[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 26, Volume 13]
[Revised as of April 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 26CFR]

[Page 384-392]
 
                       TITLE 26--INTERNAL REVENUE
 
    CHAPTER I--INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 
                               (CONTINUED)
 
Procedure and Administration--Table of Contents
 
Sec.  1.6050S-1  Information reporting for qualified tuition and related 
expenses.

    (a) Information reporting requirement--(1) In general. Except as 
provided in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, any eligible educational 
institution (as defined in section 25A(f)(2) and the regulations 
thereunder) (an institution) that enrolls (as determined under paragraph 
(d)(1) of this section) any individual for any academic period (as 
defined in the regulations under section 25A), and any person that is 
engaged in a trade or business of making payments under an insurance 
arrangement as reimbursements or refunds (or other similar amounts) of 
qualified tuition and related expenses (as defined in section 25A(f)(1) 
and the regulations thereunder) (an insurer) must--
    (i) File an information return, as described in paragraph (b) of 
this section, with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) with respect to 
each individual described in paragraph (b) of this section; and
    (ii) Furnish a statement, as described in paragraph (c) of this 
section, to each individual described in paragraph (c) of this section.
    (2) Exceptions--(i) No reporting by institution or insurer for 
nonresident alien individuals. The information reporting requirements of 
this section do not apply with respect to any individual who is a 
nonresident alien (as defined in section 7701(b) and Sec.  301.7701(b)-3 
of this chapter) during the calendar year, unless the individual 
requests the institution or insurer to report. If a nonresident alien 
individual requests an institution or insurer to report, the institution 
or insurer must comply with the requirements of this section for the 
calendar year with respect to which the request is made.
    (ii) No reporting by institutions for noncredit courses--(A) In 
general. The information reporting requirements of this section do not 
apply with respect to any course for which no academic credit is offered 
by the institution.
    (B) Academic credit defined. Academic credit means credit offered by 
an institution for the completion of course work leading toward a post-
secondary degree, certificate, or other recognized post-secondary 
educational credential.
    (C) Example. The following example illustrates the rules of this 
paragraph (a)(2)(ii):

    Example. Student A, a medical doctor, takes a course at University 
X's medical school. Student A takes the course to fulfill State Y's 
licensing requirement that medical doctors attend continuing medical 
education courses each year. Student A is not enrolled in a degree 
program at University X and takes the medical course through University 
X's continuing professional education division. University X does not 
offer credit toward a post-secondary degree on an academic transcript 
for the completion of the course but gives Student A a certificate of 
attendance upon completion. Under this paragraph (a)(2)(ii), University 
X is not subject to the information reporting requirements of section 
6050S and this section for the medical education course taken by Student 
A.

    (iii) No reporting by institutions for individuals whose qualified 
tuition and related expenses are waived or are paid with scholarships. 
The information reporting requirements of this section do

[[Page 385]]

