Tax FAQs

Even if you did not earn any income, if you were physically in the U.S. on F or J status anytime between    January 1st – December 31st, 2023, you are obligated to file a Form 8843 with the IRS (the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. tax authorities).

Meanwhile, if you earned any taxable US source income, you may need to file a federal tax return with the IRS. Depending on your individual circumstances, you may also need to file a state tax return(s).

When students get a paycheck from a campus job, or Graduate Assistantship (or get a scholarship or tuition waiver in exchange for performing services for a college or earn interest on an account at a local bank), you may owe income tax to the US government and to one or more states.

For example, if a student is supposed to make $300 in a month, his or her paycheck is always a little bit less than the actual wages (like maybe $250) because an estimated amount of tax has been “withheld” from it.  Students need to fill out and mail in tax forms to the IRS (or file the forms electronically) for any year in which they received taxable income by April 15 of the following year.

If more tax was withheld than the student owes, he or she will receive a refund. If more tax is owed, it must be paid when the return is due. When filling out tax forms, students will include information on how much money they made, how much money was already taken out in “tax withholding” from their paychecks, how long they’ve been in the US, and what country they are from.

After completing the federal tax forms using Sprintax, students can fill state tax forms with Sprintax on their own (for an additional fee).  Note that your Sprintax access code covers the only services for federal tax forms. Not all states have an income tax, and the tax laws for the states that do are considerably different, but the general rule is that any state return you must file is due on the same date as the US return.  Illinois is a state that has a state income tax, so students in Illinois who received taxable income must also file a state income tax form. Learn more about Sprintax.

OISS also sponsors virtual tax workshops led by a local tax expert.  Please attend an OISS Sponsored Tax Workshop for additional guidance.

Yes, you still have to complete a basic form, the IRS Form 8843.

• All F-1 and J-1 students (and their F-2/J-2 dependents), are required to file the IRS Form 8843 regardless of whether they have income in the U.S. or not for the first 5 calendar years they are in the U.S.
• All J-1 non-students and their J-2 dependents, are required to file the IRS Form 8843 regardless of whether they have income in the U.S. or not for the first 2 calendar years they are in the U.S. in a 7-year period. 
• Utilize Sprintax to generate and complete the Form 8843. Once you create your account with Sprintax (after you receive your access code from OISS), Sprintax will generate a completed Form 8843 for you and each of your dependents (if you have any).  Read more about Sprintax.

If you are considered a "nonresident alien" for tax filing purposes, you should not use Turbo Tax. Turbo tax is only for individuals considered "residents" for tax filing purposes.  Students considered non-resident aliens for tax filing purposes may use Sprintax.

Generally, 

• International students on J-1 and F-1 visas are considered nonresidents for their first five calendar years in the US.
• Scholars/Researchers on J-1 visas are considered nonresidents for two out of the last six calendar years in the U.S.

If you meet the Substantial Presence Test and are determined to be a resident alien for tax filing purposes, you may use Turbo Tax. 

Learn more about Nonresident Alien Tax Filing from this Sprintax Blog.

Nonresidents who will receive stipends from a scholarship or fellowship, but will not be employed, such as a graduate assistantship or temporary employment, will not be eligible for a SSN and must instead apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).  Students who receive an ITIN and later become eligible for a Social Security Number, because of employment such as assistantships or temporary employment, must apply for a SSN and cancel their ITIN.

For full information, please consult the Social Security & Tax Identification Numbers section of Northwestern's HR website.

• Generally, most international students and scholars who are on F and J visas are considered nonresidents for tax purposes. International students on J-1 and F-1 visas are considered nonresident for their first five calendar years in the US.
• Scholars/Researchers on J-1 visas are considered nonresidents for two out of the last six calendar years in the U.S.
• The Sprintax software will determine your residency status in step one after you create your account. 
• If you have been in the U.S. for longer than the five (students) or two (scholars) year periods, the "Substantial Presence Test" will determine your tax residency.