[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 244 (Thursday, December 19, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 77678-77687]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-31915]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service

26 CFR Parts 1, 301, and 602

[TD 9029]
RIN 1545-BA43


Information Reporting for Qualified Tuition and Related Expenses; 
Magnetic Media Filing Requirements for Information Returns

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION: Final regulations.

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SUMMARY: This document contains final regulations relating to the 
information reporting requirements for qualified tuition and related 
expenses under section 6050S of the Internal Revenue Code, including 
rules prescribing when the required information returns must be filed 
on magnetic media. The final regulations reflect changes made to the 
law by the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 and the amendments made by the 
Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 and 
Public Law 107-131. These regulations provide guidance to eligible 
educational institutions that enroll any individual for any academic 
period. These regulations also provide guidance to insurers that make 
reimbursements or refunds of qualified tuition and related expenses.

DATES: Effective Date: These regulations are effective December 19, 
2002.
    Applicability Dates: For dates of applicability, see Sec.  1.6050S-
1(f) and Sec.  301.6011-2(g)(3).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Concerning the regulations, Tonya 
Christianson, (202) 622-4910; and concerning the magnetic media filing 
specifications, waivers for filing on magnetic media, and extensions of 
time, contact the IRS, Martinsburg Computing Center, (304) 263-8700 
(not toll-free numbers).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The collection of information contained in these final regulations 
has been reviewed and approved by the Office of Management and Budget 
in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3507(d)) under control number 1545-1678. Responses to this collection 
of information are mandatory.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid 
control

[[Page 77679]]

number assigned by the Office of Management and Budget.
    The estimated reporting burden for the reporting in these 
regulations is reflected on the burden for Form 1098-T.
    Estimated total annual reporting burden for 2001 for Form 1098-T: 
3,056,411 hours.
    Estimated number of responses for 2001 for Form 1098-T as of 
November 22, 2002: 20,376,075.
    Estimated average annual burden hours per response for 2001 for 
Form 1098-T: 9 minutes.
    Comments concerning the accuracy of this burden and suggestions for 
reducing this burden should be sent to the Internal Revenue Service, 
Attn: IRS Reports Clearance Officer, W:CAR:MP:FP:S, Washington, DC 
20224, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Attn: Desk Officer 
for the Department of the Treasury, Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Washington, DC 20503.
    Books or records relating to a collection of information must be 
retained as long as their contents may become material in the 
administration of any internal revenue law. Generally, tax returns and 
tax return information are confidential, as required by 26 U.S.C. 6103.

Background

    This document contains amendments to the Income Tax Regulations (26 
CFR part 1) relating to the information reporting requirements for 
qualified tuition and related expenses under section 6050S of the 
Internal Revenue Code (Code) and amendments to the Procedure and 
Administration Regulations (26 CFR part 301) relating to magnetic media 
reporting. The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-34 (111 
Stat. 788) (TRA '97)) added section 6050S of the Code. Section 6050S 
was amended by the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform 
Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-206 (112 Stat. 685) (RRA '98)), and Public 
Law 107-131 (115 Stat. 2410). In general, section 6050S requires any 
eligible educational institution (institution) to file information 
returns and to furnish written information statements to assist 
taxpayers and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in determining the 
amount of qualified tuition and related expenses (qualified expenses) 
for which an education tax credit is allowable under section 25A (as 
well as other tax benefits for higher education expenses). See H.R. 
Conf. Rept. No. 599, 105th Cong., 2d Sess., pp. 319-320 (1998).
    As provided by Public Law 107-131, for calendar years beginning 
after December 31, 2002, institutions may elect to report either the 
aggregate amount of payments received, or the aggregate amount billed, 
for qualified expenses during the calendar year with respect to 
individuals enrolled for any academic period. Institutions must report 
separately adjustments (i.e., refunds of payments or reductions in 
charges) made during the calendar year to payments received, or amounts 
billed, for qualified expenses that were reported in a prior calendar 
year. In addition, institutions must report the aggregate amount of 
scholarships or grants received for an individual's costs of attendance 
that the institution administered and processed during the calendar 
year. Institutions must report separately adjustments (i.e., refunds or 
reductions) made during the calendar year to scholarships that were 
reported in a prior calendar year.
    In addition, section 6050S requires any person engaged in a trade 
or business of making payments to any individual under an insurance 
agreement as reimbursements or refunds of qualified expenses (an 
insurer) to file information returns and to furnish written information 
statements.
    A notice of proposed rulemaking under section 6050S (REG-105316-98) 
was published in the Federal Register (65 FR 37728) on June 16, 2000 
(the 2000 proposed regulations). The 2000 proposed regulations relating 
to the information reporting requirements for institutions and insurers 
were withdrawn and a new notice of proposed rulemaking (REG-161424-01) 
was published in the Federal Register (67 FR 20923) on April 29, 2002 
(the 2002 proposed regulations). No request for a public hearing was 
received on the 2002 proposed regulations. The IRS received written and 
electronic comments responding to the 2002 notice of proposed 
rulemaking. After consideration of all the comments, the 2002 proposed 
regulations are adopted as amended by this Treasury decision. The 
revisions are discussed below.

