Topics
- Hours of Operation and Location
- Balance, Billing and Payment Information
- Refunds and Financial Aid
- Account Holds
- Tuition Liability Information
- Domicile and In State Residency
- Late Schedule Adjustments
- Enrollment over 15 credits (Undergraduate Students Only)
- Procedures for GI Bill®Applicants
- Disclosure of Student Account Information
- Deposits
- Financial Responsibility Agreement
- Third Party Billing Info
- 1098-T Frequently Asked Questions
Hours of Operation and Location
What are your hours of operation and where are you located?
For the most up to date information about Mason’s Safe Return to Campus, including Frequently Asked Questions, please visit here.
Balance, Billing and Payment Information
What is my balance?
A: Balances may be verified via Patriot Web or the [Bill+Payment for Students] or [Bill+Payment for Authorized Users]. For Patriot Web, navigate to the Account Detail for Term page in the Student Accounts section. Account Detail for Term provides semester charges, payments, and approved but pending future payments, such as Financial Aid or Third Party memos. The Bill+Payment System displays the current balance of the account as soon as you log in.
Will I receive a bill for my classes?
A: Electronic bills are generated approximately one month prior to the start of each semester. Reminder bills are not mailed for additional charges or schedule adjustments. Electronic bills are available for review in the [Bill+Payment for Students] or [Bill+Payment for Authorized Users]. When these bills are created, an email is sent to the student’s Mason email account and to any authorized users who are set up in the payment system. Failure to receive a reminder bill confirming your charges does not waive the requirement to make the payment prior to the due date.
How do I pay using my credit card?
A. Payments using VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover Card, and electronic checks (from personal checking accounts only) can be made using the [Bill+Payment for Students] or [Bill+Payment for Authorized Users] up until 10:30 PM nightly.
Having trouble logging into the Bill+Payment System?
A. For help with unlocking your Bill + Payment System, please try the following:
- Ensure your log-in is correct, for students this is the same NetID and Password as Patriot Web.
- Wait 30 minutes.
- Change password, limiting special characters, at https://password.gmu.edu/index.jsp.
- Clear your browser cache and/or use a different browser.
For authorized users, the student may need to reset your access.
The Student Accounts Office is not able to reset passwords for the Bill+Payment System. For authorized users, your student will need to reset your information in the Bill+Payment System (delete user and then re-authorize to generate a new password).
Please ensure your browser meets the minimum requirements for the Bill+Payment system: Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0 or higher, Mozilla Firefox 2.0 or higher, or Apple Safari 3.0 or higher. JavaScript must be enabled.
What if I am unable to pay online?
A. For those not able to make payment online and, who traditionally pay with cash, you may purchase a Money Order made payable to George Mason University and send to us by mail. Money Orders can be purchased at the following places, as well as banks and credit unions:
- U.S. Post Office
- Giant grocery stores
- Safeway grocery stores
- Walmart
- 7-11 stores
In addition, check payments for student account balances (including scholarship checks) can be sent to:
- Mail*:
George Mason University
P.O. Box # 716475
Philadelphia, PA 19171-6475 - If payment is being sent for overnight delivery by courier, please send to:
Lockbox Services – #716475
George Mason University
MAC Y1372-045
401 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
*Please make sure that the student’s ID number (G#) is included on the check or in correspondence with the check.
What payment plans are available?
A. Payment plans are available online for students who want to budget their accounts. A $30 setup fee, is required at the time of enrollment. The setup fee is nonrefundable. Failure to pay the deferred balance by the due date will result in financial hold, a late fee of 10% (up to $125), collection activity, and may prevent future eligibility of the payment plan.
To view the plans available for enrollment, please visit the [Bill+Payment for Students] or [Bill+Payment for Authorized Users].
Refunds and Financial Aid
Do I need to submit a refund request for Financial Aid?
A. A refund request form is not needed for financial aid refunds. Overpayments from Financial Aid awards will automatically generate a refund payment. If you are not enrolled in direct deposit, this payment will be a paper check, which is mailed to the address on file with the University. Direct deposit payments will be automatically deposited into your bank account. This is quickest way to receive your refund payment. Instructions on how to enroll in direct deposit are located here.
I can’t find locate my authorized/pending financial aid and memos. Where is it located?
A: This guide will guide you to the page where your authorized financial aid and memos is displayed.
Can I use my Financial Aid to pay for my Mason Payment Plan?
A. When calculating your Mason Payment Plan budget, your financial aid award is only factored in when you are determining your balance due to Mason. It may not be used as the down payment.
