International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)

International Students and Taxes

Understanding Your U.S. Tax Obligations

All international students and scholars are required to file a U.S. (federal) tax return even if they do not have U.S. source income.

The deadline to file your income tax return for tax year 2023 is Monday, April 15, 2024.

SIUE has arranged access to Sprintax Returns with a code valid to file Federal 1040NR and Form 8843 for the current tax year.  State tax return filing is offered at an additional cost paid by the student. Sprintax will guide you through the tax preparation process, determining your tax-residency status, prepare the necessary documents, tell you which forms you need to complete, and check if you are due a refund. 

Sprintax codes cost $3 dollars plus a processing fee and are available online to purchase with a debit or credit card. Instructions on how to purchase your Sprintax code has been sent out to all international students. Email isss@siue.edu if you did not receive this information. After you purchase the code, our office will email you the unique code along with a flier showing the instructions on how file your taxes and use the code. Each code is unique and cannot be shared. Keep your code safe as we are not able to retrieve it. If you lose your code, you will need to buy another one.

To purchase a Sprintax code, please see the "Event Tickets" section of the Morris University Center website or click the link here.

Due to the complexities of U.S. tax law and legal restrictions, university staff are neither qualified nor permitted to advise on taxes. 

 

Sprintax Webinars

The Sprintax team will be hosting a series of free open tax webinars to provide helpful information around nonresident tax filing obligations. 

Sprintax Webinars for OPT/CPT

Topics covered in these webinars will include residency for tax purposes, tax liabilities when on OPT/CPT and pre-employment tax forms when on OPT/CPT. The Sprintax team will also provide an overview of Sprintax forms, which can be used to prepare your pre-OPT/CPT employment tax documents. 

SIUE Sprintax Webinar

If you missed the SIUE-specific webinar hosted by Sprintax, you can watch the recording HERE.

Basic information on how you’re taxed in the U.S.

If you get a job in the U.S., you will need to fill out a W-4 Form so your employer knows what amount to withhold from your salary as taxes. The taxes are then paid directly to the U.S. Treasury (and/or the appropriate state agency) on your behalf. Similarly, if you received a grant, scholarship or stipend, some of this may be classified as income and you must still file your tax return each year.
Generally, you will only be taxed on your income based on U.S. sources (see below). Many students come from countries that have tax treaties with the U.S. and may be able to earn a certain amount in the U.S. without paying federal tax. Information is available at this site: United States Income Tax Treaties.

In your tax return, you must declare all sources of U.S. income such as:

• Income from employment in the U.S. (on-campus, practical or academic training)
• Scholarship, fellowship or grant
• Any other source of income

"Resident for tax purposes" status 

It is possible for an F-1 student to be considered a resident for tax purposes by the IRS based on the number of days they have spent in the U.S. If you have a Sprintax code, the initial questions will help you figure out if you are considered a "resident for tax purposes". Information is also found on the IRS website. Students in this category cannot file taxes with Sprintax. Instead they must use the same resident tax preparation software (e.g. Turbo Tax, H&R Block, etc.), file by hand yourself, or go to a tax preparation service. Unless you are very familiar with filing U.S. tax returns, we recommend to use a tax software or go to a tax professional or service. 

If you filed as a resident by mistake Sprintax can assist with amendments (corrections) at an additional cost. The code cannot the be used for corrections or to file past tax years. 

Forms to complete

If you earned income in the U.S. you should complete Form 1040NR / Form 1040 NR-EZ and Form 8843. If you did not earn any U.S. income nor receive U.S. scholarships or grants, you still must file Form 8843. 

Form 8843

All international students in the US who are non-residents for tax purposes, must file Form 8843 (including the spouses or dependents of nonresident aliens). You do not need a Social Security Number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number to complete Form 8843.  

Download instructions to complete Form 8843

Form 1040/NR/1040NR-EZ

To file your federal tax 1040NR / 1040NR-EZ form, you will need either a Social Security Number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), which is used in place of an SSN. 

Steps to file taxes with Sprintax

1. Gather all of your tax documents (W-2, 1042-S, 1098-T, 1099, and/or any other forms) that were sent to you from your employer or found in Cougarnet (if you are employed by the university) for the previous year.
2. Follow Sprintax instructions found here
3. Go to the Sprintax SIUE website to create your new account, and complete the online questionnaire.
4. In the "Review your order section" enter your Sprintax access code
5. Use the 24/7 live chat function to ask Sprintax any questions while you prepare your return.
6. Follow all instructions to print, sign, and mail your documents before the April 15 deadline. Most State Tax return(s) are available for download immediately but some are processed by the Sprintax team. Please allow 3 days. To find the address you need to mail your documents, follow the instructions on the form or visit the IRS website. 

Deadline to file and documents needed

April 15, 2024 is the last day to file Federal tax returns and state returns for Illinois and Missouri for 2022.  International Students cannot file taxes using Turbo Tax as the company does not support Form 1040NR (unless you are considered a "resident for tax purposes" by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Documents/info you’ll need to file taxes if you earned income in the U.S. or if you received a U.S. scholarship/fellowship/grant last year:

• Social Security Number or ITIN. 
• Passport
• All U.S. entry and exit dates
• All tax forms you received, including: Form W-2, 1042-S and/or 1099. If you received scholarships the form is found via CougarNet under the Student Account tab. If you worked for SIUE, you will need to check in the Employment section, under the Tax Forms tab. 
• Visa/Immigration Status information: Including Form DS-2019 (for J visa holders) or Form I-20 (for F visa holders)
• For State Tax Return(s) preparation: A copy of your prepared Federal Tax return
• A copy of last year’s federal income tax return, if filed.

Sprintax Resources

• SIUE Non-resident Alien Tax Information
• A Quick Guide for Sprintax Returns
• Your US Tax Residency Status Explained
• Filing a Previous Year's Tax Return
• Foreign Student Liability for Social Security and Medicare Taxes

Sprintax Guides/Videos 

• Sprintax Nonresdient Tax Webinar – Including Audio Description
• U.S. Entry and Exit Dates – How to Check Your Travel History
• How to Amend Your Tax Return with Sprintax
• How to File Your Nonresident Tax Return from Outside the U.S. 
• How to Apply for Your ITIN
• How to Apply for your ITIN From Outside the U.S.
• IRS Certified Acceptance Agents by State and Country for students applying for an ITIN who can't  mail proof of identity and foreign status documents
• Additional information for SIUE Employees, Student Workers or Graduate Assistants is found at SIUE's Payroll Tax Information webpage and SIUE Non-resident Alien Tax Information.

Need assistance during the tax filing process?

Use the chat system, call for free at 1-866-601-5695, or email Sprintax at hello@sprintax.com. You can also visit their Frequently Asked Questions page. 
U.S. and state income tax laws are complex and each individual's situation is unique. Due to the complexities of U.S. tax law and legal restrictions, university staff are neither qualified nor permitted to advise on taxes. 

Tax Refunds 

Generally, the IRS advises that you will have to wait 4 to 6 weeks after you mail your return before you receive your money. Please, allow a further 1-2 weeks for mailing, if you requested a check before you contact IRS. Please note the IRS allows up to 6 months for the processing of non-resident returns.  To check the status of your Federal tax refund, check the “Where’s My Refund?” tool. (You will have to scroll down to the blue button that says “Check my Refund Status”). If you are not able to get information on that site, Sprintax suggests calling one of the following numbers: 

• The IRS Refund Hotline – 800-829-1954. This number, available 24/7, is specifically for calls regarding tax refunds.
• The IRS TeleTax system – 800-829-4477. This provides general tax information as well as your current refund status. It is also available 24/7