The Education Tax Credit began in 1998 and has now been updated.  Effective with tax year 2009, the American Opportunity Credit replaced the Hope Scholarship Credit.  Please read this important information in the IRS links below:

• IRS - Student's Information Page

• American Opportunity Credit 

• Lifetime Learning Credit

• myCuesta Fees History

Cuesta College in compliance with the Taxpayer Relief Act (TRA) of 1997 will provide a 1098T form to students who enrolled in credit courses and were charged eligible fees at Cuesta College during the 2009 school year, including:

• Each student enrolled in Spring 2009, Summer 2009, and Fall 2009

• Each student enrolled for Spring 2010 prior to December 31, 2009.

Cuesta College will NOT provide a 1098T to students:

• whose eligible fees were waived (i.e., scholarship and/or BOGW); or

• who enrolled without providing their Social Security number.

The 1098T is the tax form required to support the student's claim for the 2009 American Opportunity Credit, or other eligible tax credit program, and includes enrollment information and fee information.  Cuesta reports the eligible fees charged NOT payments made by the student.  The 1098T is sent to the student's address on record with Cuesta (check myCuesta info) at the time of printing in early January 2010.

Eligible Fees charged for the 2009 American Opportunity Credit are included in the 1098T's provided to students.

Eligible fees to be reported include: Enrollment Fee, Non-Resident Tuition Fee, Course Fee, and Student Center Fee.

Fees not eligible and not included: Health Fee, ASCC ID Card, Student Representation Fee, and Parking Fee.

What Tax Preparer Needs:  We encourage all students to keep their registration receipts to provide proof of fees paid for the calendar year, regardless of the term of enrollment.  Cuesta will provide the eligible fees charged, so students will need to provide proof of the amounts paid to their tax preparer. We suggest that you contact your tax preparer for the best documentation to use to show fees paid.

Fee Payment documentation may be obtained from: