Office of the Bursar

Finance and Business Services

Student Financial Services
25 University Ave., Room #50
West Chester, PA 19383
Phone: 610 436-2552
Fax: 610 436-3049


Hope Scholarship and Lifelong Learning Tax Credits

Several tax benefits are available to help families meet the cost of post secondary education. These tax benefits are referred to as Hope Scholarship Credit and Lifetime Learning credit.

Generating 1098-T’s

West Chester University will be mailing out a 1098-T for every student on whose behalf payments for qualified tuition and related expenses have been received in the applicable tax year.

Institutions are required to include the following information on this form:

  • The name, address, and Tax Identification Number (TIN) of the student with respect to whom payments of qualified tuition and related expenses were received during the applicable tax year;
  • An indication as to whether the student was enrolled for at least half the full-time academic workload;
  • The aggregate amount billed for the tax year;
  • Information regarding whether the student was enrolled exclusively in a program or programs leading to a graduate-level degree, graduate-level certificate, or other recognized graduate-level educational credential.

Supplemental Personalized Financial Information

To assist students/taxpayers in making this determination, West Chester University has chosen to also include a supplemental notice for reporting personalized student financial data. The notice will be included with the 1098-T form.

To Claim Tax Credit

The student / taxpayer will need to complete IRS Form 8863, and attach it to their 1040 or 1040A tax return.

Please note: The 1098-T form is NOT required to be attached to the IRS form 8863.

Mailing of 1098-T

1098-T’s and supplemental notices are mailed out by the end of January.

To View and Obtain Copies of 1098-T and Financial Supplement

Please visit www.1098-T.com or call Toll free: 1-877-467-3821

Who to contact with Questions:

West Chester University cannot assist in caluculating your tax credit. Please contact your tax advisor.

For more information regarding, the Federal Hope and Lifetime Learning Tax Credits, a Tax Credit Reporting Service (TCRS) phone number, the National Association of College and University Business Officers’ (NACUBO) web site, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) web site and phone number are referenced below:

TCRS: 1-877-467-3821
More information is also available by obtaining the IRS Publication 970 “Tax Benefits for Higher Education”.