Q. Do I need to contact the university to get the form 1098-T?
A. No.
The 1098-T is only an informational document. The numbers on it are not required to be entered onto your tax return.
Q. Does it even matter?
A. Maybe. Receipt of a 1098-T frequently means you are either eligible for a tuition credit or possibly the student has taxable scholarship income.
If you claim the tuition credit, you do need to report that you got one or that you qualify for an exception (the TurboTax interview will handle this).
Frequently, the last term (spring) of college is paid for in December of the previous year and therefore there are no qualifying expenses for which to claim a credit.
You need to decide if you have anything to claim. You claim the tuition credit, or report scholarship income, based on your own financial records, not the 1098-T. In the 1098-T screen, click on the link "What if this is not what I paid the school" underneath box 1. You will then be able to enter the actual amounts paid. You will also reach a screen that allows you to adjust the scholarship amount for "amounts not awarded for 2023 expenses".
