If box 1 is blank on form 1098 but my statement from the lender shows mortgage interest paid last year as a number. Which number do I put down?

[KrisD]

First, it will only matter if you itemize, so if you'll be using the standard deduction, you needed worry about it. 

Next, I would call the Lender and ask why the amount is not in box 1. The 1098 is one of the forms that the IRS matches in their system, so you don't want to alter it.