not apply with respect to any individual whose qualified tuition and 
related expenses are waived in their entirety or are paid entirely with 
scholarships.
    (iv) No reporting by institutions for individuals whose qualified 
tuition and related expenses are covered by a formal billing 
arrangement--(A) In general. The information reporting requirements of 
this section do not apply with respect to any individual whose qualified 
tuition and related expenses are covered by a formal billing arrangement 
as defined in paragraph (a)(2)(iv)(B) of this section.
    (B) Formal billing arrangement defined. A formal billing arrangement 
means--
    (1) An arrangement in which the institution bills only an employer 
for education furnished by the institution to an individual who is the 
employer's employee and does not maintain a separate financial account 
for that individual;
    (2) An arrangement in which the institution bills only a 
governmental entity for education furnished by the institution to an 
individual and does not maintain a separate financial account for that 
individual; or
    (3) Any other similar arrangement in which the institution bills 
only an institutional third party for education furnished to an 
individual and does not maintain a separate financial account for that 
individual, but only if designated as a formal billing arrangement by 
the Commissioner in published guidance of general applicability or in 
guidance directed to participants in specific arrangements.
    (b) Requirement to file return--(1) In general. Institutions may 
elect to report either the information described in paragraph (b)(2) of 
this section, or the information described in paragraph (b)(3) of this 
section. Once an institution elects to report under either paragraph 
(b)(2) or (3) of this section, the institution must use the same 
reporting method for all calendar years in which it is required to file 
returns, unless permission is granted to change reporting methods. 
Paragraph (b)(2) of this section requires institutions to report, among 
other information, the amount of payments received during the calendar 
year for qualified tuition and related expenses. Institutions must 
report separately adjustments made during the calendar year that relate 
to payments received for qualified tuition and related expenses that 
were reported for a prior calendar year. For purposes of paragraph 
(b)(2) of this section, an adjustment made to payments received means a 
reimbursement or refund. Paragraph (b)(3) requires institutions to 
report, among other information, the amounts billed during the calendar 
year for qualified tuition and related expenses. Institutions must 
report separately adjustments made during the calendar year that relate 
to amounts billed for qualified tuition and related expenses that were 
reported for a prior calendar year. For purposes of paragraph (b)(3) of 
this section, an adjustment made to amounts billed means a reduction in 
charges. Insurers must report the information described in paragraph 
(b)(4) of this section.
    (2) Information reporting requirements for institutions that elect 
to report payments received for qualified tuition and related expenses--
(i) In general. Except as provided in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, 
an institution reporting payments received for qualified tuition and 
related expenses must file an information return with the IRS on Form 
1098-T, ``Tuition Statement,'' with respect to each individual enrolled 
(as determined in paragraph (d)(1) of this section) for an academic 
period beginning during the calendar year or during a prior calendar 
year and for whom a transaction described in paragraphs (b)(2)(ii)(C), 
(E), (F) or (G) of this section is made during the calendar year. An 
institution may use a substitute Form 1098-T if the substitute form 
complies with applicable revenue procedures relating to substitute forms 
(see Sec.  601.601(d)(2) of this chapter).
    (ii) Information included on return. An institution reporting 
payments received for qualified tuition and related expenses must 
include on Form 1098-T--
    (A) The name, address, and taxpayer identification number (TIN)(as 
defined in section 7701(a)(41)) of the institution;
    (B) The name, address, and TIN of the individual who is, or has 
been, enrolled by the institution;

[[Page 386]]

    (C) The amount of payments of qualified tuition and related expenses 
that the institution received from any source with respect to the 
individual during the calendar year;
    (D) An indication by the institution whether any payments received 
for qualified tuition and related expenses reported for the calendar 
year relate to an academic period that begins during the first three 
months of the next calendar year;
    (E) The amount of any scholarships or grants for the payment of the 
individual's costs of attendance that the institution administered and 
processed during the calendar year;
    (F) The amount of any reimbursements or refunds of qualified tuition 
and related expenses made during the calendar year with respect to the 
individual that relate to payments of qualified tuition and related 
expenses that were reported by the institution for a prior calendar 
year;
    (G) The amount of any reductions to the amount of scholarships or 
grants for the payment of the individual's costs of attendance that were 
reported by the institution with respect to the individual for a prior 
calendar year;
    (H) A statement or other indication showing whether the individual 
was enrolled for at least half of the normal full-time work load for the 
course of study the individual is pursuing for at least one academic 
period that begins during the calendar year (see section 25A and the 
regulations thereunder);
    (I) A statement or other indication showing whether the individual 
was enrolled in a program leading to a graduate-level degree, graduate-
level certificate, or other recognized graduate-level educational 
credential; and
    (J) Any other information required by Form 1098-T and its 
instructions.
    (iii) Reportable amount of payments received for qualified tuition 
and related expenses during calendar year determined. The amount of 
payments received for qualified tuition and related expenses with 
respect to an individual during the calendar year that is reportable on 
Form 1098-T is determined by netting the amount of payments received (as 
defined in paragraph (b)(2)(v) of this section) for qualified tuition 
and related expenses during the calendar year against any reimbursements 
or refunds (as defined in paragraph (b)(2)(vi) of this section) made 
during the calendar year that relate to payments received for qualified 
tuition and related expenses during the same calendar year.
    (iv) Separate reporting of reimbursements or refunds of payments of 
qualified tuition and related expenses that were reported for a prior 
calendar year. An institution must separately report on Form 1098-T any 
reimbursements or refunds (as defined in paragraph (b)(2)(vi) of this 
section) made during the current calendar year that relate to payments 
of qualified tuition and related expenses that were reported by the 
institution for a prior calendar year. Such reimbursements or refunds 
shall not be netted against the payments received for qualified tuition 
and related expenses during the current calendar year.
    (v) Payments received for qualified tuition and related expenses 
determined. For purposes of determining the amount of payments received 
for qualified tuition and related expenses during a calendar year, 
payments received with respect to an individual during the calendar year 
from any source (except for any scholarship or grant that, by its terms, 
must be applied to expenses other than qualified tuition and related 
expenses, such as room and board) are treated as payments of qualified 
tuition and related expenses up to the total amount billed by the 
institution for such expenses. For purposes of this section, a payment 
includes any positive account balance (such as any reimbursement or 
refund credited to an individual's account) that an institution applies 
toward current charges.
    (vi) Reimbursements or refunds of payments for qualified tuition and 
related expenses determined. For purposes of determining the amount of 
reimbursements or refunds made of payments received for qualified 
tuition and related expenses, any reimbursement or refund made with 
respect to an individual during a calendar year (except for any refund 
of a scholarship or grant that, by its terms, was required to be applied 
to expenses other than qualified tuition and related expenses, such as 
room and board) is treated as a reimbursement or

