Tax Info

1098-T tax forms are available in Buff Portal

If you are a parent or family member claiming a student for tax purposes, the students must download the 1098-T form and send it to you.

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. Students who are being claimed by family or someone else for tax purposes can download the form and send it to that person. Visit the IRS Tax Benefits for Education Information Center for more information.

Are you eligible?

You can use the IRS’s Interactive Tax Assistant tool to help determine if you’re eligible for educational credits or deductions, including the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) or the Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC).

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.

How to Get the 1098-T Form

1098-T forms will be in Buff Portal by Jan. 31. No forms are mailed. (See Consent to Conduct Business Electronically.)

  1. Students log in to Buff Portal and search for "1098t."
  2. Click “View/Download 1098T.”
  3. Click on the year you want.
  4. Select the form you want to see and click "View."
  5. You may need to disable the pop-up blocker on your browser to access the form.

If you are a parent or family member claiming a student for tax purposes, your student can download the 1098-T form and send it to you.

International Students

  • 1098-T forms are not automatically generated for international students in the United States on a temporary visa. If you need one, you can request a 1098-T in the Bursar's Office.
  • If you have received a 1042-S form, you do not need to call the Bursar's Office. Instead, see 1042-S Form (Nonresident International Employee Tax Statement) on the Employee Services website.

See Income Tax Obligations of International Students and Scholars.

Social Security Number/Tax Identification Number Requirement

Students are required by federal law (Section 6109 of the Internal Revenue Code) to provide a Social Security number (SSN) or Taxpayer Identification number (TIN) to the University of Colorado Boulder for tax purposes. 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 or secure document upload a signed Social Security Number/Taxpayer Identification Number Update Form to the Office of the Registrar.

Do not email SSN/TIN information. Email is not secure.

1098-E Form

The IRS requires lenders and student loan servicers to mail 1098-E Forms by January 31. 1098-E Forms are not issued by the University of Colorado. Contact your lender or student loan servicer if you have questions. You can find your lender/servicer on the National Student Loan Data System or at studentaid.gov. Learn more About 1098-E Forms or contact a tax advisor for help regarding your specific situation.

Disclaimer

  • The University of Colorado does not provide tax advice. Please contact a tax advisor regarding your specific situation.
  • See Form 8863, Education Credits (American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning Credits) for more information regarding education tax credits.
  • The information provided here may not reflect recent revisions in IRS regulations. See irs.gov for information about the current tax year. For advice regarding your specific situation, contact a tax professional.