This is the time of year when people in the United States are required to file an income tax return for income earned during 2019. Some international students and scholars are also required to file a tax Form 8843, even when they did not earn income. Please see more information below.
This week, the University will hold two tax information sessions at the Storrs campus for international students and scholars. During these sessions, a School of Business faculty member, who also coordinates UConn’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, will present an overview of the income tax rules that apply to international students and visitors, and resources to help you file your taxes.
The first session will be offered Thursday, February 6, from 6 to 7:30 pm and the second session will be held on Friday February 7, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Location: School of Business, Room 106. Prior sign up is encouraged, but not required. To sign up, please visit icworkshops.uconn.edu > View Available Events > Tax Information Workshop.
The following topics and frequently asked questions will be discussed at the information sessions:
- Nonresident vs. Resident Alien tax status
- What is considered taxable income?
- What is an income tax treaty and how can I benefit from it?
- Who needs to file a 2019 federal and/or state income tax return?
- What documents do I need to prepare and file my income tax returns?
- Who needs to file Form 8843?
- UConn’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (“VITA”) program – freetax return preparation assistance provided to UConn’s international community
If you received taxable income (e.g. wages, taxable scholarships or fellowships) in the United States during the 2019 calendar year, you must file a 2019 federal income tax return (and possibly a state income tax return) and pay any unpaid taxes by April 15, 2020. Even if you had no taxable income in 2019, you may need to file Form 8843 with the Internal Revenue Service. Form 8843 allows you to maintain your Nonresident Alien tax status while you’re in the U.S. for a certain number of years, depending on your visa type.
We understand that income taxes can be very confusing. Therefore, UConn’s VITA program provides free personalized tax counseling and tax return preparation services for our international community at UConn. Visit vita.business.uconn.edu for more information, and to schedule your appointment for free tax return preparation. You will need to complete a brief questionnaire first, to ensure that you are eligible for the tax preparation service.
UConn provides students and scholars who are unable to attend an in-person VITA program session free access to Sprintax tax preparation software, which prepares nonresident alien tax returns and the Form 8843. Contact ISSS at international@uconn.edu to request your access code to use Sprintax for free. Sprintax also prepares State Tax returns, for an extra fee.
Please note that if you arrived here as a new student or scholar in 2020, you do not need to file a tax return or Form 8843 at this time.
Students and scholars who are unable to attend one of the Tax Information Sessions should consult the following University resources:
ISSS Tax Resources for International Students
UConn VITA Program Tax FAQ: Tax Assistance for Foreign Students and Scholars
UConn Tax & Compliance Office Nonresident Tax FAQs