You can claim the student loan interest deduction even if you did not get a Form 1098-E. Most lenders do not send Form 1098-E if the interest you paid was less than $600. If you know how much interest you paid, and you meet the other requirements to claim the deduction, you can claim it without the 1098-E. In case the IRS questions it, you should have some records to show the amount of interest you paid, such as bills or statements from the lender, and canceled checks, bank or credit card statements, or receipts showing that you made the payments.