How Payments are Recorded for Tax Reporting

With Tax Form 1098-T reporting changes effective Tax Year 2018, it is important for our students and those paying on their behalf to understand the payment posting procedures of the Cashier’s Office and more important, effective dates for which payments are posted to student accounts based on the payment delivery and received by dates.

  • Electronic payments paid via the Rice University Student Portal, “Esther” include electronic check (ACH Debits) and Payment Card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover) are recorded to the student account upon receipt.
  • In-person payments, hand delivered to the Cashier’s Office by the payer include cash, check and debit card payments are accepted during open Cashier Office hours Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. are recorded to the student account upon receipt.
  • Payments received via United States Postal Service or by courier service are recorded and receipted to the student account effective the date received during open Cashier Office hours Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Payments received during non-business hours, weekends, and University Holidays (published on the official Rice University Academic Calendar at https://registrar.rice.edu/calendars) are recorded to the student account effective the first business day immediately following the Rice University Cashier’s Office closure.
  • Bank Wired/EFT payments are recorded and receipted to the student account effective the date the notification is received by the Rice University bank during open Cashier Office hours Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Payments received during non-business hours, weekends, and University Holidays (published on the official Rice University Academic Calendar at https://registrar.rice.edu/calendars) are recorded to the student account effective the first business day immediately following the Rice University Cashier’s Office closure.

529 Savings Plans

529 Savings Plan Disbursements are often delivered to the Cashier’s Office via courier service or by USPS. When requesting a disbursement, please consider Plan Coordinator processing time and mail time should the disbursement be nearing a tax year deadline. Payment posting procedures follow the same process as described above, depending on the method of delivery. Effective dates for posting cannot be back-dated.