[[Page 387]]

refund of payments for qualified tuition and related expenses up to the 
amount of any reduction in charges for such expenses. For purposes of 
this section, a reimbursement or refund includes amounts that an 
institution credits to an individual's account, as well as amounts 
disbursed to, or on behalf of, the individual.
    (vii) Examples. The following examples illustrate the rules in this 
paragraph (b)(2):

    Example 1. (i) In early August 2003, University X bills enrolled 
Student A $10,000 for qualified tuition and related expenses and $6,000 
for room and board for the 2003 Fall semester. In late August 2003, 
Student A pays $11,000 to University X. In early September 2003, Student 
A drops to half-time enrollment for the 2003 Fall semester. In late 
September 2003, University X credits $5,000 to Student A's account, 
reflecting a $5,000 reduction in charges for qualified tuition and 
related expenses. In late September 2003, University X applies the 
$5,000 positive account balance toward current charges.
    (ii) Under paragraph (b)(2)(v) of this section, the $11,000 payment 
is treated as a payment of qualified tuition and related expenses up to 
the $10,000 billed for qualified tuition and related expenses. Under 
paragraph (b)(2)(vi) of this section, the $5,000 credited to the 
student's account is treated as a reimbursement or refund of payments 
for qualified tuition and related expenses, because the current year 
charges for qualified tuition and related expenses were reduced by 
$5,000. Under paragraph (b)(2)(iii) of this section, University X is 
required to net the $10,000 payment received for qualified tuition and 
related expenses during 2003 against the $5,000 reimbursement or refund 
of payments received for qualified tuition and related expenses during 
2003. Therefore, Institution X is required to report $5,000 of payments 
received for qualified tuition and related expenses during 2003.
    Example 2. (i) The facts are the same as in Example 1, except that 
Student A pays the full $16,000 in late August 2003. In late September 
2003, University X reduces the tuition charges by $5,000 and issues a 
$5,000 refund to Student A.
    (ii) Under paragraph (b)(2)(v) of this section, the $16,000 payment 
is treated as a payment of qualified tuition and related expenses up to 
the $10,000 billed for qualified tuition and related expenses. Under 
paragraph (b)(2)(vi) of this section, the $5,000 refund is treated as 
reimbursement or refund of payments for qualified tuition and related 
expenses, because the current year charges for qualified tuition and 
related expenses were reduced by $5,000. Under paragraph (b)(2)(iii) of 
this section, University X is required to net the $10,000 payment 
received for qualified tuition and related expenses during 2003 against 
the $5,000 reimbursement or refund of payments received for qualified 
tuition and related expenses during 2003. Therefore, Institution X is 
required to report $5,000 of payments received for qualified tuition and 
related expenses during 2003.
    Example 3. (i) The facts are the same as in Example 1, except that 
Student A is enrolled full-time, and, in early September 2003, Student A 
decides to live at home with her parents. In late September 2003, 
University X adjusts Student A's account to eliminate room and board 
charges and issues a $1,000 refund to Student A.
    (ii) Under paragraph (b)(2)(v) of this section, the $11,000 payment 
is treated as a payment of qualified tuition and related expenses up to 
the $10,000 billed for qualified tuition and related expenses. Under 
paragraph (b)(2)(vi) of this section, the $1,000 refund is not treated 
as reimbursement or refund of payments for qualified tuition and related 
expenses, because there is no reduction in charges for qualified tuition 
and related expenses. Therefore, under paragraph (b)(2)(iii) of this 
section, University X is required to report $10,000 of payments received 
for qualified tuition and related expenses during 2003.
    Example 4. (i) In early December 2003, College Y bills enrolled 
Student B $10,000 for qualified tuition and related expenses and $6,000 
for room and board for the 2004 Spring semester. In late December 2003, 
Student B pays $16,000. In mid-January 2004, after the 2004 Spring 
semester classes begin, Student B drops to half-time enrollment. In mid-
January 2004, College Y credits Student B's account with $5,000, 
reflecting a $5,000 reduction in charges for qualified tuition and 
related expenses, but does not issue a refund to Student B. In early 
August 2004, College Y bills Student B $10,000 for qualified tuition and 
related expenses and $6,000 for room and board for the 2004 Fall 
semester. In early September 2004, College Y applies the $5,000 positive 
account balance toward Student B's $16,000 bill for the 2004 Fall 
semester. In late September 2004, Student B pays $6,000 towards the 
charges.
    (ii) In the reporting for calendar year 2003, under paragraph 
(b)(2)(v) of this section, the $16,000 payment in December 2003 is 
treated as a payment of qualified tuition and related expenses up to the 
$10,000 billed for qualified tuition and related expenses. Under 
paragraph (b)(2)(iii) of this section, College Y is required to report 
$10,000 of payments received for qualified tuition and related expenses 
during 2003. In addition, College Y is required to indicate that the 
payments reported for 2003 relate to an academic period that begins 
during the first three months of the next calendar year.

