Student Tuition Tax Information (1098-T)

This section provides links to general information about Federal Education Tax Benefits, help on understanding your 1098-T Forms, and navigation to the IRS website for detailed information. If you disagree with the amounts listed on your 1098-T, contact the COCC's Admission and Records Office at 541-383-7500. If you did not receive a copy of your 1098-T, you may print a copy by logging into your Bobcat Web Account and click the '1098-T Notification' link. COCC staff member are not experts on tax return preparation and federal education tax benefits so they cannot provide tax advise but can assist with general questions. 

• Federal Education Tax Benefits

  Each year the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators updates their guide to federal education tax benefits. Outlined is information about tax credits that directly reduce the amount of tax for which a tax filer is liable, and tax deductions that reduce the amount of income on which the filer pays taxes. There is also information about related IRS Publications that may be helpful.

  For more information, go to the IRS website.

• Your 1098-T Forms

  COCC Admissions and Records provides 1098-Ts for the previous calendar year on, or before, January 31. These records are mailed to students. Students and/or bill payers may use the 1098-T information to help calculate their eligibility for tax credits and deductions for the IRS filing year reported on the form.

  *IMPORTANT NOTE* In previous years, your 1098-T included a figure in Box 2 that represented the qualified tuition and related expenses (QTRE) we billed to your student account for the calendar (tax) year. Due to a change to institutional reporting requirements under federal law, beginning with tax year 2018, we will report in Box 1 the amount of QTRE you paid during the year. 

  Depending on your income (or your family's income, if you are a dependent), whether you were considered full or half-time enrolled, and the amount of your qualified educational expenses for the year, you may be eligible for a federal education tax credit. (You can find detailed information about claiming education tax credits in IRS Publication 970, page 9.)

  The dollar amounts reported on your Form 1098-T may assist you in completing IRS Form 8863 - the form used for calculating the education tax credits that a taxpayer may claim as part of your tax return.

  COCC is unable to provide you with individual tax advice, be should you have questions, you should seek the counsel of an informed tax preparer or adviser.

•  Reading the 1098-T

  BOX 1

  Total amount of qualified tuition and related expenses (QTRE) you paid in calendar (tax) year, less any refunds received that year. If payments made in the calendar year exceeded QTRE, Box 1 will not include amounts above QTRE.

  Tuition and fees, such as lab, course, aviation, lesson, and student activity fees are examples of qualified expenses. By regulation, room, board, insurance, transportation, expenses not directly billed (books, supplies, equipment), or other personal expenses cannot be included. Please refer to IRS Publication 970 and IRS Form 8863 to calculate eligibility and/or credits.

  
  
  

  BOX 2

  Not applicable to COCC.
  
  

  BOX 3

  Not applicable to COCC.
  
  

  BOX 4

  This box shows any adjustment made to prior year qualified tuition and related expenses that were reported in the preceding year. This amount may reduce any allowable education credit you may claim.
  
  

  BOX 5

  Reflects scholarships, grants, and payments made by a third party (not your parents or other individual) to the student account as payment toward the cost of attendance. Included are institutional, federal, state and/or private scholarships and/or grants that were posted on the student account.
  
  

  BOX 6

  Reflects the adjustments in your year being reported to grants or scholarships from the calendar year prior to the year being reported.
  
  

  BOX 7

  Is checked if any of the expenses reported in Box 1 related to an academic period that begins in January through March of the year following the year being reported.
  
  

  BOX 8

  Is checked if the student was enrolled half-time or greater in the year being reported. The College checks that box if you were half-time or more for at least one term that began during the year. This information is important in determining eligibility for the American Opportunity Tax Credit. 
  
  

  BOX 9

  No applicable to COCC.
  
  

  BOX 10

  Not applicable to COCC.
  
  

Frequently Asked Questions