All posts tagged international student taxes

February 16, 2022

How to prepare the tax forms you need when you start a new job in the US

Are you а nonresident starting a new job or CPT/OPT in the US?

If that’s the case, congratulations!

When you change jobs or start new employment in the US, there are important tax forms that you need to be aware of.

These forms ensure you don’t pay too much tax, and claim any tax treaty benefits you’re due.

In the US, you must fill out the forms correctly because otherwise, you may owe tax to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) when you file your tax return, and then end up owing additional penalties or fines on top of this. Continue reading “How to prepare the tax forms you need when you start a new job in the US” »

No Comments / Sprintax Forms, Sprintax TDS / Kristina Valcheva
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November 29, 2021

How to prepare for the 2021 US tax season

The deadline for filing your 2021 US tax return is April 18, 2022, and it’s never too early to start preparing.

There’s no doubt that, whether you have filed a tax return before, or this is your first year with a filing requirement, the tax season can be a real headache.

In this blog, we’ll look at 5 things every nonresident alien in the US can do to ensure their tax season runs as smoothly as possible.

Continue reading “How to prepare for the 2021 US tax season” »

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July 30, 2021

How the rule changes for NCAA compensation affect the taxation of nonresident student athletes in the US

Thursday 1 July 2021 will forever be remembered for the dawn of a new era in US college sports.

Students who participate in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) competitions are now – for the very first time – entitled to make money from a wide variety of business ventures, without losing their eligibility to compete.

Perhaps the most interesting developments surround what is known as ‘NIL’ rights (name, image and likeness).

A combination of state laws and NCAA NIL policy changes has now removed restrictions preventing athletes from selling their NIL rights.

While these changes do not mean that college football players can suddenly begin to receive big salaries, they do open the door for athletes to claim a bigger piece of the billions of dollars generated by US college sports each year.

However, making money from NIL will not necessarily be straightforward for every student athlete. Continue reading “How the rule changes for NCAA compensation affect the taxation of nonresident student athletes in the US” »

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June 9, 2021

I am a nonresident in the US. Can I claim any tax treaty benefits?

What are tax treaties and how can they help you save money at tax time?

If you’re a nonresident alien in the US, you may be wondering if there are any tax reliefs available which can help you save money on your tax bill.

While the answer to this question is likely “yes”, exactly what you will be entitled to will depend on your personal circumstances.

The best place to start is by checking whether or not you are entitled to any tax treaty benefits.

The US has signed tax treaty agreements with 67 countries around the world and if you are entitled to benefit from one of these agreements, you could potentially save a lot on your taxes.

In this guide, we are going to take a closer look at tax treaty benefits – what they are and exactly how you can claim them.

Continue reading “I am a nonresident in the US. Can I claim any tax treaty benefits?” »

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January 14, 2021

What income is taxable for nonresident aliens in the US?

Are you a nonresident living in the US? We know it can be confusing to understand the tax system in your home country, let alone in a different one, so we are here to help explain what income is taxable for nonresidents in the US.

As a foreign national you can be subject to one of two different systems of taxation in the US, depending on whether you are classified as a nonresident or resident alien in the US.

If you are a nonresident alien, you are subject to US income tax only on your US source income and just like residents, you must report your income on US income tax returns.

In this guide, we are going to take a closer look at the various different types of income which are taxable in the US and outline our tips on managing your tax requirements.
Continue reading “What income is taxable for nonresident aliens in the US?” »

No Comments / Tax Tips / Kristina Valcheva
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July 24, 2020

FICA tax explained for nonresident aliens

The Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) is the means by which social security and medicare are funded in the US.

FICA also provides benefits to children who have lost their working parents, widows and widowers, and disabled workers who qualify for benefits.

For self-employed people, there is an equivalent law called SECA (Self-employed Contributions Act).

Contributions to FICA are deducted from employee income. Many workers in the US will notice FICA being deducted from their income each time they receive their paycheck. Continue reading “FICA tax explained for nonresident aliens” »

No Comments / Tax Guides / Kristina Valcheva
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July 2, 2020

Why are my federal wages different from my state wages?

(Updated for 2021)

When preparing your tax return you will need to include some details from your income documents about the money you earned and taxes you paid in the US.

While it is not unusual for there to be differences between the taxation of federal and state income, it can be tricky for nonresidents to file their taxes in such cases.
The easiest way to prepare your tax documents online is by using Sprintax Returns (formerly Sprintax Tax Preparation)- the nonresident alien tax return software.

