Virtually All F- or J- international students and scholars and their dependents must file an income tax form every year in order to be in compliance with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations. This is true regardless of whether they earned income while in the United States. Income tax issues for foreigners are complex and confusing. The following is designed to give you a basic understanding of your responsibilities and tell you how to get more information. Do not construe the information presented here as individual tax advice!

U.S. Tax Season Assistance

The start of a new year brings tax filing responsibilities for nonresident F and J visa students, regardless of whether they received income in the United States.

To assist nonresident alien filers with filing obligations this tax season, the Employee Services International Tax Office offers a variety of helpful resources including complementary Foreign National Tax Resource (FNTR) software licenses.

Use the software to:

  • Prepare a 1040NR or 1040NR-EZ
  • View frequently asked questions
  • Understand various tax laws, treaties, regulations and more

Visit Employee Service online to view resources and request an FNTR license, while supplies last.

ISSS advisors are not tax experts. ISSS cannot give you any tax advice or help you with any tax issue. If you do not obtain an FNTR license and need tax assistance, you can consult a commercial tax preparer or use one of the few tax software programs available, such as:

If you want to seek advice from professional tax preparer, see handout Tax Preparation Specialists.

A Note to Scholars

Frequently the choice of a nonimmigrant status for a visiting scholar will be affected by tax considerations. For example, a J-1 exchange visitor is generally considered a nonresident for tax purposes for two years, whereas an H-1B scholar might be able to declare resident status for tax purposes immediately, resulting in a tax advantage, in some cases. Other considerations will also affect a visiting scholar's tax status.

Payroll & Benefits Tax Specialist

Information about income taxes for visiting scholars can be obtained from an international tax specialist at Payroll and Benefit Services. You will need to schedule an appointment to see an international tax specialist through their scheduling application on their website.

Caution

Please note that the USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) and the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) use the terms "resident" and "nonresident" to mean different things. This is enormously confusing to visiting scholars and to sponsoring departments as well. Please call ISSS for clarifications.

Withholdings

When you first begin employment in the United States, you will have to fill out a W-4 Form. This helps your employer estimate how much of your income should be "withheld" (or deducted) from your wages for the purpose of paying taxes. Your employer pays those amounts directly to the U.S. Treasury on your behalf. In your annual tax return, you must reconcile your account with the government to verify that you paid the right amount over the course of the year. If you paid too much, you can claim a refund, which will be paid promptly unless the government disagrees with your calculations.

Different Kinds of Taxes, Collected at Different Levels

There are six different types of taxes in the U.S. tax system (e.g., income tax, Social Security tax, sales tax, personal property tax) and three layers of taxation (local, state, and federal). You have obligations at several levels.

  • Social Security Tax: Students often have questions about payment of a U.S. tax called Social Security tax, or FICA. FICA is a taxation system that provides benefits to retired workers. Most F and J students are not subject to this tax, but H1 scholars and J-2 dependents with work permission are. You can get more information about this tax from your campus payroll office.
  • Sales Tax is similar to the value-added tax collected in many countries, except that in the United States the amount of the tax is not included in the advertised prices of goods. Sales-tax rates vary from state to state.
  • Personal property tax: a tax on automobiles and other valuable property.
  • Income tax:  To learn about your state and local income-tax responsibilities, consult local tax authorities after you have arrived in the United States. Check the blue or white pages of the local telephone book for the appropriate government listings. Alternatively, International Student and Scholar Services or the campus payroll office can provide you with information. You are generally only taxed on your income based on U.S. sources. Sources of U.S. income include: on-campus employment, scholarships, fellowships, graduate assistantships, practical or academic training, and any compensation received for labor. Note that "income" is not limited to wages paid to you in cash, but also includes that portion of your scholarship, fellowship, or assistantship that is applied to your housing and meal expenses. The portion applied to your tuition fees, books, and supplies is not counted as income. The campus payroll office will help you make these distinctions. Be sure to inquire about the applicability of any tax treaty that might exist between your country and the United States.
  • Bank Interest: International students do not have to pay taxes on interest paid to them by U.S. banks.

Reporting Requirements for Dependents

F-2 and J-2 dependents, regardless of age, are expected to file the tax form 8843 annually in the United States, even if they have no income from a U.S. source. In the case of F-2s (who cannot work in the United States), the completion of a tax form is simple. A J-2 dependent, who may get permission to work in the United States, is taxed on his or her earnings.

Important Dates

  • April 15: The last day on which residents and nonresidents who have earned wages from U.S. sources may file their U.S. federal income-tax returns for the previous year.
  • June 15: The last day on which nonresident students and their dependents who have no wage income from U.S. sources in the previous year may file their Form 8843 and/or 1040NR-EZ or 1040NR returns.

Helpful Documents

You can find several publications provided by the Internal Revenue Service that will help guide you through your tax forms:

  • US Federal Income Tax Guide for Aliens and
  • US Federal Income Tax Guide for International Students and Scholars
  • IRS Publications:
    • Publication 519: U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens. Helpful when preparing a nonresident tax return (1040NR or 1040NR-EZ).
    • Publication 901: U.S. Tax Treaties. Essential for individuals from nations having tax treaties with the United States.
    • Form 8843: Statement for Exempt Individuals and Individuals with a Medical Condition. This one-page document must be completed and returned with the 1040NR and 1040NR-EZ. It verifies nonresident alien tax status. Please review Employee Services Form 8843 Resource Guide for more information.
    • Form 1040NR: U.S. Nonresident Alien Income Tax Return. The longer version of the return completed by many nonresidents. This form is distinct from the 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ filed by residents for tax purposes. It is not interchangeable with those forms. The IRS publishes an instruction booklet to accompany the form.
    • Form 1040NR-EZ: U.S. Income Tax Return for Certain Nonresident Aliens with No Dependents

Some Related Websites

Helpful telephone numbers

IRS (for general tax information): 1-800-829-1040
To order forms: 1-800-829-3676

U.S. tax laws are difficult to understand, so some students may be tempted to ignore this obligation. Be aware, however, that the amount of information shared by the IRS and USCIS is increasing each year. It is in your best interest to meet your tax obligations.