Frequently asked questions – tax credit

An educational tax credit directly reduces the amount of your Federal Income Tax. You can report this directly on your IRS Form 1040 or 1040A Income Tax Return without itemizing expenses.

You will be required to complete and attach IRS Form 8863 “Education Credits (American Opportunity and Lifetime Credits)” to your tax return in order to claim either the American Opportunity Tax Credit or the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit.

If you think you are qualified to claim a tax credit:

• Keep receipts of your tuition/fee charges for your own records during each calendar year (see qualified tuition/fee expenses). NAU will also provide a summary of your tuition charges after the end of each calendar year.
• Complete Form W-9S, only if NAU does not have your social security number.
• Please note: If you complete Form W-9S, you MUST attach a copy of your social security card and send it to NAU – do not send to the IRS!
• NAU will send you a Form 1098-T (tuition charged) by January 31, with a summary of your past year’s tuition/fees charges to your permanent address. (Each school attended should send a separate Form 1098-T.)
• Submit these forms and tuition summary to your tax consultant OR if you are preparing your own income tax return, follow the directions in your Form 1040 or Form 1040A instruction booklet. You will be required to attach Form 8863 “Education Credits (American Opportunity and Lifetime Credits)” to your tax return in order to claim these credits.

• View the requirements and instructions for the American Opportunity Tax Credit
• View the requirements and instructions for the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit

IRS Form 1098-T is required to claim your American Opportunity Tax Credit, Lifetime Learning Tax Credit or tuition and fees deduction if you are eligible.

IRS Form 1098-T is provided to all (U.S. citizen) students as a requirement of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997. All post-secondary schools must provide this information to the Internal Revenue Service, so that students (or taxpayers claiming students as dependents) may claim part of their tuition as an educational tax credit on their Federal Income Tax Return.  Beginning in tax year 2002, the IRS does not require post secondary schools to provide or report a 1098-T if total gift aid exceeds tuition.

The top third of the page you receive from NAU is your copy of IRS Form 1098-T. NAU also sends this information directly to the IRS. Do not attach this copy to your Federal Income Tax Return. Beginning tax year 2003, amounts will be reported to the IRS.

• NAU reports payments received (Box #1) rather than amounts billed.

The bottom two-thirds of the page is a summary of your tuition charges for the past tax year – This information is NOT reported to the IRS – It is provided only to assist you in determining your educational tax credit. The summary includes your total tuition paid, gift aid for the past tax year and any prior year adjustments.

IRS Form 1098-E is required to claim your student loan interest deduction, if you are eligible.

IRS Form 1098-E is provided to all (U.S. citizen) students IF they paid $600 or more interest on student loans to a student loan institution. This is a requirement of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997. NAU only records interest paid for Chauncey Loans and Pittman Loans. All other loans are serviced by other loan institutions.

All post-secondary student loan institutions must provide this information to the Internal Revenue Service, so that students (who are NOT claimed as dependents of other taxpayers) may deduct a part of their interest from their Adjusted Gross Income on their Federal Income Tax.

If you receive this form from NAU, the top third of the page is your copy of IRS Form 1098-E. NAU also sends this information directly to the IRS. Do not attach this copy to your Federal Income Tax Return.

The bottom two-thirds of the page is a summary of your interest payments for the past tax year – This information was NOT reported to the IRS – It is provided only to assist you in calculating your student loan interest deduction.

IRS Form W-9S is an IRS Form which you must complete and return to NAU (and any other educational institution that you attended during the tax year) if NAU does not have your social security number.

Please note: If you complete Form W-9S, you MUST attach a copy of your social security card and send it to NAU – Do not send to the IRS!

• IRS Form 1040 or 1040A “U.S. Individual Income Tax Return” and instruction booklet
• IRS Form 8863 “Education Credits (American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning Credits)”

IRS Form W-9S ONLY if NAU does not have your social security number

• See “Resources and Links: Tax Forms, Information, Assistance” to obtain IRS Forms or Publications
• Form W-9S can be printed from the Student and Departmental Account Services website

• Visit the IRS information center to learn how
• Use IRS Publication 970 for information on educational tax credit

You must determine your eligibility for the educational tax credit yourself OR contact your personal tax advisor.

NAU cannot assist you with this personal decision!

• The IRS defines qualified education expenses on their website.

Per IRS regulations, institutions such as NAU are not required to issue a 1098-T for any amounts paid for non credit courses.  Students will need to rely on other records to substantiate their claim for an education credit.