Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997
Information on Education Tax Credits
In an effort to make college more affordable, Congress passed the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (TRA97) and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) establishing the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit and the American Opportunity Credit. Both of these credits are limited by taxpayer income. If students are eligible, they will need the information reported onForm 1098-Tto help compute these credits. Southern Oregon University mails this form to all students by January 31 of the following calendar year. This information is also available on InsideSOU on January 31 after the end of the tax year.
American Opportunity Tax Credit
The American Opportunity Credit provides a tax credit to taxpayers who pay qualified tuition and related expenses (including books) for attending an eligible institution for at least one term on at least a half-time basis. This credit is designed to offset tuition costs incurred during the first four years of college. The individual tax filer can use it for only four years for each eligible student. This credit is computed on qualified tuition and related expenses (including books) paid during the calendar yearminus certain grants, scholarships, and other tax-free educational assistance.The maximum tax credit is $2,500 per student and 40% of this credit is refundable for most taxpayers. This means you can get money back even if you owe no taxes. If you qualify, this credit can be claimed on your federal tax return. For more information about this tax credit, you can visit the ARRA information center atirs.govor call 1.800.829.1040 .
Lifetime Learning Tax Credit
Like the Hope Scholarship Credit, the Lifetime Learning Credit provides a tax credit to taxpayers who pay qualified tuition and related expenses to an eligible institution. It differs from the Hope Scholarship: the student is not required to attend at least half time. A family may claim a credit of up to $2,000 per tax year. The Lifetime Learning tax credit is available for tuition and related expenses paid during the calendar yearminus certain grants, scholarships, and other tax-free educational assistance.
Are you eligible for a tax credit?
You may be eligible for a tax credit for tuition paid, minus certain financial aid received. IRS regulations limit eligibility based on hours completed, hours enrolled, and income of the taxpayer. Be sure to read “Instructions for Student” on your hard-copyForm 1098-T. Contact your tax preparer, call the IRS (800-829-1040), and/or consultIRS Publication 970, “Tax Benefits for Education.”
If you decide to claim education tax credits, you will need to completeIRS Form 8863.
Form 1098-T and your SOU Account
The information reported on Form 1098-T refers to all activity that posted onto your SOU account in the calendar year indicated on the form. Note: calendar year activity will include all charges and payments for the winter, spring, summer and fall terms plus any amount charged at the end of the calendar year (i.e. in December) for the following winter term.
SOU reports the “Amountspaid for qualified tuition and related expenses” in Box 1. We are required to report information for “Adjustments made for a prior year” in Box4 and “Adjustments to scholarships or grants for a prior year” in Box 6. If your Form 1098-T displays figures in Boxes4 and/or 6, be sure to read the information about these boxes on the back of the Form 1098-T.Scholarships and grants are reported in box 5.
Southern Oregon University mails this form to all students no later than January 31st of the following calendar year.
Online Access
You can view a representation of this form and get additional detail about your SOU account online starting on January 31:
- Log on toInsideSOU
- Click on the Student and Registration tools in the online service box
- In the billing account box, click on Tax Notification
- Enter the tax year
- Click the Submit button
If you have questions about the information provided on the Form 1098-T contact:
Southern Oregon University
Raider Student Services, Computing Services Building
Phone: 541.552.6598
Fax: 541-552-6614
E-mail:studentservices@sou.edu
Social Security Number
SOU is required to provide the IRS the name and social security number of all enrolled students who take a class for credit. If the social security number is incorrect, you will need to complete IRS Form W-9S and submit the form to Southern Oregon University, Raider Student Services Office, Computing Services Building, 1250 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520.
Tax Advice
SOU cannot provide tax advice.
Be sure to read “Instructions for Student” on your hard-copy of Form 1098-T.
If you have tax-related questions:
- contact your tax preparer
- call the IRS (800-829-1040)
- and/or consult IRS Publication 970, “Tax Benefits for Education.”
IRS Forms
If you decide to claim education tax credits, you will need IRS Form 8863.
If your social security number is incorrect on Form 1098-T, you need IRS Form W-9S.