[[Page 388]]

    (iii) In the reporting for calendar year 2004, under paragraph 
(b)(2)(vi) of this section, the $5,000 credited to Student B's account 
is treated as a reimbursement or refund of qualified tuition and related 
expenses, because the charges for qualified tuition and related expenses 
were reduced by $5,000. Under paragraph (b)(2)(iv) of this section, the 
$5,000 reimbursement or refund of qualified tuition and related expenses 
must be separately reported on Form 1098-T because it relates to 
payments of qualified tuition and related expenses reported by College Y 
for 2003. Under paragraph (b)(2)(v) of this section, the $5,000 positive 
account balance that is applied toward charges for the 2004 Fall 
semester is treated as a payment. Therefore, College Y received total 
payments of $11,000 during 2004 (the $5,000 credit plus the $6,000 
payment). Under paragraph (b)(2)(v) of this section, the $11,000 of 
total payments are treated as a payment of qualified tuition and related 
expenses up to the $10,000 billed for such expenses. Therefore, for 
2004, College Y is required to report $10,000 of payments received for 
qualified tuition and related expenses during 2004 and a $5,000 refund 
of payments of qualified tuition and related expenses reported for 2003.

    (3) Information reporting requirements for institutions that elect 
to report amounts billed for qualified tuition and related expenses--(i) 
In general. Except as provided in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, an 
institution reporting amounts billed for qualified tuition and related 
expenses must file an information return on Form 1098-T with respect to 
each individual enrolled (as determined in paragraph (d)(1) of this 
section) for an academic period beginning during the calendar year or 
during a prior calendar year and for whom a transaction described in 
paragraphs (b)(3)(ii)(C), (E), (F) or (G) of this section is made during 
the calendar year. An institution may use a substitute Form 1098-T if 
the substitute form complies with applicable revenue procedures relating 
to substitute forms (see Sec.  601.601(d)(2) of this chapter).
    (ii) Information included on return. An institution reporting 
amounts billed for qualified tuition and related expenses must include 
on Form 1098-T--
    (A) The name, address, and taxpayer identification number (TIN)(as 
defined in section 7701(a)(41)) of the institution;
    (B) The name, address, and TIN of the individual who is, or has 
been, enrolled by the institution;
    (C) The amount billed for qualified tuition and related expenses 
with respect to the individual during the calendar year;
    (D) An indication by the institution whether any amounts billed for 
qualified tuition and related expenses reported for the calendar year 
relate to an academic period that begins during the first three months 
of the next calendar year;
    (E) The amount of any scholarships or grants for the payment of the 
individual's costs of attendance that the institution administered and 
processed during the calendar year;
    (F) The amount of any reductions in charges made during the calendar 
year with respect to the individual that relate to amounts billed for 
qualified tuition and related expenses that were reported by the 
institution for a prior calendar year;
    (G) The amount of any reductions to the amount of scholarships or 
grants for the payment of the individual's costs of attendance that were 
reported by the institution with respect to the individual for a prior 
calendar year;
    (H) A statement or other indication showing whether the individual 
was enrolled for at least half of the normal full-time work load for the 
course of study the individual is pursuing for at least one academic 
period that begins during the calendar year (see section 25A and the 
regulations thereunder);
    (I) A statement or other indication showing whether the individual 
was enrolled in a program leading to a graduate-level degree, graduate-
level certificate, or other recognized graduate-level educational 
credential; and
    (J) Any other information required by Form 1098-T and its 
instructions.
