Do I need 1098T to file my taxes?

[gabrielmendoza19]

The university did not give me the 1098T form. Do I need to do my taxes?

[Hal_Al]

Q.  Do I need 1098T to file my taxes?

A. Simple answer: no.

 But, maybe.  Are you the student or the parent of a student-dependent?

The 1098-T is only an informational document. The numbers on it are not required to be entered onto your tax return. However receipt of a 1098-T frequently means you are either eligible for a tuition credit or deduction or possibly your 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)

You claim the tuition credit, or report scholarship income, based on your own financial records, not the 1098-T. 

[ColeenD3]

No, but it would be helpful to have one. You can file an extension and request it from your school. You can still go to the Education Credit section and enter your information.

[Hal_Al]

If you don't have 1098-T and you can't get one from you on-line account school usually means the school wasn't required to issue one. And that usually means you qualify for an exception and you do not need a 1098-T to enter your tuition and other expenses in TurboTax.  

But, it also, frequently, means your tuition was covered by grants and you don't qualify for a credit.