Segal AmeriCorps Education Award

The Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, unlike most other forms of scholarships and fellowships, is subject to federal tax in the year the Trust pays the voucher. Living allowances you received during your term of service and any interest the Trust paid on qualified student loans are also subject to income taxes in the years they were paid. When and how much of the education award you redeem may have an impact on your overall income tax responsibility.

If the Trust makes a payment on qualified student loans to your school or lender for the entire amount of a full-time education award in one calendar year, you will be responsible for any income taxes owed in that calendar year on that $4,725. If you redeem only a portion of your education award in one calendar year, you will be responsible for any taxes owed on that portion.

The interest payments we make on postponed qualified student loans are subject to income taxes in the calendar year in which the Trust makes the payments to the lender.

The Trust DOES NOT deduct taxes from your education award or interest payments. After the calendar year in which we paid your education award or interest payments, we send you a Form 1099 to be used in preparing your income tax return. The total sum of interest payments and the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award are listed together on the 1099 form.

Living Allowance

You are responsible for any income taxes owed on any AmeriCorps living allowances you receive. The living allowance amount received in a calendar year is subject to income taxes for that calendar year. For example, if you receive half of your $10,000 living allowance in 2002 and half in year 2003, the $5,000 received in 2002 is subject to 2002 income taxes, and the $5,000 received in 2003 is subject to 2003 income taxes.

After the calendar year in which you earned any living allowance, your AmeriCorps project will send you a W-2 form indicating the amount of the allowance you earned in that year. Most AmeriCorps*VISTA and AmeriCorps*NCCC members receive their W-2 forms from the Corporation.

Tax relief

While you are responsible for taxes on your education award and other AmeriCorps benefits, you may be eligible for other tax relief through the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997. Issues about income taxes are very complicated. The important point to remember is that you should consider the tax consequences of any decisions you make about when and how to use your education award. Contact a tax professional or the Internal Revenue Service for details.