    (iii) Reportable amounts billed for qualified tuition and related 
expenses during calendar year determined. The amount billed for 
qualified tuition and related expenses with respect to an individual 
during the calendar year that is reportable on Form 1098-T is determined 
by netting the amounts billed for qualified tuition and related expenses 
during the calendar year against any reductions in charges for qualified 
tuition and related expenses

[[Page 389]]

made during the calendar year that relate to amounts billed for 
qualified tuition and related expenses during the same calendar year.
    (iv) Separate reporting of reductions made to amounts billed for 
qualified tuition and related expenses that were reported for a prior 
calendar year. An institution must separately report on Form 1098-T any 
reductions in charges made during the current calendar year that relate 
to amounts billed for qualified tuition and related expenses that were 
reported by the institution for a prior calendar year. Such reductions 
shall not be netted against amounts billed for qualified tuition and 
related expenses during the current calendar year.
    (v) Examples. The following examples illustrate the rules in this 
paragraph (b)(3):

    Example 1. (i) In early August 2003, University X bills enrolled 
Student A $10,000 for qualified tuition and related expenses and $6,000 
for room and board for the 2003 Fall semester. In late August 2003, 
Student A pays $11,000 to University X. In early September 2003, Student 
A drops to half-time enrollment for the 2003 Fall semester. In late 
September 2003, University X adjusts Student A's account and reduces the 
charges for qualified tuition and related expenses by $5,000 to reflect 
half-time enrollment. In late September 2003, University X applies the 
$5,000 account balance toward current charges.
    (ii) Under paragraph (b)(3)(iii) of this section, University X is 
required to net the $10,000 amount of qualified tuition and related 
expenses billed during 2003 against the $5,000 reduction in charges for 
qualified tuition and related expenses during 2003. Therefore, 
Institution X is required to report $5,000 in amounts billed for 
qualified tuition and related expenses during 2003.
    Example 2. (i) The facts are the same as in Example 1, except that, 
in addition, in early December 2003, College X bills Student A $10,000 
for qualified tuition and related expenses and $6,000 for room and board 
for the 2004 Spring semester. In early January 2004, Student A pays 
$16,000. In mid-January 2004, after the 2004 Spring semester classes 
begin, Student A drops to half-time enrollment. In mid-January 2004, 
College X credits $5,000 to Student A's account, reflecting a $5,000 
reduction in charges for qualified tuition and related expenses, but 
does not issue a refund check to Student A. In early August 2004, 
College X bills Student A $10,000 for qualified tuition and related 
expenses and $6,000 for room and board for the 2004 Fall semester. In 
early September 2004, College X applies the $5,000 positive account 
balance toward Student A's $16,000 bill for the 2004 Fall semester. In 
late September 2004, Student A pays $6,000 toward the charges.
    (ii) In the reporting for calendar year 2003, under paragraph 
(b)(3)(iii) of this section, College X is required to report $15,000 
amounts billed for qualified tuition and related expenses during 2003 
($5,000 for the 2003 Fall semester and $10,000 for the 2004 Spring 
semester). In addition, College X is required to indicate that some of 
the amounts billed for qualified tuition and related expenses reported 
for 2003 relate to an academic period that begins during the first three 
months of the next calendar year.
    (iii) In the reporting for calendar year 2004, under paragraph 
(b)(3)(iv) of this section, the $5,000 reduction in charges for 
qualified tuition and related expenses must be separately reported on 
Form 1098-T because it relates to amounts billed for qualified tuition 
and related expenses that were reported by College X for 2003. Under 
paragraph (b)(3)(iii) of this section, College X is required to report 
$10,000 in amounts billed for qualified tuition and related expenses 
during 2004.

