If you are a US resident for tax purposes, you may be eligible to claim a tax credit on your federal tax return if you paid qualified educational expenses to any of the Seattle Community Colleges. The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 provides educational tax incentives for eligible taxpayers. These benefits, called the American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning Credits, allow taxpayers to reduce their federal income tax based upon qualified tuition and fees paid, assuming the taxpayer meets all eligibility requirements. The decision as to whether you qualify for tax credits should be determined in consultation with your personal tax advisor or the Internal Revenue Service. The Seattle Community Colleges cannot give you tax advice or make a determination as to whether you qualify for tax credits.
The 1098-T form is used by eligible educational institutions to report information about their US resident students to the IRS as required by the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997. As an eligible educational institution, Seattle Community College reports certain enrollment and identifying information regarding US resident students for which Seattle Community College has received payments of "Qualified Tuition and Related Expenses" for the corresponding tax year. Included in the 1098-T form are qualified charges that were billed and scholarships received for the corresponding tax year. Educational institutions are not required to provide 1098-T forms to students who are non-resident aliens for tax purposes. As a result, you may not receive a 1098-T form from Seattle Community Colleges if you are a non-resident alien student.
If you are a US resident for tax purposes and you have qualified charges and/or scholarships for the corresponding tax year, you will receive a 1098-T form from the Seattle Community Collges at your permanent address in late January. Please help us ensure your receipt of your 1098-T by keeping your permanent address updated in our files. Your permanent address may be updated online by clicking on one of the links on the right. IMPORTANT: If you have attended more than one of our colleges, please make sure you update your student record at each college you have attended.
To comply with federal laws, we are required to ask for your Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). We will use your SSN / ITIN to report Hope Scholarship/Life Time tax credit, to administer state/federal financial aid, to verify enrollment,degree and academic transcript records, and to conduct institutional research.
If you do not submit your SSN/ITIN, you will not be denied access to the college; however, you may be subject to civil penalties (refer to Internal Revenue Service Treasury Regulation 1.6050S-1(e)(4) for more information).
Pursuant to state law (RCW 28B.10.042) and federal law (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), the college will protect your SSN from unauthorized use and/or disclosure.
Please be sure you update your record at each of the Seattle Colleges you have attended.
Green for the 21st Century in Seattle
Innovations in curriculum and operations have earned the 2009 Green Washington Award for the Seattle Community Colleges – Central, North and South. All three colleges are active members of the Seattle Climate Partnership and North was an early signer of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. A district-wide Chancellor’s Sustainability Initiative provides energy, focus and a forum for emerging training and initiatives.
Sustainability is infused into programs ranging from urban agriculture at Central to environmental science, real estate and building management across the district. Students have funded a sustainability coordinator. Campus activities include reducing the carbon footprint and promoting recycling and energy conservation, which earned a “Recycler of the Year” award for South. Last year, the college culinary operations diverted 31 tons of materials to a regional composting facility – which returned the compost to “green” the college landscape.
For more information visit www.seattlecolleges.edu/green
Helping displaced workers to ‘Start Next Quarter’
During the economic downturn, thousands of displaced workers turned to the Seattle Community Colleges at the same time regional employers reported a need for skilled workers to fill jobs in the new economy. To help both potential workers and employers, the Seattle Community Colleges developed Start Next Quarter (SNQ), a two-part initiative designed to improve the success of dislocated workers who enroll in technical education programs. SNQ invites prospective students to assess their eligibility for workforce funding online and connects them to a comprehensive two-day college success workshop held at each campus. The workshops are based on a model developed at one of the district campuses. Students who complete the workshop are more likely to complete their training programs and to obtain jobs using their new skills. The project was developed in part through a grant from the League for Innovation, funded by the Walmart Foundation Bright Futures project to serve displaced workers.
Visit www.startnextquarter.org
A Model for the Region
The Opportunity Center for Employment and Education at North Seattle Community College is a regional resource and the first integrated service center of its kind in Washington state. Since the OCE&E opened its doors in spring 2011, more than 40,000 people have come for one-stop help in finding a new job, career retraining or to sign up for public assistance benefits. Founding partners were the state Departments of Social and Health Services and Employment Security, the college, and the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County. The campus and the new LEED Gold Certified 45,000-square foot facility are in the heart of Seattle’s north end and close to a major transit hub. House Speaker Frank Chopp and Rep. Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney (sponsor of the legislation and a former Seattle District trustee) championed the OCE&E in the state legislature. The center aims to provide streamlined services in a positive environment, helping clients succeed in the next stage of their lives.