Explanation of Provisions and Summary of Comments

1. Information Reporting Relating to Qualified Tuition and Related 
Expenses

A. Required Reporting and Exceptions to Reporting

(i) Reporting Based on Academic Year vs. Calendar Year

    One commentator to the 2002 proposed regulations requested that 
institutions be allowed to report financial data based on an academic 
year, and not based on a calendar year. Section 6050S requires 
institutions to report on a calendar year in order to assist taxpayers 
in calculating the education tax credit that is allowable for qualified 
expenses paid during a calendar year. Therefore, the final regulations 
do not adopt this recommendation.

(ii) Exception for Noncredit Courses

    The 2002 proposed regulations provide an exception to reporting for 
any student who is enrolled during the calendar year only in courses 
for which no academic credit is offered. Several commentators to the 
2002 proposed regulations requested that if a student is enrolled both 
in courses for which academic credit is offered (e.g., courses in a 
postsecondary degree program) and courses for which no academic credit 
is offered (e.g., courses in a continuing education program), 
institutions should be required to report only the courses for which 
academic credit is offered. The commentators suggested that the 
exception to reporting should be based on the category of courses, not 
the category of students. The commentators explained that institutions 
maintain separate databases for credit courses and noncredit courses 
and that it would create a substantial hardship if institutions were 
required to report for both credit courses and noncredit courses. In 
response to these comments, and because under section 25A and the 
regulations thereunder a student enrolled in a postsecondary degree 
program is not eligible to claim a Hope Scholarship Credit (and may not 
be eligible to claim a Lifetime Learning Credit) for noncredit courses, 
the final regulations adopt this recommendation. Accordingly, the final 
regulations provide that institutions are not required to report with 
respect to courses for which no academic credit is offered by the 
institution, even if the student is enrolled in a degree program.

(iii) No Exception for Small Amounts of Qualified Tuition and Related 
Expenses

    One commentator to the 2002 proposed regulations requested that the 
regulations provide an exception to reporting for qualified expenses of 
$100 or less. The limited exceptions to required reporting are based on 
the fact that certain categories of students may not be eligible to 
claim the education tax credit and that certain payments may not be 
taken into account in calculating the amounts paid for qualified 
expenses for which an education tax credit is allowable. An exception 
to reporting for small amounts of qualified expenses has no 
relationship to whether an education tax

[[Page 77680]]

credit is allowable for amounts paid for qualified expenses. Therefore, 
the final regulations do not adopt this recommendation.

(iv) Exception for Students Whose Qualified Expenses Are Covered by 
Formal Billing Arrangement