In this guide, we’re going to outline how you can enter your payment and tax details by completing Step 3 of the Sprintax tax prep process and what to do if you receive an error alert relating to your federal and state income. Continue reading “Why are my federal wages different from my state wages?” »

No Comments / Sprintax / Kristina Valcheva
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March 5, 2020

给持F-1签证的国际学生的美国税收季节生存手册

尽管纳税申报可能不是国际学生在美国生活中最令人兴奋的方面，但正确填写这些表格的重要性不容低估。

事实上，您处理国际学生税务事务的方式将对您未来绿卡和签证申请产生重大影响。

考虑到这一点，我们为持F-1签证在美国的国际学生和学者制作了这份方便的税务指南。

我们已经涵盖了所有你需要知道的关于纳税申报，退款，以及如何留在税务人员的好书!那么，让我们开始吧!

为了方便浏览本指南，我们在下面的目录中列出了主要涉及的主题。 Continue reading “给持F-1签证的国际学生的美国税收季节生存手册” »

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September 16, 2019

5 Important US tax documents every international student should know

(Updated 27.01.22)

Let’s face it – tax is super boring!

And when you move to the US as an international student or scholar, the local tax system will likely be the furthest thing from your mind.

However, boring or not, compliance with the American tax authorities – the IRS – is crucial for any international student. In fact it’s one of the conditions of your visa! And how you handle your US tax affairs can play a big part in the outcome of your future visa or Green Card applications.

But, by doing some research into US tax when you first arrive, you can save you a lot of hassle down the line.
Continue reading “5 Important US tax documents every international student should know” »

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July 8, 2019

Revealed: the 14 US tax questions every nonresident student asks us!

Are you a nonresident student in America? Do you find US tax to be confusing?

Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Even for the most financially savvy US citizen, American tax can be pretty tricky.

At Sprintax, we offer a 24/7 live chat service. Our chat team are on hand to guide our customers and answer all of their tax questions throughout the prep-process.

Following the close of the 2018 tax season, we thought it would be a good idea to run the numbers on the most common questions our team have received throughout the year and answer them here in this handy blog!
Continue reading “Revealed: the 14 US tax questions every nonresident student asks us!” »

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February 22, 2018

Moving to the US to study? Here’s 10 things to expect

From your daunting first day to excelling in the classroom – top tips to make the most of college life

Are you planning a move to the US to study? You’re not alone.

In fact, the US attracts 1,000,000 international students to its colleges and universities (of which there are more than 4000!) every year. And it’s very easy to see why.

When you consider the standard of a university in America – Princeton, Yale, and Harvard, to name a tiny few – it’s very easy to see why the US is so incredibly popular with international students. American universities are amongst the best in the world and offer truly high-class education opportunities to their students. Away from the campus, the US boasts a large mix of cultures which makes it a really interesting place to study and live.

But moving to a new country is always a big deal for any international student. And it can be hard to know what to expect.

With this in mind, here are 10 things to expect when you arrive in the US to study.
Continue reading “Moving to the US to study? Here’s 10 things to expect” »

No Comments / Student Life, Tax Tips / Sprintax
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January 17, 2018

How the ‘Tax Cuts and Jobs Act’ affects every nonresident student in the US

What you need to know about the GOP tax reform

We examine how the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) affects the tax obligations of US nonresidents

In November 2017, President Donald Trump introduced a ‘Tax Cuts and Jobs Act’ that will have wide-ranging consequences for all US tax payers.

There has been much confusion surrounding the new bill and taxpayers have been keen to work out what the changes will mean for their pockets.

Below we take a look at how the bill will affect the future tax obligations of US nonresidents. Most of the changes have taken effect from January, 2018 and will change methods of withholding and the way nonresidents will be taxed throughout 2018.

It’s important to note that these amendments do not affect the 2017 tax return filing season.

Continue reading “How the ‘Tax Cuts and Jobs Act’ affects every nonresident student in the US” »

No Comments / Sprintax, Tax Tips / Zdravka Zlateva
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February 27, 2017

I am an international student in US, how can I get a full refund of taxes paid?

Many international students on F-1, J-1, M-1 and Q engage in practical training and earn income through one of the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) approved programs or participate in on-campus and off-campus employment during or post-study.
Continue reading “I am an international student in US, how can I get a full refund of taxes paid?” »

1 Comment / Tax Tips / Sprintax
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April 5, 2016

Tax Rules for International Students in the US

(Last updated: 21 Apr 2021)

The tax you pay in the US is determined by your residency status for tax purposes.

Continue reading “Tax Rules for International Students in the US” »

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