Student and Employee Annual Taxes
Annual Tax Forms and Information
All nonresident aliens must complete a U.S. tax return and Form 8843 each year, even if they do not have any income or if all of their income is tax exempt under a tax treaty.
Nonresidents must complete their annual federal tax return by April 15 for the previous tax year if they have wages reported on a W-2. If a nonresident only has a 1042-S, and not a W-2, such as someone who has only received scholarship/fellowship payments or if all of their income is exempt under a tax treaty, they have until June 15 to file their tax return.
- Tax Presentation
is a comprehensive explanation for nonresidents completing their annual tax return. - Illinois Form W-4
- Form W-2 Information is sent to employees by January 31 each year which provides information for annual tax returns.
- Form 1042-S Information is sent to nonresidents receiving scholarship/fellowship payments, independent contracted services, and payments receiving treaty benefits and is sent out by March 15 each year for use in preparing annual tax returns.
- IRS Home Page is where many federal forms and publications can be found.
- Illinois Department of Revenue Home Page is where many Illinois forms can be found.
- IRS Publication 519 US Tax Guide for Aliens has information for nonresidents about US taxes.
- IRS Publication 901 US Tax Treaties lists all US tax treaties with their details.
- IRS Publication 970
explains qualified expenses and what NRSA post-docs must report.
GLACIER TAX PREP
GLACIER TAX PREP is a web-based tax return preparation system designed exclusively for international students, scholars, and their dependents. It is offered at no charge to NU's international population. This online tax assistance will helps nonresidents in preparing U.S. Federal Income Tax forms (both 1040NR and 1040NR-EZ), as well as Form 8843.
Access Information
GLACIER TAX PREP is accessed via the Tax Information and Resource Page on the International Office website
Required Documentation
Required documents and information you need BEFORE logging in to GLACIER:
- Passport
- Immigration Docs (I-20 or DS-2019)
- SSN or ITIN (if you have been assigned one)
- Address Information (US and Foreign)
- U.S. Entry and Exit Dates - current and past
- Academic Institution Information
- Forms W-2, 1042-S, and/or 1099
- A copy of your previous federal tax return if you filed one last year
If you are encountering difficulty accessing GLACIER, please email Nick Seamons (n-seamons@northwestern.edu) with specifics regarding the issue you are encountering. Please allow 48 hours for a response. If you need an access code you can contact Nick or the Payroll Office payroll@northwestern.edu.
The International Office provides many resources to international students and helps with visa issues.
Social Security Numbers (SSN) and Individual Tax Identification Numbers (ITIN)
- All nonresidents must apply for a SSN unless only receiving a fellowship. This process is explained on our Tax Information Number page.
- Application For A Social Security Card
- Authorization For Release of SSN to Northwestern
- Form W-7 Application For Individual Tax ID (ITIN)