    The 2002 proposed regulations provide an exception to reporting for 
any student whose qualified expenses are paid by the student's employer 
through a formal billing arrangement under which the employer's 
employees attend the institution, the institution bills only the 
employer, and the institution does not maintain a separate account for 
any employee/student. Several commentators to the 2002 proposed 
regulations requested that this exception be expanded to include formal 
billing arrangements between institutions and other third party payors, 
such as the Veterans' Administration, U.S. Armed Forces, and other 
governmental and private organizations.
    Under section 25A and the regulations thereunder, a taxpayer cannot 
claim the education tax credit for educational expenses paid with 
amounts that are excludable from gross income. Educational expenses 
paid through a formal billing arrangement between an institution and a 
governmental entity, such as the Veterans' Administration, often are 
excludable from the gross income of the individual student. Therefore, 
the final regulations expand the exception to cover formal billing 
arrangements between an institution and a governmental entity under 
which the institution bills only the governmental entity and does not 
maintain a separate account with respect to any individual student. In 
addition, the final regulations authorize the Commissioner to designate 
additional types of formal billing arrangements for which no reporting 
will be required. It is anticipated that any additional formal billing 
arrangements designated by the Commissioner will be limited to 
situations in which the individual students generally would not be 
eligible to claim an education tax credit with respect to the payments 
made by the institutional third party payor.

(v) Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and Optional Reporting

    The U.S. Department of Education has previously determined that 
reporting under section 6050S does not violate the Family Educational 
Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. 1232g). Several commentators 
to the 2002 proposed regulations requested clarification as to whether 
an institution that chooses to report on all students under section 
6050S, even if the regulations provide an exception to required 
reporting, would violate FERPA. After the 2002 proposed regulations 
were issued, the Treasury Department asked the Department of Education 
to consider whether its earlier determination would extend to an 
institution that chooses to report on students otherwise covered by an 
exception to required reporting. The Department of Education has 
recently determined that an institution will not violate FERPA if it 
chooses to report information on all students in accordance with 
section 6050S, even if the regulations provide an exception to required 
reporting.
B. Required Information for Institutions

(i) Reporting Amounts Billed in One Year That Relate to an Academic 
Period That Begins During the First Three Months of the Next Year

    Several commentators to the 2002 proposed regulations requested 
that the final regulations eliminate the requirement that institutions 
indicate that amounts reported as billed in one calendar year relate to 
qualified expenses for an academic period that begins during the first 
three months of the next calendar year. The commentators explained that 
most institutions bill late in one calendar year for the qualified 
expenses that relate to an academic period that begins in the first 
three months of the next calendar year. The commentators questioned the 
usefulness of this information.
    Under section 25A and the regulations thereunder, the education tax 
credit is allowable only for amounts actually paid during the calendar 
year for an academic period that begins during the same calendar year 
or during the first three months of the next calendar year. Therefore, 
there may be situations where an institution reports amounts billed for 
qualified expenses in one calendar year that relate to an academic 
period that begins during the first three months of the next calendar 
year, and the taxpayer pays the qualified expenses in the next calendar 
year. In this situation, the taxpayer and the IRS should be advised 
that the amounts reported as billed during a calendar year may not be 
amounts for which the taxpayer may claim the education tax credit for 
that year. Therefore, the final regulations do not adopt this 
recommendation.

(ii) Reporting Requirements for Increases to Charges for Qualified 
Expenses and Grants Reported for a Prior Calendar Year

    One commentator requested clarification as to whether the 2002 
proposed regulations purposely did not require separate reporting for 
increases to charges for qualified expenses and grants reported by the 
institution for a prior calendar year. The amendments to section 6050S 
by Public Law 107-131 require institutions to report the aggregate 
amount of charges for qualified expenses and the aggregate amount of 
grants administered and processed during the calendar year. These 
aggregate amounts would include any increases in charges for qualified 
expenses that relate to a prior year and any increases in grants that 
relate to a prior year. Therefore, no separate reporting is required 
for increases to charges for qualified expenses and grants that relate 
to a prior year.

(iii) Information Contact

    The 2002 proposed regulations require institutions and insurers to 
include on the information statement furnished to the student the name, 
address, and phone number of the office or department within the 
institution or insurer that is the information contact. Several 
commentators requested that the regulations be revised to allow third 
party service providers that file information returns on behalf of the 
institutions or the insurers, as well as a third party call centers, to 
be designated as the information contact. Consistent with section 
6050S(d)(1), the final regulations require institutions and insurers to 
include the name, address, and phone number of the information contact 
of the person required to file the information return. This provision 
does not preclude any institution or insurer that is required to file 
an information return from including, in addition to its own name, 
address, and phone number, the name, address, and phone number of a 
third party service provider.
C. Information Reporting Penalties

(i) Filing Information Returns With Missing TINs

    Several commentators to the 2002 proposed regulations requested 
that institutions not be required to file information returns and to 
furnish information statements for students who refuse to provide their 
TINs. Information returns and information statements with missing TINs 
are useful to both the IRS and the taxpayer in verifying the amount of 
any allowable education tax credit (as well as other tax

[[Page 77681]]

benefits for higher education expenses). Therefore, the final 
regulations do not adopt this recommendation.

