiving your tax form, your Heartland Account Number will be located in
the email communication you received from ECSI on behalf of your school. If you cannot locate
this email, you will need to call our Contact Center at (866) 428-1098 to get your Heartland
Account Number over the phone or have the email resent to you.
If you received a printed tax form that was mailed to your address, you will need to call our
Contact Center at (866) 428-1098. Once you have verified your identity, we can either provide
your Heartland Account Number over the phone or we can send an email with your Heartland
Account Number to you.
How to...
Create A Profile
To create a profile, click on the Sign In | Register link in the top right of the web page. Go to the
Register and Create A New Profile area on the right side of the page. Follow the instructions
below.
Step 1: Think of the username you want to use and enter it in the Username field. Then think of
a password you want to use and enter it in the Password field. You will need to re-enter the
Password in the Confirm Password field. Click on the Continue button.
Step 2: Enter your contact information including your first and last name, date of birth, phone
number, and email address. Click on the Continue button.
Step 3: Enter your address including street, city, state and zip code. Click on the Continue
button.
Step 4: Select three (3) security questions and enter your security answers. Check the
reCAPTCHA checkbox and click on the Save Your Profile button.
When your profile is successfully created, you will be returned to the Sign In page.
Sign In To Your Profile
To sign in to your profile, click on the Sign In | Register link in the top right of the web page. Go
to the Sign In To An Existing Profile area on the left side of the page. Follow the instructions
below.
Step 1: Enter your username and password. Click on the Continue button.
Step 2: Choose how you want to receive your verification code. Check the reCAPTCHA
checkbox and click on the Send Verification Code button.
NOTE: You can receive the code via text if you entered a mobile number for your profile.
Otherwise, you can receive your verification code via automated call or email.
Step 3: Enter the verification code that you received in the Verification Code field. Click on the
Continue button.
When you have successfully completed the Sign In process, you will be directed to the Your
School Accounts page. This is where you will need to connect your tax form account to your
profile to view or print your 1098-T(s)t.
Connect An Account
To connect an account to your profile, use the following steps.
IMPORTANT! You will need your Heartland Account Number to connect your account.
Step 1: Click on the Connect An Account tile from the Your School Accounts page.
Step 2: On the right side of the page, enter your Heartland Account Number and click the
Continue button.
If ECSI’s information matches the information in your profile, your tax form account will be
connected to your profile. If ECSI’s information only partially matches your information in your
profile, you will be prompted to enter additional points of verification. If ECSI’s information does
not match the information in your profile, you will be directed to call our Contact Center at (866)
428-1098.
If you signed up to receive your tax form electronically (completed the electronic consent
application) prior to receiving your tax form, your Heartland Account Number will be located in
the email communication you received from ECSI on behalf of your school. If you cannot locate
this email, you will need to call our Contact Center at (866) 428-1098 to get your Heartland
Account Number over the phone or have the email resent to you.
If you received a printed tax form that was mailed to your address, you will need to call our
Contact Center at (866) 428-1098. Once you have verified your identity, we can either provide
your Heartland Account Number over the phone or we can send an email with your Heartland
Account Number to you.
Amounts Paid for Qualified Tuition and Related Expenses (QTRE)
BOX 1 of IRS Form 1098-T reports the qualified tuition and related expenses as defined by the IRS paid during the calendar year. Sometimes this is referred to as qualified education expenses, although the two are not always interchangeable. Consult a tax professional for an explanation.
Please note, IRS Publication 970 states that "the amount on form 1098-T might be different from the amount you actually paid and are deemed to have paid." Further IRS Form 8863 instructions state that "The amount of qualified Tuition and related expenses reported on Form 1098-T may not reflect the total amount of the qualified tuition and related expenses paid during the year for which you may claim the tax credit. You may include qualified tuition and related expenses that are not reported on IRS Form 1098-T when claiming one of the related credits if you can substantiate payment of these expenses."
Qualified Tuition and Related Expenses INCLUDED
- Tuition
- Activity Fees
- Health Center Fee
- Freshman Orientation Fee (if applicable)
Please note that the timing of each charge and payment/scholarship are important regarding which year they are reported in. Most students have charges assessed in December for the Spring term which begins in the next calendar year. During the tax year, many students had payments larger than their QTRE, the BOX 1 amount may have Spring QTRE included in the 1098-T calculation. Also, in many of those same circumstances, the student also received scholarships and grants for Spring that did not post until January. This may cause the 1098-T to have a lesser amount or zero in BOX 1, but BOX 5 would be populated. Please consult a tax preparer regarding what this means to your individual tax situation.
