Q. As a student, am I REQUIRED to file my 1098-T form?
A. No.
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 possibly the student has taxable scholarship income.
You claim the tuition credit, or report scholarship income, based on your own financial records, not the 1098-T. If you are a dependent, and your parent claims the tuition credit, on their return, that could mean the qualified expenses (box 1 of the 10980T) have to be adjusted, possibly making some of the box 5 scholarship, taxable on your return.