2. Requirement To File Information Returns on Magnetic Media

    The final regulations amend the regulations under section 6011(e) 
to require institutions and insurers who are required to file 250 or 
more Forms 1098-T, ``Tuition Statement,'' to file on magnetic media.

Special Analyses

    It has been determined that this Treasury decision is not a 
significant regulatory action as defined in Executive Order 12866. 
Therefore, a regulatory assessment is not required. It has also been 
determined that section 553(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 
U.S.C. chapter 5) does not apply to these regulations. A final 
regulatory flexibility analysis has been prepared for the collection of 
information in this Treasury decision. This analysis is set forth in 
this preamble under the heading ``Final Regulatory Flexibility 
Analysis.'' Pursuant to section 7805(f) of the Code, the proposed 
regulations preceding these regulations were submitted to the Chief 
Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration for comment 
on its impact on small business.

Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

    The collection of information contained in Sec.  1.6050S-1 is 
needed to assist the IRS and taxpayers in determining the amount of any 
education tax credit allowable under section 25A (as well as other tax 
benefits for higher education expenses). The objectives of these final 
regulations are to provide uniform, practicable, and administrable 
rules under section 6050S. The types of small entities to which the 
regulations may apply are small eligible educational institutions (such 
as colleges and universities) and certain insurers who reimburse 
educational expenses.
    There are no known Federal rules that duplicate, overlap, or 
conflict with these regulations. The regulations are considered to have 
the least economic impact on small entities of all alternatives 
considered.
    Moreover, the regulations requiring filing Forms 1098-T on magnetic 
media impose no additional reporting or record keeping and only 
prescribe the method of filing information returns that are already 
required to be filed. Further, these regulations are consistent with 
the statutory requirement that an institution or insurer is not 
required to file Forms 1098-T on magnetic media unless required to file 
at least 250 or more returns during the year. Finally, the economic 
impact caused by requiring Forms 1098-T on magnetic media should be 
minimal because most institutions' or insurers' operations are 
computerized. Even if their operations are not computerized, the 
incremental cost of magnetic media reporting should be minimal in most 
cases because of the availability of computer service bureaus. In 
addition, the existing regulations under section 6011(e) provide that 
the IRS may waive the magnetic media filing requirements on a showing 
of hardship. The waiver authority will be exercised so as not to unduly 
burden institutions and insurers lacking both the necessary data 
processing facilities and access at a reasonable cost to computer 
service bureaus.

Drafting Information

    The principal author of the regulations is Tonya Christianson, 
Office of Associate Chief Counsel (Procedure and Administration), 
Administrative Provisions and Judicial Practice Division. However, 
other personnel from the IRS and the Treasury Department participated 
in the development of the regulations.

List of Subjects

26 CFR Part 1

    Income tax, Reporting and record keeping requirements.

26 CFR Part 301

    Employment tax, Estate tax, Excise tax, Gift tax, Income tax, 
Penalties, Reporting and record keeping requirements.

26 CFR Part 602

    Reporting and recordkeeping.

Adoption of Amendments to the Regulations

    Accordingly, 26 CFR parts 1, 301, and 602 are amended as follows:

PART 1--INCOME TAX

    1. The authority citation for part 1 is amended by adding an entry 
in numerical order to read in part as follows:

    Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *
    Section 1.6050S-1 also issued under section 26 U.S.C. 6050S(g).* * 
*

    2. Section 1.6050S-0 is amended by revising the introductory 
language and adding new entries for Sec.  1.6050S-1 to read as follows:


Sec.  1.6050S-0  Table of contents

    This section lists captions contained in Sec. Sec.  1.6050S-1, 
1.6050S-2T, 1.6050S-3, and 1.6050S-4T.


