WHATS A 1098 FORM

[esantacruz1120]

WHY DO I NEED TO FILE IT

[AlanT222]

There are various 1098 forms.  

The most common 1098 forms are:

Form 1098 Mortgage Interest Statement is used by lenders to report the amounts paid by a borrower if it is $600 or more in interest, mortgage insurance premiums, or points during the tax year.

Form 1098-T, Tuition Statement, is used to help figure education credits (and potentially, the tuition and fees deduction) for qualified tuition and related expenses paid during the tax year. The Lifetime Learning Credit offers up to $2,000 for qualified education expenses paid for all eligible students per return.

Form 1098-E, interest on qualified student loans.  You may be able to deduct some or even all of that interest on your federal income tax return. Student loan companies use IRS Form 1098-E to report how much you paid in interest.

[Hal_Al]

You  are asking in the education section.  Do you mean form1098  (mortgage interest) of form 1098-T (Tuition).  Either way, you not required to file it.

Claiming mortgage interest is optional as it is only an itemized deduction.

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.