When will I receive my refund for account credits from non-Financial Aid sources, such as overpayments?
A. After submitting a refund request, your refund will be processed within 10-14 business days. If you are not enrolled in direct deposit, this payment will be a paper check, which is mailed to the address on file with the University. Direct deposit payments will be automatically deposited into your bank account. This is quickest way to receive your refund payment. Instructions on how to enroll in direct deposit are located here. For more information, please review the refund process.
Can funds be transferred from my student account to the bookstore?
A. Credit balances are not transferrable to the bookstore. Students can request a refund of the credit balance if they are not receiving Financial Aid, and the credit is due from an overpayment.
Account Holds
Can you release library and/or parking holds?
A. No, only the library and/or parking services can release their holds. We can only release student account holds.
Tuition Liability Information
What is the Add/Drop policy?
A. For information, please refer to the Registrar’s FAQ page.
Domicile and In State Residency
My tuition shows that I am being charged the out-of-state rate but I should be in-state. How can this be adjusted?
A. You must contact the Domicile office with questions regarding your domicile status. You may visit their web site or contact them at (703) 993-2464.
Late Schedule Adjustments
What is the process for submitting a Late Schedule Adjustment form?
A. The Late Schedule Adjustment form must be sent to the Office of the University Registrar at regsite@gmu.edu by the final approver (Department Chair / Course Dean).
As part of the approval process, you (the student) will need to sign that you acknowledge responsibility for any additional charges the changes may cause. It will be your responsibility to ensure that all charges are paid by checking your account on Patriot Web after the class registration is complete. If additional fees are due, it is the student’s responsibility to make the payment or incur additional penalties.
Enrollment over 15 credits (Undergraduate Students Only)
What is the rate if I am enrolled for more than 15 credits?
A. If you are enrolled as a full time student with 12-15 credit hours, you are charged the same tuition rate. However, if you exceed 15 credits, the tuition for the extra credits are assessed at the rate per credit hour. The current rates are available in our Tuition & Fees section.
Procedures for GI Bill® Applicants
How do I receive GI Bill® benefits?
A: Please refer to the Registrar’s Office website for complete instructions on initiating your benefits: http://registrar.gmu.edu/topics/post-911-gi-bill/
What is the VRRF and when do I have to fill it out?
A: VRRF stands for Veterans Registration Reporting Form. The VRRF must be submitted after students register for classes at the beginning of every semester, and anytime a schedule change is made.
My tuition is to be covered by the GI Bill®, but I received a bill for my tuition and fees, why?
A: Have you turned in your VRRF?
If No: You must submit a VRRF every semester and after every schedule adjustment so that a memo can be placed on your account for the payment expected from the VA. http://registrar.gmu.edu/forms/vrrf/Veterans Registration Reporting Form (VRRF)
If Yes: Do to high submission rates it may take two weeks to process your VRRF and have a memo credit applied to your account. Please allow time for your VRRF to process.
Why did I receive information stating Mason did not certify my tuition and fees?
A: In accordance with VA net-tuition requirements, certification without tuition and fees is first completed by Registrar’s Office staff. After the deadline to drop classes Third Party Billing amends the certification by adding tuition and fees. This process reduces overpayments and debt issues while expediting other payments from VA, such as BAH and book stipends.
Why does George Mason University wait to bill the VA until after the add/drop deadline?
A: George Mason participates in dual certification, which allows our veterans to start receiving their BAH and book stipend sooner, while significantly reducing the amount of over-payments and debt issues associated with class and schedule changes.
Why do I have to pay my enrollment deposit if I am covered by the GI Bill®?
A: The enrollment deposit is the financial commitment a prospective student makes to attend Mason. The VA will not pay for the enrollment deposit because it is refundable and can be returned to the student after the student is in attendance or used to offset other financial obligations.
“This institution is approved to offer GI Bill® educational benefits by the Virginia State Approving Agency.”
‘‘GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.”
Disclosure of Student Account Information
The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) provides privacy protection of a student’s educational record and restricts the release of those records without the student’s consent. Students who would like the Student Accounts Office to discuss their account with other person(s) or organization(s) must complete and return the release form which can be found here: FERPA Consent to Release Student Information – online form
Deposits
Where is the deposit I sent in?
A: Deposits are the financial commitment to attend Mason and, if applicable, to reside in University housing. Deposits are credited to student accounts as follows:
- Fall Enrollment: July 1
- Spring Enrollment: January 1
- Housing Deposits: July 1
Financial Responsibility Agreement
What is Financial responsibility Agreement?