Sec.  1.6050S-1  Information reporting for qualified tuition and 
related expenses.

(a) Information reporting requirement.
(1) In general.
(2) Exceptions.
(i) No reporting by institutions or insurers for nonresident alien 
individuals.
(ii) No reporting by institutions for noncredit courses.
(A) In general.
(B) Academic credit defined.
(C) Example.
(iii) No reporting by institutions for individuals whose qualified 
tuition and related expenses are waived or are paid 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.
(B) Formal billing arrangement defined.
(b) Requirement to file return.
(1) In general.
(2) Information reporting requirements for institutions that elect 
to report payments received for qualified tuition and related 
expenses.
(i) In general.
(ii) Information included on return.
(iii) Reportable amount of payments received for qualified tuition 
and related expenses during calendar year determined.
(iv) Separate reporting of reimbursements or refunds of payments of 
qualified tuition and related expenses that were reported for a 
prior calendar year.
(v) Payments received for qualified tuition and related expenses 
determined.
(vi) Reimbursements or refunds of payments for qualified tuition and 
related expenses determined.
(vii) Examples.
(3) Information reporting requirements for institutions that elect 
to report amounts billed for qualified tuition and related expenses.
(i) In general.
(ii) Information included on return.
(iii) Reportable amounts billed for qualified tuition and related 
expenses during calendar year determined.
(iv) Separate reporting of reductions made to amounts billed for 
qualified tuition and related expenses that were reported for a 
prior calendar year.
(v) Examples.
(4) Requirements for insurers.
(i) In general.
(ii) Information included on return.
(5) Time and place for filing return.
(i) In general.
(ii) Return for nonresident alien individual.
(iii) Extensions of time.
(6) Use of magnetic media.
(c) Requirement to furnish statement.
(1) In general.
(2) Time and manner for furnishing statement.
(i) In general.
(ii) Statement to nonresident alien individual.
(iii) Extensions of time.
(3) Copy of Form 1098-T.
(d) Special rules.
(1) Enrollment determined.

[[Page 77682]]

(2) Payments of qualified tuition and related expenses received or 
collected by one or more persons.
(i) In general.
(ii) Exception.
(3) Governmental units.
(e) Penalty provisions.
(1) Failure to file correct returns.
(2) Failure to furnish correct information statements.
(3) Waiver of penalties for failures to include a correct TIN.
(i) In general.
(ii) Acting in a responsible manner.
(iii) Manner of soliciting TIN.
(4) Failure to furnish TIN.
(f) Effective date.
* * * * *

    3. Section 1.6050S-1 is added to read as follows:


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 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),

[[Page 77683]]

(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;
    (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 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.

[[Page 77684]]

    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 $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.
    (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 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,

[[Page 77685]]

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 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 of the

[[Page 77686]]

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.
    (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

[[Page 77687]]

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.

PART 301--PROCEDURE AND ADMINISTRATION

    4. The authority citation for part 301 continues to read in part as 
follows:

    Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *

    5. Section 301.6011-2 is amended as follows:

    1. In paragraph (b)(1), first sentence, add the language ``1098-
T,'' immediately after the language ``1098-E,''.
    2. Revise paragraph (g)(3).
    The revision reads as follows:


Sec.  301.6011-2  Required use of magnetic media.

* * * * *
    (g) * * *
    (3) This section applies to returns on Forms 1098-E, ``Student Loan 
Interest Statement,'' and 1098-T, ``Tuition Statement,'' filed after 
December 31, 2003.

PART 602--OMB CONTROL NUMBERS UNDER THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT

    6. The authority citation for part 602 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805.


    7. In Sec.  602.101, paragraph (b) is amended by adding an entry in 
numerical order to the table to read as follows:


Sec.  602.101  OMB Control numbers.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Current
     CFR part or section where identified and described      Control OMB
                                                                 No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                * * * * *
1.6050S-1..................................................    1545-1678
 
                                * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------


David A. Mader,
Assistant Deputy Commissioner--Internal Revenue.
    Approved: December 12, 2002.
Pamela F. Olson,
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
[FR Doc. 02-31915 Filed 12-18-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4830-01-P