Filing International Student Taxes
As tax season begins, many international students are left clueless when it comes to information they need. Due to the lack of knowledge about filing taxes and how confusing that process might result.
As an international student, students are considered non-U.S. residents under U.S. tax law and are required to file 1040NR return form. “I don’t know anything about it,” Sharon Obioma, an international student at Green River College.
Students might face some difficulties and confusion when filing a tax return by themselves, which is why Lewermark, a company for international student health insurance has partnered up with Sprintax, a U.S. tax return preparation tool designed primarily to prepare non-resident federal and state tax returns.
Sprintax is available for use by international students, scholars, teachers, and all other international education visitors with visa type F, H, J, L, M, and Q immigration status to help prepare state tax return in less than 20 minutes. The preparation costs about $36 in total.
In order to file a tax return, the first thing a student must do is register for Sprintax or get into the Lewermark website.
Students are also going to need a passport or other photo ID, U.S. entry and exit dates for current and all past visits to the U.S., and all tax forms including form W-2, 1042-S and/or 1099 if they were received. Visa/immigration status information will be needed, including form DS-2019 (for J visa holders) or form I-20 (for F visa holders), and a social security number or individual taxpayer identification number.
“If you are using Sprintax for state tax returns preparation only, you will need a copy of your already prepared federal tax returning,” Lewermark’s website said.
Filing taxes is a legal requirement of the United States and but most people receive a refund if they overpaid in taxes during the previous year. The average refund is $800-$1000 per year
If students miss the opportunity to file it, it will affect current visa and future US visa applications. Late filing penalties can result.
For example, filing a return more than 60 days after the due date or extended due date might cause a minimum penalty of $135 or 100 percent of the unpaid tax.
The deadline for filing taxes is April 18 but extensions may be available.
International students are encouraged to visit the Lewermark and Sprintax site for help concerning their taxes and determining what forms they will need to fill out.
W-2’s, the forms stating how much money in taxes were taken out, should have been sent out by Jan 31 by all employers and students should begin filling out forms to meet the deadline to avoid late fees.