A: Student Financial Responsibility Agreement is based on recommendations from the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) as well as guidance from the Office of the Attorney General Division of Debt Collection, George Mason University now requires students to acknowledge the financial responsibility agreement each semester. All students are required to accept George Mason University’s Student Financial Responsibility Agreement prior to registering for classes each semester. The agreement outlines financial terms and conditions associated with course registration. Your registration will not automatically be cancelled for non-attendance or non-payment of charges. If you do not plan to attend the semester, you must drop your registration by the end of the add-drop period per the George Mason University academic calendar. You remain financially responsible for all charges on your account.
As a Faculty Advisor, why do I see a student responsibility agreement when trying to view a class schedules?
A: The student responsibility agreement appears before class schedules because students can also register using this page in Patriot Web. Please be aware that as a Faculty Advisor, clicking accept does not obligate a student or you for any of the provisions in the agreement. Students must accept financial responsibility per the agreement when they are logged into their own account in Patriot Web to register each term.
Can I get a copy of Financial Responsibility Agreement?
A: You can find the copy here.
How do I accept it?
A: You can accept the Financial Responsibility Agreement in the Patriotweb. It will be displayed when you are registering for the classes. It is required to be accepted one time per term. Please refer here for instructions.
Third Party Billing Info
What is Third Party billing?
A: The Third Party Billing office invoices military departments, international embassies, public /private sector organizations, and educational institutions for tuition charges and associated fees for students.
What is the Third Party billing process?
A: Students provide the agency approved documents to the Third Party Billing office to defer their tuition while the Third Party Billing office invoices their paying agencies.
What do you require?
A: Students must provide the Third Party Billing office with an approved payment authorization, financial guarantee letter, or training authorization form prior to the due date.
What is the due date for Third Party?
A: The due date for accepting Third-Party Billing authorizations is posted in Calendars. However, your tuition and fee payment due date is based on your registration date. To avoid being charged late payment penalties, payment arrangements must be completed by your tuition payment due date.
How do I know that you have processed my financial guarantee?
A: When your financial guarantee is processed, the deferred payment amount will appear as a memo credit on the Account Detail for Term page in the Student Accounts section of Patriot Web. If the full balance is being covered by the sponsoring agency, no balance due will show in the lower right hand column of the webpage.
When do you invoice my agency?
A: We will invoice your agency after the add/drop date has passed.
What happens if my agency does not submit payment?
A: If your agency does not cover the balance of your tuition payment after two (2) invoices have been sent, you will be responsible for payment.
I have just checked my account on Patriot Web and my agency has not submitted payment. Do I need to be concerned?
A: The Third Party Billing Office sends agency bills approximately 10 days after the drop deadline of each semester. If you do not see your agency payment 75 days after the semester start, you should contact us.
1098-T
What is the IRS Form 1098-T?
A: The 1098-T Tuition Statement is an informational form filed with the IRS that assists students and their families in calculating educational tax benefits outlined in IRS Publication 970. An explanation of each box is also printed on the back of the 1098-T Tuition Statement.
When will 1098-T be available?
A: The IRS requires that mailed Form 1098-T to be postmarked by January 31 of the following calendar year. This form is mailed to the preferred address of a student who was enrolled at Mason for at least half time during the calendar year. Address changes can be made on PatriotWeb.
Alternatively, you may opt to receive an electronic 1098-T at [Bill+Payment for Students] or [Bill+Payment for Authorized Users], My Profile set up, Consents and Agreements. 1098-T forms will be available to view mid-January at [Bill+Payment for Students] or [Bill+Payment for Authorized Users].
How to Retrieve Tax Information
A: Log in to the [Bill+Payment for Students] or [Bill+Payment for Authorized Users] with your net ID and password to retrieve the information from your Form 1098-T.
A PDF guide can be found here.
Can my authorized user see my 1098-T?
A: By default, they cannot. You can give them permission to view 1098-T in [Bill+Payment for Students] or [Bill+Payment for Authorized Users].
A PDF guide can be found here.
What is included in Box 1 of the 1098-T Tuition Statement?
A: Box 1 of the 1098-T Tuition Statement consists of payments (student payments, scholarships, grants, stipends, loans, etc) received in the calendar year towards qualified charges for educational expenses, including tuition, mandatory student fee, course fees, and registration fees. Qualified charges do not include insurance, room and board, and/or late penalties. Box 1 is capped by the total amount of qualified charges for the calendar year. Effective for the 2022 tax year, the cap does not include future Spring charges billed in the current tax year. This change was made to improve 1098-T reporting because it better aligns payments and scholarship/grant disbursements with associated tuition and fee charges. This change does not impact how you would determine the amount to be reported on your tax return. Since the Form 1098-T is an informational form only, the final decision for determining eligible educational expenses is the taxpayer’s responsibility. If you have questions about eligibility, please check the IRS website, contact the IRS or discuss with a tax advisor.
