Can I Claim the Student Loan Interest Deduction Without a 1098-E Form?
You do not need to receive a Form 1098-E to claim the student loan interest deduction on your federal tax return. The IRS allows taxpayers to claim this deduction even if they did not receive a Form 1098-E from their lender.
Key Points:
- Not Required for Filing: The Form 1098-E is only required to be filed by lenders or financial institutions if they received $600 or more in student loan interest from an individual during the year. It is not required for taxpayers to claim the deduction.
- Self-Reporting Allowed: Taxpayers can report the amount of student loan interest paid during the year directly on Form 1040, Schedule 1, under "Adjustments to Income" for the Student Loan Interest Deduction, even without receiving a Form 1098-E.
- Recordkeeping Required: While you don’t need the form to claim the deduction, you must keep accurate records of your student loan interest payments for the year. This includes bank statements, loan statements, or payment records to substantiate your claim if audited.
- Income Limitations Apply: The deduction is subject to income phase-outs. For 2025, the deduction begins to phase out for single filers with modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) over $75,000 and for married filing jointly over $155,000. The deduction is not available if MAGI exceeds $90,000 (single) or $185,000 (married filing jointly).
How to Claim the Deduction:
- Log in to your tax return in OLT (Online Taxes) software.
- Navigate to the Federal section in the left menu.
- Under "Adjustments to Income," click "Show more" near "Student Loan Interest Deduction."
- Enter the total amount of student loan interest paid during the year.
- Follow on-screen instructions to complete the deduction.
Source:
Form 1098-E Instructions
Disclaimer: Always verify details with official IRS forms and instructions or consult with a tax professional. OLT (Online Taxes) provides guidance based on current tax law and IRS publications.