@Mike Section 212 of the 2015 PATH Act actually eliminated the option to use box 2 (...is amended by striking ‘‘or the aggregate amount billed’’ [ refers to box 2 ]). However, a grace period was given in which no penalties would be applied and the option was left on the form so some schools continued to use it.
See <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/a-16-17.pdf">https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/a-16-17.pdf</a>
The grace period for penalties was supposed to be only for 2016 but the form was left the same for 2017 (it's unclear if educational institutions will actually face the stiff penalties they could receive - I suspect they won't). However, for 2018, box 2 is going to be greyed out on the Form 1098-T and it will say reserved instead - meaning they won't be able to use it. You can see the new instructions for Form 1098-T here -
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1098et.pdf">https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1098et.pdf</a> (page 4)
