International students and scholars who were present in the U.S. during
2017 should now start to prepare any required tax paperwork for that year. If you first arrived to the U.S. to begin your program in
2018, you do not have to file any tax paperwork until 2019.
Students and scholars who did not have taxable income may also need to complete a tax form if here in 2017. See below.
More Detailed Tax Information:
ISSS Tax Resources webpage
UConn VITA program
FAQ for Foreign Students and Scholars
IRS Foreign Students and Scholars webpage
Getting Started: What tax paperwork do I need to file?
IF YOU HAD NO U.S. INCOME IN 2017:
You may need to complete and submit a
Form 8843 if:
- you were present in the U.S. with an F/J visa during 2017 and
- you were a non-resident for tax purposes during 2017
Most international students are non-residents for tax purposes for the first five calendar years in the U.S. with the F/J visa. Most visiting scholar or student interns are non-residents for tax purposes for the first two calendar years
in the U.S. on the J visa. This also applies to F2 and J2 dependents with no income. Please follow these
instructions to complete Form 8843. If you are filing only this form and no tax return (because you have no income), the deadline to submit Form 8843 is June 15th.
IF YOU HAD U.S. INCOME IN 2017:
You have several options to help you file your 2017 U.S. and state tax returns. Remember that tax returns are due
April 15.
Here are a few options to help you file your tax forms if you had work income, or taxable U.S. scholarship income:
University of Connecticut VITA Tax Program, Storrs campus:
If you are at the Storrs campus you can have your tax return prepared by the University of Connecticut VITA Tax Program. This program is offered at the Storrs campus only. They will prepare tax returns for both non-residents and residents for tax purposes.
Learn more and register
here. If you will participate in the UConn VITA Tax Program, you must go to your scheduled appointment and you must bring all
required documents.
Sprintax, Online: If you are a student at the GBLC, Greater Hartford, Law School, Stamford, Avery Point or Waterbury campus, or if you are on post-completion OPT, then you may be able to prepare your tax return online using
Sprintax. Sprintax is an online tax preparation software that can prepare U.S. federal tax returns and Form 8843 at no cost to international UConn students and scholars. State tax returns can also be prepared at an additional cost. Sprintax can only prepare
tax forms for UConn students and scholars who are non-resident aliens for tax purposes during the 2017 tax year. Sprintax will offer a short questionnaire to determine whether you are eligible to use the software based on your non-resident tax status.
You can access Sprintax
here to create an account and determine whether you can use the software. To complete your federal tax return and Form 8843 at no cost, you will need to get an access code from ISSS. Send an email to
[log in to unmask] to request a Sprintax access code. Please be advised that access codes are limited and available on a first-come, first serve basis.
Other resources: If Sprintax determines that you are a resident for tax purposes, then you may utilize other resources to help you prepare your U.S. and state tax return, such as online software programs and professional preparers.
See http://www.irs.gov/Filing for your options. Tax preparation software programs listed on this website do not prepare
Nonresident Alien tax returns.
Rae Alexander
Director
International Student and Scholar Services
UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
GLOBAL AFFAIRS
2011 Hillside Road, U-1083
STORRS, CT 06269-1083
PHONE: 860.486.3855 |
EMAIL:
[log in to unmask]
http://isss.uconn.edu | www.facebook.com/UConnISSS
|
ISSS Walk-In Advising: MON - FRI: 1:00 - 3:30 pm