1098-T Tax Form

About the 1098-T

NOVA students may be eligible to claim an education tax credit for the tax year. IRS Form 1098-T shows information reported to the IRS regarding billing information from NOVA for education expenses.


The following information is not intended as legal or tax advice. Please refer to a personal tax advisor or the Internal Revenue Service to determine your eligibility for education tax credits.

The Taxpayer Relief Act (TRA) of 1997, created tax benefits for families or students who are paying for higher education or repaying student loans. Through NOVA, students, or the persons who can claim them as dependent, may be able to claim an education credit on Form 1040 or 1040A, only for the qualified tuition and related expenses that were actually paid during a calendar year.

1098-Ts require a valid Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN):

To confirm if your SSN or ITIN is on file and correct, sign into myNOVA, go to your student center in SIS, scroll to the bottom of the page, and click on the Demographic Data link located in the Personal Information section of your Student Center (lower left-hand corner of the page).  Your Social Security number will be visible on the Demographic Data page.  If your SSN or ITIN on file is correct, you have completed this step.  If your SSN is incorrect, click here.

How to validate your mailing address in SIS?

To view your current mailing address, sign into myNOVA and scroll to the bottom of the page. Your mailing address will be visible in the Contact Information section.

To change your mailing address, click on the Mailing Address link located in the Contact Information section of your Student Center, click the EDIT button for your mailing address, enter the necessary corrections and click OK to save your new address.

Who receives a 1098-T?

Students who paid for tuition and fees out-of-pocket, with a college savings plan, or with student loans will be issued a 1098-T. The college is not required to issue a 1098-T when tuition-related expenses are paid entirely with grants, scholarships, or third-party contracts (e.g. your employer).

NOVA is not required to issue a 1098-T to:

  • Students whose qualified tuition and related expenses are entirely waived or paid entirely with scholarships or grants (when Box 5 is greater than Box 2).
  • Students covered by a formal billing arrangement between the institution and an employer or a government entity.
  • Students classified as a Non-Resident Alien by the University Registrar.
  • Students who enrolled and paid for non-credit continuing education courses/workshops.

NOVA is not required by the IRS to file a Form 1098-T for non-resident aliens. These students are exempt because non-resident aliens are not eligible for education tax benefits unless they are residents for tax purposes.

However, NOVA cannot make a definitive determination which international students are residents for tax purposes or non-resident aliens.  Since NOVA cannot make this determination, we generate a 1098-T for all resident and non-resident students, who meet the criteria, even though the student may or may not be eligible for an education tax credit.

All 1098-T forms are required by IRS to be mailed by January 31st.

If you already have an account with Maximus TRA click on the Login button and enter your login information. If this is your first year accessing your 1098-T from the Maximus TRA website, please, click on the First Time Students button. DO NOT enter your Student ID.

  1. Click Next.
  2. Enter and verify your email address.
  3. Create a User ID.
  4. Click Complete Registration.
  5. After receiving a Success message, record your UserID.
  6. A temporary password will be sent to your email. Read the instructions and click on the link.
  7. Answer a challenge question for security purposes.
  8. Set up a new password.
  9. After receiving a success message, log in with your UserID and new Password.
  10. You will be able to view and/or print your 1098-T for the years you had qualifying tuition/fees.

By Mail

NOVA’s 1098-T forms are prepared by our vendor, TRA-Maximus. Forms are mailed to your mailing address on record in SIS. If you have not received your form by February 15, go to TRA-Maximus.  

Online

You can also obtain your current form (along with copies of previous years’ forms) by logging into the TRA-Maximus.

If you have not previously established an account or have only accessed the TRA-Maximus website with a 4 digit “PIN,” click on “First Time Students” and establish an account. You cannot use PINs from previous years to access the site.

The amount in Box 1 is higher than the tuition I paid. Why?

The 1098-T box 1 reflects the total tuition and fee payments applied to the qualified tuition and fee charges.  It does not reflect just the payments made by you.  This amount may include financial aid and/or tuition waivers.

The amount in Box 1 is lower than the tuition I paid. Why?

The 1098-T box 1 only reflects the qualified tuition and fee charges with payments applied against them.  Qualified tuition and fee charges include credit course charges, capital fees, student activity fees, parking infrastructure and class specific fees.

Bookstore charges, fines, non-credit course charges, and miscellaneous fees do not qualify for 1098-T reporting.

Can my parent(s), other individuals who may claim me as a dependent, or my tax preparer receive my 1098-T form directly?

As required by FERPA (Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act of 1974), NOVA and its personnel cannot provide this information directly to parents, other persons who may claim the student as a dependent, or tax preparers. If you are claimed as a dependent on another person's tax return (such as a parent), please give your 1098-T form and Supplemental Information directly to that person.

If I took a continuing education course/workshop at NOVA. Will I receive a 1098-T form?

No, the IRS does not require academic institutions to issue a 1098-T form for any amounts paid for courses for which no academic credit is offered.

1098-T Assistance

For any questions you may have pertaining to 1098Ts, please contact the college tax hotline at 703.323.2402  (select option 2).