Posted Date:January 24, 2014
| Author: | Jana Hernandes, Service Director, Operations, Federal Student Aid |
Subject: Loan Servicing Information - Reporting Student Loan Interest Payments for 2013
As tax time approaches, we want to share general information with the financial aid community about our reporting of student loan interest payments. If a borrower made federal student loan payments in 2013, the borrower may be eligible to deduct a portion of the interest paid on the borrower's 2013 federal tax return. Student loan interest payments are reported to both the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the borrower on IRS Form 1098-E, Student Loan Interest Statement.
We provide information about reporting student loan interest for 2013 through three basic questions and answers.
When do federal loan servicers report interest payments on IRS Form 1098-E?
As required by the IRS, federal loan servicers report payments on IRS Form 1098-E if the interest received from the borrower in the tax year was $600 or more.
If a borrower paid less than $600 in interest to a federal loan servicer during the tax year, the borrower may contact his or her servicer for the exact amount of interest paid during the year.
How many 2013 1098-Es should a borrower expect to receive?
Most borrowers who paid $600 or more in interest during 2013 will receive one 1098-E. Some borrowers will receive two 1098-Es. If a borrower has questions about 2013 1098-Es, direct the borrower to his or her current federal loan servicer for assistance.
What are the different scenarios that may apply to 2013 1098 dissemination?
The five scenarios outlined below cover the vast majority of federal student loan borrowers.
1) | Borrower's Current Servicer Was Only Servicer in 2013 – In this case, a borrower's current federal loan servicer will provide the borrower with a copy of his or her 1098-E if the interest paid in 2013 was $600 or more. The servicer may send the borrower his or her 1098-E via U.S. mail or electronically. | |
2) | Borrower Had Multiple Servicers (other than those addressed below) in 2013 – In this case, each of a borrower's federal loan servicers will provide the borrower with a copy of his or her 1098-E if the interest paid to the individual servicer in 2013 was $600 or more. Each servicer may send the borrower his or her 1098-E via U.S. mail or electronically. | |
3) | Borrower's Servicer Was COSTEP, EdManage, or EDGEucation Loans Before Transfer to MOHELA in 2013 – In this case, a borrower's new servicer, MOHELA, will provide the borrower with a copy of his or her 1098-E if the interest paid in 2013 was $600 or more. The 1098-E will cover all interest paid in 2013 to COSTEP, EdManage, EDGEucation Loans, and/or MOHELA. The servicer may send the borrower his or her 1098-E via U.S. mail or electronically. | |
4) | Borrower's Servicer Was KSA Servicing Before Transfer to Aspire Resources Inc. in 2013 – In this case, a borrower's new servicer, Aspire Resources Inc., will provide the borrower via U.S. mail with a summary of the interest paid to KSA Servicing in 2013 if that interest was $600 or more. In addition, Aspire will provide the borrower via U.S. mail with a copy of his or her 1098-E if the interest paid to Aspire in 2013 was $600 or more. The 1098-E for interest paid to Aspire also will be available electronically. | |
5) | Borrower's Servicer Was Direct Loan Servicing Center (ACS) Before Transfer to Other Servicer in 2013 – In this case, Federal Student Aid or a borrower's current federal loan servicer will do the following:
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Note: A borrower whose loans were serviced by the Direct Loan Servicing Center (ACS) and paid in full in 2013 can access his or her account information within the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) for the phone number of a resource that can provide interest paid amount information. |
Contact Information
We appreciate the community's support in directing borrowers to their current federal loan servicers for 2013 1098-E information.
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A borrower can access the NSLDS Student Access Web site to identify his or her current federal loan servicer.
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A school that assists a borrower in identifying his or her current federal loan servicer can access the servicer information through the NSLDS Professional Access Web site. Contact information for the appropriate servicer also can be found on the Loan Servicing Centers for Schools Contact Information page on the IFAP Web site.