Around 53 West Virginia University students’ personal information was available to others following an "operational error" during a routine update of tax information Jan. 15.
The students’ 1098-T forms, which include their Social Security number and tax identification numbers, among others, were uploaded to the University’s 1098-T Web site. The forms are distributed to WVU students who are U.S. citizens who paid tuition during the 2009 calendar year. They can be used to claim federal tax credit.
Students can typically access their forms on the site for tax purposes, but the error made the information viewable to any WVU student on the site.
University Spokesman John Bolt said the information was visible for less than 90 minutes.
"(The site) was immediately shut down as soon as it was discovered," Bolt said. "And it will stay down until we find a fix."
No 1098-T forms can be viewed online, and students will now be mailed their forms by Feb. 1.
Affected students were immediately notified of the situation individually, Bolt said. WVU sent an alert Wednesday via MIX telling all students they will receive 1098-T forms in the mail at their permanent address.
For questions regarding the 1098-T form, contact the campus tax office at www.finance.wvu.edu/1098t/. For security concerns, contact the Office of Information Technology Security at Information_Security@mail.wvu.edu or call 304-293-9081.
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