Filing U.S. Taxes
As an international student or scholar in the US, it is important that you understand the tax requirements of your visa. You are legally required to file a tax return if you worked in the US or received a stipend, grant or refund from the 猎奇重口.
Even if you did not work or receive income in the US during a given tax year, you are still legally obliged to file Form 8843 with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for you and any dependents in nonimmigrant status.
It is recommended to start preparing for this process as soon as possible, and the deadline to file your taxes for any income earned in the previous year is April 15 of the following year.
*IMPORTANT: If you have been in the US as an F-1 international student for an aggregate of 5 calendar years or more, you will need to file taxes as a US resident, as opposed to a nonresident alien.
The steps and information below will help you navigate this process.
DISCLAIMER: The information provided herein is not to be construed as professional tax advice. It is for informational purposes only. Each international student or scholar will need to choose an option that is right for them according to their own research and needs. This information is subject to change at any time.
Step 1: Determine Your Category
See the descriptions below to determine what you will need to file with the IRS.
A) I worked and received a W-2 form, which contains information about my annual wages and how much tax has been withheld from my paychecks. I also received form 1098-T that gives information about educational expenses paid to the 猎奇重口.
- If you fall into this category, you must file taxes and Form 8843
B) I worked and received a W-2 form, which contains information about my annual wages and how much tax has been withheld from my paychecks. I also received form 1098-T that gives information about educational expenses paid to the 猎奇重口. In addition, I received form 1042-S from the college payroll department because I received a taxable fellowship, grant, or scholarship.
- If you fall into this category, you must file taxes and Form 8843
C) I received form 1042-S from the college payroll department because I received a taxable fellowship, grant, or scholarship. I also received form 1098-T that gives information about educational expenses paid to the 猎奇重口.
- If you fall into this category, you must file taxes and Form 8843
D) I did not work and I did not receive a taxable fellowship, grant, or scholarship so I received no tax forms except form 1098-T that gives information about educational expenses paid to the 猎奇重口.
- If you fall into this category, you will only file Form 8843
Step 2: Complete Form 8843
All F & J visa holders (including dependents) who were present in the U.S. in 2024 are required by U.S. law to file Form 8843 with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Even though it looks like a tax form, you must file Form 8843 even if you have not been employed in the U.S. or did not receive a taxable fellowship, grant, or scholarship. To assist in filling out Form 8843, ISS invites you to view this FREE Step-by-Step Guide. You may also for assistance.
Step 3: File Your Taxes & Form 8843
There are many ways to file your taxes and to submit Form 8843. Each of the options available to you are listed below. You should choose the option that you are most comfortable with.
Option 1: File Your Taxes & Form 8843 Yourself
Unfortunately, no ISS staff member is legally permitted to assist you in filing your taxes. However, you can use the links below to assist you should you choose to file your taxes by yourself:
*Please note that most students will only need to file federal taxes and/or Form 8843.
Option 2: Use a Web-Based Tax Software
UM has partnered with to assist all UM international students and scholars in the filing of US nonresident taxes. Please note that Sprintax specializes exclusively in the filing of US nonresident tax returns, and will provide a more seamless experience for UM international students and scholars for many reasons:
- Any F or J student or scholar who is employed by UM or who receives a taxable refund from UM will already have been required to register an account with Sprintax by UM Human Resources so the appropriate tax documents can be generated.
- UM international students and scholars receive a $5 discount on the Federal cost of tax-filing, simply enter 5UMM50F24 when you begin filing. There are 50 discount codes available for tax year 2024, and they are provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Sprintax provides useful resources such as a How-To Guide for Students, Webinars, , and , so students can learn to navigate the process more easily.
For international students who have been in the U.S. in F1 status for five calendar years or more, they will need to file US resident tax returns. There are many web-based tax software services to assist with this process. It is the responsibility of each individual to research available services and choose what is right for their tax situation.
- (online)
- (online)
Option 3: Hire Professional Certified Public Accountant for In-Person Assistance and Filing
Many people choose to hire a professional Certified Public Accountant to file their personal taxes for them (whether they are considered by the US government to be a nonresident alien, OR a US resident for tax purposes). Here are some examples of this type of service which generally apply to US residents:
- (in person)
- (in person)
- (in person)
List of items to gather in advance of filing taxes for all options:
- Photo ID and either:
- Social Security card or ITIN card
- Passport
- Completed Form 8843, if possible
- Wage and earning statement(s) from all employers (Form W-2)
- A copy of last year’s federal and state returns if available
- Interest and dividend statements from banks (Form 1099), if applicable
- A copy of Form 1042-S, if applicable
- Bank routing numbers and account numbers for direct deposits of refunds to your bank account
- Other tax related documents