Tax FAQs

General Tax

What is a 1099-HC?

Proof of Health Coverage, and is used to complete Schedule HC  on Massachusetts State tax returns.

Do foreign students need to file a United States Income Tax return?

You only need to file if you have income that is subject to tax, such as wages, tips, scholarships that exceed tuition and required fees, dividends, etc. The tax return you must file is Form 1040NR, the Federal Tax Return for Nonresidents. If you have any earned income, your tax return is due by April 15; otherwise the filing deadline is June 15. If you owe more tax than was withheld, you must pay it by the appropriate date. If more tax than you owe has...

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1042-S

How much tax will I be charged?

 

If you are a U.S. citizen or resident for tax purposes, Harvard will not withhold taxes from your taxable scholarship or stipend. If you are a nonresident alien for tax purposes, the taxable portion of your award will be taxed at a rate of 14%.

Some international students come from countries that have a tax treaty with the United States and can claim exemption from U.S. taxes. If you are an international undergraduate student receiving a taxable scholarship from Harvard, you will receive an e-mail from the Student Accounts Office which will...

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How does Harvard calculate the amount of my award that may be taxable?

A scholarship or fellowship grant is tax free (excludable from gross income) only if you are a candidate for a degree at an eligible educational institution. The taxable portion of your scholarship award is calculated as follows:
 
Total of all scholarships from Harvard University
Less: Required tuition and fees charged to your student bill  
Equals: Taxable portion of your award
 
Since it is impossible for the University to determine what each student pays for books, fees, supplies and equipment required for courses of instruction, only the amount of...

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What portion of my scholarship award may be considered taxable?

A scholarship or fellowship grant is tax free (excludable from gross income) only if you are a candidate for a degree at an eligible educational institution. U.S. tax law divides scholarships received into two parts. Scholarship that is used for tuition is not taxable, but scholarship that is used for living expenses is taxable. Expenses that are considered tuition include all tuition and fees required for enrollment, books, fees, supplies, and equipment for courses of instruction. Additional amounts, such as amounts provided for room and board or for travel expenses, are taxable.

What information is reported to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)?

If you are a foreign student and your award is in excess of your tuition and required fees, then Harvard is required to report the amount of the excess and any withholding you were charged to the IRS on Form 1042-S. Harvard must make this report even if you have no withholdings and no tax liability because of a tax treaty.
 

1098-E

What is a 1098-E?

Form 1098-E reports interest you paid on a student loan during the preceding year.  The lenders that service your student loans must send you a copy of Form 1098-E by January 31st.

1098-T

How do I view my 1098-T online?

To access your 1098-T (2015-present) electronically, you must log in with your Harvard credentials at my.harvard.edu. After logging in, navigate to the 'Student Accounts' tab in the left-menu and then select the link under 'Paperless 1098-T'. A walkthrough is available here.

Please note that you must disable your pop-up blocker to view your form. If you do not opt-in to view your form electronically, a paper copy will be mailed to your permanent...

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Am I eligible for a 1098-T?

Not all students are eligible to receive a 1098-T. Forms will not be issued under the following circumstances:

  • The amount paid for qualified tuition and related expenses* in the calendar year is less than or equal to the total scholarships disbursed that year.
  • Qualified tuition and related expenses in the calendar year were paid in full by a third-party organization.
  • ...
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What is a 1098-T?

 

The 1098-T is a record of the financial information reported by Harvard to the IRS on a student's behalf. The information on form 1098T can be used to help you determine if you are eligible for education tax credits when filing a U.S. tax return*. The information includes the total amount paid for qualified tuition and related expenses in a calendar year (Box 1) and the total amount of scholarships or grants disbursed in the calendar year (Box 5)....

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