If you received US-source income (for example from on-campus employment, CPT employment, OPT employment, J-2 EAD employment, or a scholarship over the amount of tuition), you will need to file a tax return – both federal and state. Not only is this a legal requirement, it is in your best interest to file as you may be due a tax refund.
Before you begin the filing process, be sure you have all the necessary documents with you. Here are some of the documents required for completing a tax return:
Note: Not all students will have the same tax documents. Documents may vary depending on your personal situation and income.
Statements are usually mailed to your mailing address in e-campus annually between late January to early March.
| ✓ | Necessary Documents | Description |
|---|---|---|
| W-2 | This form shows how much you earned last year and how much was taken out for taxes. You will only receive this form if you have been employed. You will receive one form from each employer by mail. You can also view/download your URI W-2 from, by logging in to e-Campus and navigate to Main Menu>Self Service>Payroll and Compensation>View W-2. | |
| 1099 Form | This form is often used for short-term, contract employment. Some CPT and OPT employment will use this form. | |
| 1042-S Form | This form is used to report scholarship income exceeding the amount of tuition and income covered by a tax treaty. For example athletic scholarship and fellowship recipients will be issued a 1042-S. It’s usually issued by March 15 at the latest. The 1042-S will be mailed in the postal mail to your mailing address in e-campus. If you did not receive your 1042-S, please e-mail ForeignTax@etal.uri.edu to obtain a new copy. | |
| Passport | ||
| Immigration Document | I-20 (F-1 status), DS-2019 (J-1 or J-2 status) | |
| Social Security number or Individual Tax Identification number (ITIN) | ||
| Address Information | Current US address and foreign address | |
| Entry and Exit Dates | for current and past visits to the US (To access your U.S. Travel History from the Customs & Border Protection, visit the I-94 website.) | |
| Academic institution or host sponsor information | Name, address, phone number | |
| Copy of last year’s federal income tax return | If filed |
Determining Residency for Tax Purposes
Sprintax is helpful for determining residency status and for completing tax returns for non-resident tax payers. You may be in F-1 or J-1 non immigrant status and considered a resident for tax purposes.
Nonresident
F-1 students and J-1 students are considered nonresident for tax purposes if they have been in the US for a total of less than five years. J-1 scholars are considered nonresidents for tax purposes if they have been in the US for less than two years. Nonresidents will use Form 1040NR (instructions) in addition to Form 8843.
The Sprintax software is a good resource for students filing as non-residents.
Forms must be sent by mail to:
| If you are NOT enclosing payment: Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Austin, TX 73301-0215 | |
| If you are enclosing a payment: Internal Revenue Service P.O. Box 1303 Charlotte, NC 28201-1303 |
Resident
If you are an F-1 or J-1 student who has been in the US for more than 5 years or a J-1 scholar who has been in the US for more than 2 years you will be considered a resident for tax purposes only. This will not affect your immigration status. Residents will file the same form as US citizens, Form 1040(instructions).
Forms must be sent by mail to:
| If you are NOT enclosing payment: Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Kansas City, MO 64999-0002 | |
| If you are enclosing payment: Internal Revenue Service P. O. Box 931000 Louisville, KY 40293-1000 |
State Income Taxes
If you earned income in the State of Rhode Island , you will also need to pay state income tax. Sprintax and other tax software will give you the option on completing a state return as well. If you worked in another state on CPT or OPT, you may need file a tax return for that state. A few states do not have state income tax, but most do.
Tax Support Resources
Their tax software is specifically designed for international students and scholars who are considered nonresidents for tax purposes. You will need to fill in your information and answer some questions, and the software will determine what forms you need to file. The cost of this service is generally between $50-$100, depending on how many forms you are required to file. If Sprintax determines you are a resident tax filer, you will not be able to use Sprintax.
Sprintax has many resources to help you use their program and correctly file your tax return. We encourage you to use the Sprintax resources by contacting their support team or find your answer using the options below:
- Email: hello@sprintax.com
- 24/7 help from Sprintax’s virtual assistant
- Register for a Sprintax Webinar
- Sprintax website FAQs
- Sprintax’s educational tax videos on YouTube
The Johnnycake Center Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
Appointments are required and may be made by calling the Johnnycake Center at (401) 789-1559. Please indicate your non-resident status when making an appointment.
Disclaimer:
While the resources provided are intended to help you with your tax filing obligations, you are individually responsible for verifying that the correct information has been submitted to the tax preparation service and included on all forms and/or other documents printed or derived from the tax preparation service, and ultimately responsible for any errors or omissions.
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Office of International Students and Scholars
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday
8:30am – 4:30pm Eastern Time
International Center, 3rd FL
37 Lower College Road
Kingston, RI, 02881
Phone: 401.874.2395
issoff@etal.uri.edu
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