    (4) Requirements for insurers--(i) In general. Except as otherwise 
provided in this section, an insurer must file an information return for 
each individual with respect to whom reimbursements or refunds of 
qualified tuition and related expenses are made during the calendar year 
on Form 1098-T. An insurer may use a substitute Form 1098-T if the 
substitute form complies with applicable revenue procedures relating to 
substitute forms (see Sec.  601.601(d)(2) of this chapter).
    (ii) Information included on return. An insurer must include on Form 
1098-T--
    (A) The name, address, and taxpayer identification number (TIN) (as 
defined in section 7701(a)(41)) of the insurer;
    (B) The name, address, and TIN of the individual with respect to 
whom reimbursements or refunds of qualified tuition and related expenses 
were made;
    (C) The aggregate amount of reimbursements or refunds of qualified 
tuition and related expenses that the insurer made with respect to the 
individual during the calendar year; and
    (D) Any other information required by Form 1098-T and its 
instructions.
    (5) Time and place for filing return--(i) In general. Except as 
provided in paragraphs (b)(5)(ii) and (iii) of this section, Form 1098-T 
must be filed on or before

[[Page 390]]

February 28 (March 31 if filed electronically) of the year following the 
calendar year in which payments were received, or amounts were billed, 
for qualified tuition or related expenses, or reimbursements, refunds, 
or reductions of such amounts were made. An institution or insurer must 
file Form 1098-T with the IRS according to the instructions to Form 
1098-T.
    (ii) Return for nonresident alien individual. In general, an 
institution or insurer is not required to file a return on behalf of a 
nonresident alien individual. However, if a nonresident alien individual 
requests an institution or insurer to report, the institution or insurer 
must file a return described in paragraph (b) of this section with the 
IRS on or before the date prescribed in paragraph (b)(5)(i) of this 
section, or on or before the thirtieth day after the request, whichever 
is later.
    (iii) Extensions of time. The IRS may grant an institution or 
insurer an extension of time to file returns required in this section 
upon a showing of good cause. See General Instructions for Forms 1099 
series, 1098 series, 5498 series, and W-2G, ``Certain Gambling 
Winnings,'' and applicable revenue procedures for rules relating to 
extensions of time to file (see Sec.  601.601(d)(2) of this chapter).
    (6) Use of magnetic media. See section 6011(e) and Sec.  301.6011-2 
of this chapter for rules relating to the requirement to file Forms 
1098-T on magnetic media.
    (c) Requirement to furnish statement--(1) In general. An institution 
or insurer must furnish a statement to each individual for whom it is 
required to file a Form 1098-T. The statement must include--
    (i) The information required under paragraph (b) of this section;
    (ii) A legend that identifies the statement as important tax 
information that is being furnished to the IRS;
    (iii) Instructions that--
    (A) State that the statement reports either total payments received 
by the institution for qualified tuition and related expenses during the 
calendar year, or total amounts billed by the institution for qualified 
tuition and related expenses during the calendar year, or the total 
reimbursements or refunds made by the insurer;
    (B) State that, under section 25A and the regulations thereunder, 
the taxpayer may claim an education tax credit only with respect to 
qualified tuition and related expenses actually paid during the calendar 
year; and that the taxpayer may not be able to claim an education tax 
credit with respect to the entire amount of payments received, or 
amounts billed, for qualified tuition and related expenses reported for 
the calendar year;
    (C) State that the amount of any scholarships or grants reported for 
the calendar year and other similar amounts not reported (because they 
are not administered and processed by the institution) may reduce the 
amount of any allowable education tax credit for the taxable year;
    (D) State that the amount of any reimbursements or refunds of 
payments received, or reductions in charges, for qualified tuition and 
related expenses, or any reductions to the amount of scholarships or 
grants, reported by the institution with respect to the individual for a 
prior calendar year may affect the amount of any allowable education tax 
credit for the prior calendar year (and may result in an increase in tax 
liability for the year of the refund);
    (E) State that the amount of any reimbursements or refunds of 
qualified tuition and related expenses reported by an insurer may reduce 
the amount of an allowable education tax credit for a taxable year (and 
may result in an increase in tax liability for the year of the refund);
    (F) State that the taxpayer should refer to relevant IRS forms and 
publications, and should not refer to the institution or the insurer, 
for explanations relating to the eligibility requirements for, and 
calculation of, any allowable education tax credit; and
    (G) Include the name, address, and phone number of the information 
contact of the institution or insurer that filed the Form 1098-T.
    (2) Time and manner for furnishing statement--(i) In general. Except 
as provided in paragraphs (c)(2)(ii) and (iii) of this section, an 
institution or insurer must furnish the statement described in paragraph 
(c)(1) of this section to each individual for whom it is required to 
file a return, on or before January 31

