Education Tax Credits

IRS Form 1098-T Tax Information

The University of Nebraska will generate IRS Form 1098-T Tuition Statements to all students, as required by Federal Regulations, who were enrolled at the University of Nebraska and have reportable payments during the calendar year. Regulations do not require generation of forms for International Students or for non-credit courses. The 2023 1098-T forms will be mailed to the student’s permanent address by January 31, 2024, unless eConsent was granted in MyBLUE. The University of Nebraska will report this same information to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

If you have further questions, contact University of Nebraska at Kearney Finance Office at (308) 865-8948. The University of Nebraska at Kearney cannot provide tax advice. Taxpayers are directed to publications from the Internal Revenue Service or a tax professional about personal income tax situations. Taxpayers are requested to independently verify all amounts with their records.

View / Print / Grant Electronic Consent - 1098-T Information

1098-T Form can be viewed or printed online on MyBLUE > Student Accounts > 1098T Form. Your Student ID and Password are required to login. As required by FERPA (Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act), the University of Nebraska at Kearney cannot provide this information directly to parents, other persons who may claim the student as a dependent, or tax preparers.

IRS Form 1098-T Explanation

The University of Nebraska must furnish an IRS Form 1098-T Tuition Statement (1098-T), as required by Federal Regulations, to all students who were enrolled at the University of Nebraska and have reportable payments during the calendar year. Regulations do not require generation of forms for International Students or for non-credit courses. As allowed by Federal Regulations, the University of Nebraska has elected to report qualified tuition and related expenses that were paid during the calendar year, rather than the amount that was billed. You, or the person who may claim you as a dependent, may be able to take either the tuition and fees tax deduction or claim an education tax credit on Form 1040 or 1040A for the qualified tuition and related expenses that were actually paid during the calendar year.

Amounts Paid for Qualified Tuition and Related Expenses

Box 1 of Form 1098-T reports the qualified tuition and related expenses paid to you during the calendar year which may be different than the amount billed during the calendar year. You may not be able to take an education tax credit with respect to the entire amount paid and reported in box 1. For the University of Nebraska at Kearney, the following categories of charges are included or not included in qualified tuition and related expenses:

Qualified Tuition and Related Expenses
Included:

  • Tuition
  • Academic Success fee
  • Activity fee
  • Distance Education fee
  • Diversity and Inclusion fee
  • Facility fee
  • ID Card fee
  • Library fee
  • Multicultural fee
  • New Student Enrollment fee
  • Student Events fee
  • Student Records fee
  • Student Union fee
  • Technology fee
  • Undergraduate Research Fellows Program fee
  • Wellness Center fee
  • Course related fees

Not Included:

  • Health & Counseling fee
  • Late Registration fee
  • Late Payment fee
  • Change of Schedule fee
  • International Student fee
  • Withdrawal fee
  • Non-credit course charges
  • Room & Meal charges

Adjustments Made for a Prior Year

Box 4 of Form 1098-T reports adjustments made for qualified tuition and related expenses that were reported on a prior year Form 1098-T. The amount reported in Box 4 represents a reduction in qualified tuition and related expenses paid during a prior calendar year. This amount may reduce any allowable education credit you may claim for the prior year. See IRS Form 8863 or IRS Publication 970 for more information.

Scholarships or Grants

Box 5 of Form 1098-T reports the total of scholarships or grants administered and processed by the University of Nebraska during the calendar year. The amount reported in Box 5 does not include student loans, scholarships, or grants not administered or processed by the University of Nebraska.

The amount of any scholarships or grants reported for the calendar year and other similar amounts not reported (because they are not administered and processed by the University of Nebraska) may reduce the amount of any allowable tuition and fee deduction or education credit that you are entitled to.

Adjustments to Scholarships or Grants for a Prior Year

Box 6 of Form 1098-T reports adjustments made to scholarships or grants that were reported on a prior year Form 1098-T. The amount reported in Box 6 represents a reduction in scholarships or grants awarded during a prior calendar year. This amount may affect the amount of any allowable tuition and fees deduction or education credit you may claim for the prior year. See IRS Form 8863 for how to report these amounts.

Half-time Student Status

Box 8 shows whether you are considered to be carrying at least one-half the normal full-time workload for your course of study at the University of Nebraska for at least one academic period. If this box is marked, you meet one of the requirements for the American Opportunity credit. You do not have to meet the workload requirement to qualify for the tuition and fee deduction or the Lifetime Learning credit.

Graduate Student Status

Box 9 shows whether you are considered to be enrolled in a program leading to a graduate degree, graduate-level certificate, or other recognized graduate-level educational credential. If you are enrolled in a graduate program, you are not eligible for the American Opportunity credit, but you may qualify for the tuition and fee deduction or the Lifetime Learning credit.

View Your 1098-T Information

1098-T Form can be viewed online on MyBLUE > Student Accounts > 1098T Form. Your Student ID and Password are required to login. As required by FERPA (Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act), the University of Nebraska at Kearney cannot provide this information directly to parents, other persons who may claim the student as a dependent, or tax preparers.

View Your Account Details / Payment Information

You can view all account activity on MyBLUE > Student Accounts > Account Detail. Your Student ID and Password are required to login. As required by FERPA (Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act), the University of Nebraska at Kearney cannot provide this information directly to parents, other persons who may claim the student as a dependent, or tax preparers.

Education Tax Credits and Deduction

The University of Nebraska at Kearney cannot provide tax advice. Each student and/or their parents must determine eligibility for the tuition and fees deduction or one of the education credits (American Opportunity Credit or Lifetime Learning Credit).

For information on the education tax credits and deductions, you may check the following resources which can be found at http://www.irs.gov or contact the IRS for telephone assistance, including requesting forms and publications, at 1-800-829-1040.

  • IRS Publication 970 Tax Benefits for Higher Education
  • Form 8863 Education Credits (American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning credits)
  • Instructions for Form 1040 or 1040A

The tax rules regarding eligibility for, calculation of, and limitations on the tuition and fee deduction and education credits can be complex. For this reason, you may want to consult your tax advisor to determine whether you are qualified to claim the education expense tax credits and deduction.