To get your 1098-T form online, log into your school's student portal or billing system, as colleges are required by the IRS to provide it electronically by January 31 for the prior tax year. You'll typically need your student ID, SSN/ITIN, or account credentials to access it.

Why You Need It

The 1098-T reports tuition payments and scholarships, helping claim education credits like the American Opportunity Credit on your taxes. Not all students receive one—if you had no reportable qualified expenses, your school might skip mailing or emailing it. Check your portal anyway, as it's often available even without notification.

Step-by-Step Access Guide

Follow these general steps, adapted from common university processes (exact details vary by school):

  1. Visit your school's student account portal (e.g., MITPay, CalCentral, or Heartland ECSI)—search "[your school] 1098-T" on their site.
  2. Log in with your student ID as username and SSN last four digits (or temporary password like 0000 if no SSN).
  3. Navigate to tax forms —select the tax year (e.g., 2025 forms available now in January 2026).
  4. Download or print —disable pop-up blockers if needed; save as PDF for your records.
  5. If stuck, contact support —email your bursar office or call their helpline (e.g., TAB Services at 888-220-2540 for UC Berkeley).

Common Portals| Login Details| Years Available
---|---|---
MITPay/ECSI 1| Student login; post-2020 via ECSI| 2020+
TAB Services (UC Berkeley) 5| Site ID 11554, Student ID, SSN last 4| Current + 2 prior
TSC (Contra Costa) 3| www.tsc1098t.com, Site ID 10298, 7-digit ID| Post-Jan 31
General IRS tip 9| Fillable Copy B at IRS.gov/Form1098T| Current year

Troubleshooting Tips

No access to old portal? Many schools offer prior years via third-party sites like Heartland ECSI—email [[email protected]](mailto:sfs@your- school.edu). International students: Submit ITIN via W-9S form to Admissions first. Paper copy mailed if you didn't opt for e-delivery, arriving 1-2 weeks post-January 31.

Recent forum chatter: Reddit users in r/IRS note delays for 2025 forms but confirm portals work—double-check email notifications from your school. No major trending issues as of January 2026.

Not seeing it? You might not qualify (e.g., no tuition paid), but download anyway for taxes. Schools like Relay.edu advise checking regardless.

TL;DR: Portal login is fastest—search your school's site today for 2025 forms. Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.