A complete state-by-state guide to US taxes for international students

state tax guide international students

Last updated: Aug 4, 2021

In the US, there are different tax rules and laws in each individual state, as well as at a federal level.

Depending on where you live, you may be required to file a state tax return. In this article we will outline what you need to know about each state’s tax filing requirement.

So, let’s start with the easy part.

States with no income tax

Nine US states don’t impose any income tax on income.

This means that, if you live and work in one of the states below, only federal tax will be deducted from your income. You will not have to pay any state income tax.

  • Alaska
  • Florida
  • Nevada
  • New Hampshire (taxes only investment income, not earned income)
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee (taxes only investment income, not earned income)
  • Texas
  • Washington
  • Wyoming

While the states above don’t deduct individual income tax, they may still deduct taxes such as corporate tax, among others.

What to do if you have a state filing requirement

Meanwhile, if you work or invest in a state that has an income tax, it’s likely that you must file a state tax return. This is a separate document to your federal tax return. States are independent from one another in their taxing authority, and all state tax forms differ in some respects. In other words, the type of document you must file – as well as the deadline to file – differs from state-to-state. You can find a full list of everything you need to know below.

Alabama

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your Alabama state tax return is 15 April 2021.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘40NR’, as well as their federal tax return.

Arizona

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your Arizona state tax return is 17 May 2021.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘104NR’, as well as their federal tax return.

Arkansas

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your Arkansas state tax return is 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘AR1000NR’, as well as their federal tax return.

California

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your California state tax return is 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘540NR’, as well as their federal tax return.

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Colorado

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your Colorado state tax return is 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘104PN’, as well as their federal tax return.

Connecticut

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your Connecticut state tax return is 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘Ct-1040NR/PY’ and ‘Schedule CT-SI’, as well as their federal tax return.

Delaware

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your Delaware state tax return is 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘200-02’, as well as their federal tax return.

District of Columbia

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your Columbia state tax return is 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘D40-B’, as well as their federal tax return.

Georgia

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your Georgia state tax return is 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘500’ and ‘Schedule B’, as well as their federal tax return.

Hawaii

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your Hawaii state tax return is slightly later than other states in the US, with filing required by 17 May.

However, you can file before 15 October without receiving a late-filing penalty if they apply for an extension.

All nonresidents are advised to file before this, and beat the tax deadline rush.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘N15’, as well as their federal tax return.

Idaho

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your Idaho state tax return is 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘43’ and ‘Schedule B’, as well as their federal tax return.

Illinois

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your Idaho state tax return is slightly earlier than the majority of the other states, with the deadline being 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a ‘IL-1040’, and ‘Schedule NR’, as well as their federal tax return.

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Indiana

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your Indiana state tax return is 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘IT40-PNR’, as well as their federal tax return.

Iowa

State tax deadline: The tax deadline for filing your 2021 Iowa state tax return is slightly later than the majority of other states in the US, with filing required by 1 June.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘IA 1040’ and ‘IA 126’, as well as their federal tax return.

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Kansas

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your Kansas state tax return is 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘K-40’, as well as their federal tax return.

Kentucky

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your Kentucky state tax return is 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ’740NP’, as well as their federal tax return.

Louisiana

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your Louisiana state tax return is 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ’IT-540B’, as well as their federal tax return.

Maine

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your Maine state tax return is 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘1040ME’, as well as their federal tax return.

Easy Oklahoma tax return

Maryland

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your Maryland state tax return is 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘505NR’, as well as their federal tax return.

Massachusetts

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your Massachusetts tax return is 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘1-NR/PY’, as well as their federal tax return.

Michigan

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your Michigan state tax return is 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘M1-1040’ and ‘Schedule NR’, as well as their federal tax return.

Minnesota

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your Minnesota state tax return is 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘M1’ and ‘Schedule M1-NR’, as well as their federal tax return.

Mississippi

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your Mississippi state tax return is 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ’80-205’, as well as their federal tax return.

Missouri

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your Missouri state tax return is 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘MO-1040’ and ‘MO-NRI’, as well as their federal tax return.

Montana

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your Montana state tax return is 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form and ‘M2’, as well as their federal tax return.Montana State tax refunds

Nebraska

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your Nebraska tax return is 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘1040N’ and ‘Schedule III’, as well as their federal tax return.

New Jersey

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your New Jersey tax return is 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘NJ-1040NR’, as well as their federal tax return.

New Mexico

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your New Mexico tax return is 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘PIT’ and ‘PIT-B’, as well as their federal tax return.

New York

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your New York tax return is 15 April.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘IT-203’, as well as their federal tax return.

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North Carolina

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your North Carolina tax return is 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘D4000’ and ‘Schedule PN’, as well as their federal tax return.

North Dakota

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your North Dakota tax return is 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘ND-1’ and ‘Schedule ND-1NR’, as well as their federal tax return.

Ohio

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your Ohio state tax return is 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘IT 1040’, as well as their federal tax return.

Oklahoma

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your Oklahoma state tax return is 15 June.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘511NR’ and ‘Schedule 511NR-1’, as well as their federal tax return.

Oregon

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your Oregon state tax return is 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘OR-40-N’, as well as their federal tax return.

Pennsylvania

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your Pennsylvania state tax return is 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘PA-40’, as well as their federal tax return.

Prepare your State taxes hassle-free with Sprintax

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Rhode Island

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your Rhode Island state tax return is 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘RI-1040NR’, as well as their federal tax return.

South Carolina

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your South Carolina state tax return is 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘SC1040’ and ‘Schedule NR’, as well as their federal tax return.

Utah

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your Utah state tax return is 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘TC-40’ and ‘Schedule TC-40B’, as well as their federal tax return.

Vermont

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your Vermont state tax return is 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘IN-111’ and ‘Schedule N-113’, as well as their federal tax return.

Virginia

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your Virginia state tax return is 17 May.

State Tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘763’, as well as their federal tax return.

West Virginia

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your West Virginia state tax return is 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘IT-1040’ and ‘Schedule A’, as well as their federal tax return.

Wisconsin

State tax deadline: The 2021 tax deadline for filing your Wisconsin state tax return is 17 May.

State tax return: All nonresidents with a tax filing requirement should file a form ‘1NPR’, as well as their federal tax return.

If you require additional time to file your tax returns after the new deadlines, you can request an extension to do so with the relevant state tax authorities.

Who can help me prepare my state taxes?

Sprintax can guide you through the often tricky State tax filing process!

When you create an account with Sprintax, our system will assist you in preparing fully compliant Federal and State tax returns and also enable you to use any tax deduction and benefits that will allow you to claim your maximum legal tax refund!

Prepare your State tax return with Sprintax!

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You can find more information about the forms and State tax returns we prepare here.

Sprintax can make things much easier for you. Check out my blog posts and feel free to ask me any questions.

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