Student Tax Form FAQs

Understanding Your 1098-T Tax Form

Each year, Glen Oaks Community College provides eligible students with a 1098-T form, which reports payments made for qualified tuition and related expenses. This form is designed to help you—and your tax preparer—determine eligibility for education-related tax credits. Because tax rules can be confusing, we’ve answered the most common questions students ask about the 1098-T process. Whether you're accessing your form online, figuring out what's included in Box 1, or understanding why a particular semester wasn’t counted, the FAQs below will walk you through it step by step.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I access my 1098-T information online?

  1. Go to glenoaks.edu
  2. Log in to myGOCC
  3. Select Tax Information
  4. Consent to receive the form online
  5. Choose the 2024 tax year
  6. Make sure pop-up blockers are turned off so the form can open and print

How is the amount in Box 1 determined?

Box 1 reflects payments received in 2024 that were applied to qualified tuition and related fees charged by the college during that same calendar year (January 1 to December 31). Housing is not considered a qualified expense according to IRS regulations.

Why didn’t the form include what I paid for Winter 2024?

Winter semester tuition is typically billed in November or December of the previous year. If you registered early, those charges would have been included on your 2023 1098-T form.

What is reported in Box 1?

Box 1 includes payments made between January 1 and December 31, 2024, up to the total amount of qualified tuition and fees charged during that year.

Payments may include:

  • Personal payments (cash, check, credit/debit card)
  • 529 plan or other education savings account payments
  • Payments from third-party sponsors such as the VA or Michigan Works
  • Student loans
  • Grants and scholarships

Any refunds you received or payments that were returned are subtracted from this total.

What is not reported in Box 1?

  • Housing deposits or payments
  • Scholarships or grants applied to housing, meals, or books
  • Tuition and fee waivers (these are recorded as reductions to your total qualified charges)

What are my qualified tuition and related expenses?

Qualified expenses include mandatory tuition and fee charges posted during the 2024 tax year for the Winter 2024 through Winter 2025 terms.

The following are not included:

  • Housing
  • Books
  • Non-mandatory fees

If Winter 2024 charges were billed in 2023, they were included in the 2023 form and will not appear on the 2024 1098-T.

I made more payments than what’s shown in Box 1. Why?

Box 1 will never show more than the total qualified charges billed in 2024. Payments made for prior terms (such as Fall 2023 or early Winter 2024) may have been reported in a different year.

What is reported in Box 5?

Box 5 includes the total amount of grants, scholarships, and third-party payments (such as from the VA or MTIP) that were applied to your account in 2024.

How do I get the deduction on my income tax?

Glen Oaks cannot offer personal tax advice. You may refer to:

Can I request a corrected 1098-T form?

Box 1 is informational. If you believe it is incorrect, file your IRS forms using the amount you believe is accurate and consult your tax advisor.

What are boxes 4 and 6?

These boxes reflect any adjustments or reductions to amounts that were reported on a prior year’s 1098-T form.

Does the 1098-T include charges for books?

No. Glen Oaks does not include book charges in Box 1 or Box 2. Check with your tax preparer to determine whether book purchases may be included elsewhere on your return.

Can I get a paper copy of my 1098-T?

Yes. You can:

  • Print it online through myGOCC
  • Or request a mailed copy by contacting the Senior Accountant

Please allow 7 to 14 days for processing. For your privacy, 1098-T forms cannot be emailed, faxed, or picked up by anyone other than the student.

I graduated in May 2024. Will I receive a 1098-T for 2024?

Possibly not. If your Winter 2024 tuition was billed and paid before December 31, 2023, those payments would have been reported on your 2023 1098-T form.

How do I file my taxes without a 1098-T?

You can still claim education tax credits even without a form. Use your term fee bills to determine:

  • What you paid for qualified tuition and related expenses
  • What you received in grants and scholarships

These are the best source of information for preparing your tax return accurately.

My accountant says the college must provide a 1098-T. Is that true?

Not always. The IRS does not require colleges to issue a 1098-T form if:

  • The courses did not offer academic credit
  • The student is a nonresident alien (unless requested)
  • All qualified charges were paid entirely by scholarships or grants

What about CARES Act funds students received in 2024?

If CARES Act emergency funds were:

  • Not applied to your account balance: they are not taxable and not reported
  • Applied to your student account: they will appear on your 2024 1098-T form

Need assistance?

If you have additional questions about your 1098-T form, please contact:
Student Accounts Office or email the Senior Accountant at Glen Oaks Community College.

We’re here to help you navigate your education tax information with confidence.