[[Page 391]]

of the year following the calendar year in which payments were received, 
or amounts were billed, for qualified tuition and related expenses, or 
reimbursements, refunds, or reductions of such amounts were made. If 
mailed, the statement must be sent to the individual's permanent 
address, or the individual's temporary address if the institution or 
insurer does not know the individual's permanent address. If furnished 
electronically, the statement must be furnished in accordance with the 
applicable regulations.
    (ii) Statement to nonresident alien individual. If an information 
return is filed for a nonresident alien individual, the institution or 
insurer must furnish a statement described in paragraph (c)(1) of this 
section to the individual in the manner prescribed in paragraph 
(c)(2)(i) of this section. The statement must be furnished on or before 
the later of the date prescribed in paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section 
or the thirtieth day after the nonresident alien's request to report.
    (iii) Extensions of time. The IRS may grant an institution or 
insurer an extension of time to furnish the statements required in this 
section upon a showing of good cause. See General Instructions for Forms 
1099 series, 1098 series, 5498 series, and W-2G, ``Certain Gambling 
Winnings,'' and applicable revenue procedures for rules relating to 
extensions of time to furnish statements (see Sec.  601.601(d)(2) of 
this chapter).
    (3) Copy of Form 1098-T. An institution or insurer may satisfy the 
requirement of this paragraph (c) by furnishing either a copy of Form 
1098-T and its instructions or another document that contains all of the 
information filed with the IRS and the information required by paragraph 
(c)(1) of this section if the document complies with applicable revenue 
procedures relating to substitute statements (see Sec.  601.601(d)(2) of 
this chapter).
    (d) Special rules--(1) Enrollment determined. An institution may 
determine its enrollment for each academic period under its own rules 
and policies for determining enrollment or as of any of the following 
dates--
    (i) 30 days after the first day of the academic period;
    (ii) A date during the academic period on which enrollment data must 
be collected for purposes of the Integrated Post Secondary Education 
Data System administered by the Department of Education; or
    (iii) A date during the academic period on which the institution 
must report enrollment data to the State, the institution's governing 
body, or some other external governing body.
    (2) Payments of qualified tuition and related expenses received or 
collected by one or more persons--(i) In general. Except as otherwise 
provided in paragraph (d)(2)(ii) of this section, if a person collects 
or receives payments of qualified tuition and related expenses on behalf 
of another person (e.g., an institution), the person collecting or 
receiving payments must satisfy the requirements of paragraphs (b) and 
(c) of this section. In this case, those requirements do not apply to 
the transfer of the payments to the institution.
    (ii) Exception. If the person collecting or receiving payments of 
qualified tuition and related expenses on behalf of another person 
(e.g., an institution) does not possess the information needed to comply 
with the requirements of paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, the 
other person must satisfy those requirements.
    (3) Governmental units. An institution or insurer that is a 
governmental unit, or an agency or instrumentality of a governmental 
unit, is subject to the requirements of paragraphs (b) and (c) of this 
section and an appropriately designated officer or employee of the 
governmental entity must satisfy those requirements.
    (e) Penalty provisions--(1) Failure to file correct returns. The 
section 6721 penalty may apply to an institution or insurer that fails 
to file information returns required by section 6050S and this section 
on or before the required filing date; that fails to include all of the 
required information on the return; or that includes incorrect 
information on the return. See section 6721, and the regulations 
thereunder, for rules relating to penalties for failure to file correct 
returns. See section 6724, and the regulations thereunder, for rules 
relating to waivers of penalties for certain failures due to reasonable 
cause.

