Cash Management Department

  1. Can I make a payment over the phone?

    We do not accept phone payments; payments can be made online or by mail to:

    Polk State College
    999 Ave H NE
    Winter Haven, FL 33881

  2. What are your hours?

    Lakeland Campus
    Hours Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

    Winter Haven Campus
    Hours Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

    We are closed on weekends.

  3. What types of payments are accepted?

    We accept checks, money orders, and credit/debit cards (including Visa, MC, Amex & Discover).

  4. Can I make a partial payment on tuition?

    No, however, we do offer a third party payment plan through NelNet.

  5. Can I pay with multiple cards/payment methods?

    No, you can only pay online using one card.

  6. When will I receive a refund for a dropped class or out of pocket payment?

    Refunds that are NOT financial aid-related are disbursed within 21 business days of the first day of class. Payments made via check are refunded through BankMobile and credit/debit card payments will go back to the card used for purchase.

  7. How do I set up a tuition payment plan (TPP)?

    Log into Passport, select “Pay Now,” select “Tuition Payment Plan.” You will be redirected to the NelNet website to complete your payment plan. NelNet phone: 800.609.8056

  8. Can I cancel/change my tuition payment plan (TPP)?

    Yes. Details regarding deadlines for increasing/decreasing the amount of your plan are available on the academic calendar.

  9. When will I receive a refund from NelNet?

    Refunds or overpayments to NelNet will be issued by Polk State College 60 days after the last day of the add and drop period for the main term session.

  10. When will I receive my 1098-T?

    Students who elect to receive an electronic Form 1098-T may access it via the MyPassport Portal any time after January 31. Otherwise, a paper copy will be sent via the U.S. Postal Service no later than January 31 to the mailing address provided under your student account.

    Log into MyPassport Account –

    1. Financial / Finances
    2. 1098-T
    3. Select correct year

     

  11. What if there is an error on my 1098-T, or I didn’t receive one?

    Contact the Office of Student Accounts at 863.297.1000 or studentaccounts@polk.edu.

     

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  12. When will I get my Financial Aid refund?

    Disbursement dates are available on the academic calendar, or by contacting Financial Aid at 863.297.1004 or by email at financialaid@polk.edu.

     

  13. Questions regarding Financial Aid deadlines, awards or refund amounts?

    Contact Financial Aid at 863.297.1004

  14. How do I pay for tuition and what type of payments are accepted?

    We currently accept check/money order, credit/debit (includes Visa, MC, Amex & Discover).

    For checks and money orders, make payable to Polk State College and mail to:

    Polk State College
    999 Ave H NE
    Winter Haven, FL. 33881

    For credit/debit, payment is accepted through Passport.

  15. How can I submit my WIOA voucher?

    Email your voucher with all signatures, dates, and funding sources to whcashmgmt@polk.edu.

  16. Who do I contact if my account is in collections?

    Contact ConServe at 1.800.724.7500

  17. How can I submit payment for my flight account?

    Payments can be made via check, please make payable to Polk State College and mail to:

    Polk State College
    999 Ave H NE
    Winter Haven, FL 33881

    Please include your full name and student ID number.

  18. I receive a private loan what do I need to do?

    When we receive a private loan, the loan must first be cleared by Financial Aid. Once your check has been cleared a member of Financial Aid will contact you via email with instructions for endorsing the check.

  19. What is a Form 1098-T?

    Polk State College (PSC) is required to file a Form 1098-T Tuition Statement with the Internal Revenue Service for PSC students who made payments for qualified tuition and related expenses during the calendar year. The Form 1098-T is used to compute eligibility for education-related tax credits

    BOX 1 will include total payments made during the calendar year for Qualified Tuition & Related Expenses. Payment made for tuition will include most tuition-related charges on the student account except for the following Non-Qualified Expenses:

    • Obligations
    • Access Fees
    • Health Fees
    • Testing Fees
    • Book Purchases
    • Parking Fees

    BOX 5 will include the total amount of scholarships or grants received during the calendar year for the cost of attendance.  Scholarships and grants generally include all payments received from third parties (excluding family members and loan proceeds).

  20. Why did I not receive a Form 1098-T?

    There are several possibilities:

      • You did not enroll in courses at Polk State College during the January 1st through December 31st calendar year (2023)
      • You did not have any payments to report for Qualified Tuition and Related Expenses
      • Your paper copy of the Form 1098-T was mailed to the mailing address on record and returned by the Postal Service
      • Your qualified tuition and related expenses are entirely waived or paid entirely with scholarships
      • You took classes for which no academic credit is offered.

    THE 1098-T FOR 2023 ONLY REFLECTS PAYMENTS MADE IN 2023 (ANYTHING PAID BEFORE OR AFTER DOES NOT SHOW)

    ACADEMIC TERMS DO NOT MATTER – WHAT MATTERS IS THE PAYMENT DATE (2023)

  21. Can I get a copy of Form 1098-T for prior years?

    Yes. All years in which you qualified for a form will be accessible online when you opt-in for E-delivery.

  22. How do I update my permanent and mailing address?

    Go to MyPassport and update online.

  23. How do I update my social security number?

      • Visit the Admissions Office
      • Complete a vital statistics form
      • Provide Social Security Card & Picture ID

    *** If out-of-state:

    • CASH AND ECASHIER (TUITION PAYMENT PLAN) PAYMENTS ARE REFLECTED ON 1098-T
    • NON-CREDIT (LUMENS) STUDENTS DO NOT RECEIVE A 1098-T

    Please visit https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1098et.pdf for details

    Contact the Business Office at studentaccounts@polk.edu  for additional questions

  24. Do I need to receive a Form 1098-T, Tuition Payments Statement, from my children’s colleges before I can file for the American Opportunity Credit and the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit?

    There is no requirement that you receive this form before you can claim these credits.

    References:

    1. Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education.
    2. Form 8863, Education Credits (American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning Credits).
  25. Am I able to claim the American Opportunity Credit for my non-credit classes?

    No, the American Opportunity Credit is only for credit courses.

  26. I paid for my spring semester classes in December. Can I claim the tax credit for this payment?

    Credit for qualified tuition can be claimed on the calendar or tax year the payment is made.

     

  27. How is the amount of the American Opportunity or Lifetime Learning Credit determined?

    The amount of the credit is determined by the amount you pay for qualified tuition and related expenses paid for each eligible student and the amount of your modified adjusted gross income (AGI).

    References:

    1. Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Higher Education.
    2. Form 8863, Education Credits (American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning Credits).
  28. If tuition was paid by a government subsidized loan, can I still take the American Opportunity or Lifetime Learning Credit?

    If you pay higher education expenses with certain tax-free funds, such as a scholarship, you cannot claim a credit for those amounts. If you are required to pay the loan back that was used to pay the higher education expenses, then the expenditures would qualify. The credit is claimed in the year in which the expenses are paid, not in the year in which the loan is repaid.

    References:

    1. Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Higher Education.
    2. Form 8863, Education Credits (American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning Credits).
  29. I cannot use Form 8863 because I received a scholarship, what can I do?

    You must reduce the qualified expenses by the amount of any tax-free educational assistance. Do not reduce the qualified expenses by amounts paid with the student’s earnings, loans, gifts, inheritances, and personal savings. Also, do not reduce the qualified expenses by any scholarship reported as income on the student’s return or any scholarship which, by its terms, cannot be applied to qualified tuition and related expenses.

    References:

    1. Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Higher Education.
    2. Form 8863, Education Credits (American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning Credits).