Adjustments Made for a Prior Year
BOX 4 of IRS Form 1098-T reports adjustments made to qualified tuition and related expenses calculated in a prior year. The amount reported in Box 4 represents a reduction in tuition billed during a prior calendar year. For example, if you were billed in December and later had a reduction in the QTRE charges in the tax year (i.e. withdrawal, courses dropped), Box 4 reports the decrease in billed tuition due to the withdrawal or drop. The amount reported in Box 4 for adjustments to qualified tuition and related expenses may reduce any allowable education credit you may claim for the prior year. See your tax advisor and/or IRS Form 8863/IRS Publication 970 for more information.
Note: It is possible for the other boxes to be empty and only have a number in BOX 4. This means, as stated above, that there was a reduction in qualified tuition and related expenses calculated on the 1098-T that was reduced after December 31st but had no other reportable activity for the tax year. Please consult a tax advisor and/or IRS Form 8863 and IRS Publication 970 for assistance.
Scholarships and/or Grants
BOX 5 of IRS Form 1098-T reports the total of third-party sponsorships, scholarships or grants administered or processed by the Office of the Bursar and/or the Office of Financial Aid during the calendar year.
Please note that the timing of each charge and scholarship are important regarding which year they are reported in. Most students have charges assessed in December for the Spring term which begins in the next calendar year. During the tax year, many students had payments larger than their QTRE, the BOX 1 amount may have Spring QTRE included in the 1098-T calculation. Also, in many of those same circumstances, the student also received scholarships and grants for Spring that did not post until January. This may cause the 1098-T to have a lesser amount or zero in BOX 1 but BOX 5 would be populated. Please consult a tax preparer regarding what this means to your individual tax situation.
Per IRS instruction, Veteran's Education Benefit amounts received are included in BOX 5.
Adjustments to Scholarships or Grants For a Prior Year
BOX 6 of IRS Form 1098-T reports adjustments made to scholarships or grants reported on a prior year Form 1098-T that was in BOX 5. The amount reported in BOX 6 represents a reduction in scholarships or grants reported for a prior calendar year. The amount reported in BOX 6 for adjustments to scholarships or grants may affect the amount of the education credit you may claim for the prior year. See IRS Form 8863 for how to report these amounts.
Additional Information Reported
BOX 7 indicates, if checked, that BOX 1 includes amounts for an academic period beginning in the next year. For example, if you registered and/or paid for the upcoming Spring Semester during December, this box will be marked.
BOX 8 shows whether you are considered to be at least one-half of the normal full-time workload for at least one academic period during the calendar year.
BOX 9 shows whether you are considered to be enrolled in a program leading to a graduate level degree or certificate.
Additionally, the links below may be helpful in understanding the instructions, purpose, and applicability of the 1098-T for your individual tax situation. All information that Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute can provide you is either on the 1098-T form or is included on this webpage. We are not allowed to discuss tax implications, how this form may relate to you, or give tax advice. Please consult your tax preparer with all questions related to this document. Some helpful links to the IRS at the bottom of this page may provide more information related to how form 1098-T may affect you. Please seek guidance from a tax professional.
Only taxpayers qualify for these credits. If you do not pay taxes and are claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax return, they may qualify for a credit.
There are certain limitations specific to each of these credits. The college you attend cannot determine if you qualify for one of these tax credits or the amount of the credit due you. If you believe you might qualify, you should obtain the following and review all the criteria carefully.
The tax credit amounts are determined by the amount you paid for eligible tuition and related expenses and your income.
https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/education-credits-aotc-llc
IRS Publication 970 explains which tuition and fee expenses qualify and which payments qualify for the tax credits.
To receive either tax credit, you must account for and document the amount you have paid for tuition and expenses on IRS Form 8863 and file it with your federal income tax return. You do not file Form 1098-T with your tax records.
We provide Form 1098-T to document your enrollment, whether or not you are a graduate student and summary financial information. To calculate your tax credit, refer to your own records (tuition bills, receipts etc.) and consult IRS Publication 970 or your tax professional. Keep Form 1098-T with your tax records.
See IRS Publication 970 and IRS Form 8863 for more information. To obtain copies, call 800/TAX-FORM or go to www.irs.ustreas.gov. You may also want to consult a professional tax advisor or resource.