[[Page 392]]

    (2) Failure to furnish correct information statements. The section 
6722 penalty may apply to an institution or insurer that fails to 
furnish statements required by section 6050S and this section on or 
before the prescribed date; that fails to include all the required 
information on the statement; or that includes incorrect information on 
the statement. See section 6722, and the regulations thereunder, for 
rules relating to penalties for failure to furnish correct statements. 
See section 6724, and the regulations thereunder, for rules relating to 
waivers of penalties for certain failures due to reasonable cause.
    (3) Waiver of penalties for failures to include a correct TIN--(i) 
In general. In the case of a failure to include a correct TIN on Form 
1098-T or a related information statement, penalties may be waived if 
the failure is due to reasonable cause. Reasonable cause may be 
established if the failure arose from events beyond the institution's or 
insurer's control, such as a failure of the individual to furnish a 
correct TIN. However, the institution or insurer must establish that it 
acted in a responsible manner both before and after the failure.
    (ii) Acting in a responsible manner. An institution or insurer must 
request the TIN of each individual for whom it is required to file a 
return if it does not already have a record of the individual's correct 
TIN. If the institution or insurer does not have a record of the 
individual's correct TIN, then it must solicit the TIN in the manner 
described in paragraph (e)(3)(iii) of this section on or before December 
31 of each year during which it receives payments, or bills amounts, for 
qualified tuition and related expenses or makes reimbursements, refunds, 
or reductions of such amounts with respect to the individual. If an 
individual refuses to provide his or her TIN upon request, the 
institution or insurer must file the return and furnish the statement 
required by this section without the individual's TIN, but with all 
other required information. The specific solicitation requirements of 
paragraph (e)(3)(iii) of this section apply in lieu of the solicitation 
requirements of Sec.  301.6724-1(e) and (f) of this chapter for the 
purpose of determining whether an institution or insurer acted in a 
responsible manner in attempting to obtain a correct TIN. An institution 
or insurer that complies with the requirements of this paragraph (e)(3) 
will be considered to have acted in a responsible manner within the 
meaning of Sec.  301.6724-1(d) of this chapter with respect to any 
failure to include the correct TIN of an individual on a return or 
statement required by section 6050S and this section.
    (iii) Manner of soliciting TIN. An institution or insurer must 
request the individual's TIN in writing and must clearly notify the 
individual that the law requires the individual to furnish a TIN so that 
it may be included on an information return filed by the institution or 
insurer. A request for a TIN made on Form W-9S, ``Request for Student's 
or Borrower's Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification,'' 
satisfies the requirements of this paragraph (e)(3)(iii). An institution 
or insurer may establish a system for individuals to submit Forms W-9S 
electronically as described in applicable forms and instructions. An 
institution or insurer may also develop a separate form to request the 
individual's TIN or incorporate the request into other forms customarily 
used by the institution or insurer, such as admission or enrollment 
forms or financial aid applications.
    (4) Failure to furnish TIN. The section 6723 penalty may apply to 
any individual who is required (but fails) to furnish his or her TIN to 
an institution or insurer. See section 6723, and the regulations 
thereunder, for rules relating to the penalty for failure to furnish a 
TIN.
    (f) Effective date. The rules in this section apply to information 
returns required to be filed, and information statements required to be 
furnished, after December 31, 2003.

[T.D. 9029, 67 FR 77682, Dec. 19, 2002; 68 FR 6350, Feb. 7, 2003]