What is included in Box 5 of the 1098-T Tuition Statement?
A:Box 5 of the 1098-T Tuition Statement consists of scholarships and grants that a student receives during the calendar year. These scholarships and grants could be called tuition awards, tuition grants, scholarships, third party payments, or similar such terms.
Why don’t the numbers on Form 1098-T equal the amounts I paid to George Mason University during the year?
A: There are potentially many reasons for this discrepancy. First, the amount in Box 1 only represents amounts paid for qualified tuition and related expenses (QTRE) and does not include payments made for room and board, insurance, or other fees, which are not considered as qualified education expenses for tax purposes. Secondly, Form 1098-T reports amounts that the student paid in a certain year, and the pay date does not necessarily correspond to the dates that the classes were registered. The best and most accurate source of information about the amounts that you paid for qualified tuition and related expenses will be your PatriotWeb or [Bill+Payment for Students] or [Bill+Payment for Authorized User] accounts.
Why didn’t Mason provide me with a 1098-T?
A: Mason is not required, by the IRS, to furnish a Form 1098-T in the following instances:
- Payments for courses for which no academic credit is offered, even if the student is otherwise enrolled in a degree program.
- Enrolled student is a nonresident alien, unless requested by the student.
- Students whose qualified tuition and related expenses are entirely waived or paid entirely with grants/scholarships.
- Students for whom you do not maintain a separate financial account and whose qualified tuition and related expenses are covered by a formal billing arrangement between an institution and the student’s employer or a governmental entity, such as the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense.
Where can I get a listing of payments made to Mason?
A: You can view your qualified fees assessed and payments applied to those fees on [Bill+Payment for Students] or [Bill+Payment for Authorized Users]. Requests for printed bill statements can be made to the Student Accounts Office.
Since I received a Form 1098-T from Mason, am I qualified for one of the education tax credits?
A: The taxpayer is responsible for determining eligibility. If you have questions about eligibility please check the IRS website, contact the IRS, or contact a tax advisor.
I did not receive a Form 1098-T because my school is not required to provide a Form 1098-T to me. Can I still claim an education credit for current tax year?
A: You may still be able to claim a credit, but it is taxpayer’s responsibility to determine the eligible tax credit. If you have questions about eligibility please check the IRS website, contact the IRS, or contact a tax advisor.
What are qualified and non-qualified expenses?
A: As determined by the federal government, qualified expenses are defined as expenses required by and paid to the institution for enrollment purposes. They include fees for tuition, facilities, technology, mandatory fees, and a portion of the course and services fees.
Nonqualified expenses are defined as room and board, student activities, parking, athletics, insurance, equipment, or other similar personal living expenses.
A: As a result, the amount of qualified expenses will likely be less than the total amount of money paid.
Why there is an amount in Box 1 and Box 2 is blank?
A: Due to a change to institutional reporting requirements under federal law, beginning with tax year 2018, the University will report in Box 1 the amount of payments received for qualified tuition and related expenses paid during the calendar (tax year).
How do I update my address on the 1098-T form?
A: Address changes can be made at the Patriotweb. Please ensure that your address is updated using a preferred address by December 31st of the current tax (calendar) year.
How do I add or correct a SSN/TIN on the 1098-T form?
A: Corrections to a SSN/TIN requires downloading and complete the IRS Form W-9S: https://studentaccounts.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/W-9S.pdf
Be sure to write your current Mason G number at the top of the form.
Do not email the form. You may send the form via fax: (703) 993-2490 or Mail to:
George Mason University
MSN 2E2, Student Accounts Office
4400 University Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030
I can’t get access to my Form 1098-T because I have graduated and have forgotten my access information.
A: Please contact the ITS at support@gmu.edu or (703) 993-8870 to have your NetID password reset in order to access to your PatriotWeb or [Bill+Payment for Students]
I have a question about my 1098-T form. Who can I call for help?
A: If you have questions about your 1098-T form please contact the Student Accounts Office:
Customer Service Phone Number: (703) 993-2000
Submit an online request
Mason is not allowed to provide students with tax advice. Check the IRS website, contact the IRS, or contact a tax advisor for questions on what you may be eligible to claim.
Additional Resources
1098-T Instructions from the IRS