Important TAX information reminder

Dear Students, Scholars, Researchers, Staff, and Faculty,

Only 1 month (30 days) until your federal tax return (and/or Form 8843) are due (4/17/2018).  If you have not already done so, please click on the link below and request a password for the Glacier Tax Program we offer free to tax nonresidents.   You must also file your Virginia state tax return by 5/1/2018.

As an international student, scholar, researcher, staff, or faculty, it is important that you understand the tax requirements of your visa.  You must file a U.S. federal tax return if any of the following apply:

 

·         You worked in the United States

·         You received a taxable stipend, grant, scholarship, or allowance in 2017

·         You had no earnings – even if you didn’t work or receive income in the U.S., you are still legally obligated to file a tax return with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to declare no earnings.

Visa & Immigration Service Advising (VISA) staff are not tax professionals and cannotassist you with tax advising or tax preparation.  We have arranged free access to Glacier Tax Program preparation software for tax nonresident filing of federal tax forms ONLY.  (Note: GTP offers free federal tax filing to tax nonresidents using the password provided by our office.)   If you received taxable income in 2017 and are a tax nonresident, please request a password by clicking HERE.

REMEMBER:  Always keep a copy of any documents you submit for your records.

Federal Tax forms

If you meet either of the first two criteria listed in paragraph 1 above, you must file a federal tax return AND IRS Form 8843 by April 17, 2018.  When filing your tax form, verify if you are filing electronically (e-file) or on paper.  If you are filing on paper, you are required to print, sign, and mail the forms to the address provided in the instructions.  

• Tax nonresidents:  As stated before, if you are a tax nonresident, you may prepare your federaltaxes free through the Glacier Tax Program (GTP) we are offering.  If you are a tax nonresidentand do not qualify for but choose to use a tax prep program such as H&R Block, Tax Act or TurboTax, etc., to file your 2017 tax report (because you think it qualifies you for a larger refund), you may be required to repay any overage and/or penalties to the IRS.   You should NOT use any of these software programs until you have been in the U.S. for any part of more than five (5) years on an F or J student visa or for any part of more than two (2) years on a J scholar/research visa.

• Tax residents:  If you are a tax resident, you can use any of the available tax preparation software programs or companies (H&R Block, TaxAct, TurboTax, IRS.gov/FreeFile etc.) to file your federal and state income tax returns.

State Income Tax

If you earned income in 2017 from a U.S. employer located in the Commonwealth of Virginia and they withheld state taxes, you are required to file a state tax return by May 1, 2018.  Note:  You are considered a 'resident' of Virginia when it comes to filing a state tax return if you lived in Virginia for more than 182 calendar days of 2017.. 

No earned income during 2017

If you were physically present in the United States in 2017 and did not earn any income (see the 3^rdcriteria in paragraph 1 above), the deadline to file the Form 8843 with the IRS is April 17, 2018. 

Tax scams

As you are aware, there are many scams in today’s world.  Following are links to several websites which describe possible scams.  Please review the information provided below and exercise caution with personal information you share.

• https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-scams-consumer-alerts
• https://www.tax.virginia.gov/taxpayer-alerts
• https://www.tax.virginia.gov/news/refund-fraud-prevention
• https://www.tax.virginia.gov/did-you-file-virginia-income-tax-return-letter
• https://www.tax.virginia.gov/refund-fraud-prevention

Tax refund questions

The following links are offered if you have questions regarding tax refunds:

• Federal:  https://www.irs.gov/refunds/about-wheres-my-refund
• State:  https://www.tax.virginia.gov/wheres-my-refund
   

Forms you will use when filing taxes:

·        Form 1040 – Federal tax form used by tax resident when you worked in the U.S. in 2017 

• • • Form:  https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040.pdf
    • Instructions:  https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi.pdf
•    Form 1040NR or 1040NR-EZ – Federal tax forms used by tax nonresident when you worked in the U.S. in 2017
  • Form 1040NR 
    • Form:  https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040nr.pdf
    • Instructions:  https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040nr.pdf
  • Form 1040NR-EZ 
    • Form:  https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040nre.pdf
    • Instructions:  https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040nre.pdf
•    Form 8843 – Federal tax form used by students, scholars, staff, and faculty on non-immigrant visas who were physically present in the U.S.  
  • • Form and Instructions:  https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/f8843--2017.pdf
•    Form VA 760 – Virginia state tax form used when you worked in the U.S. or received a stipend, grant, scholarship, or allowance in 2017 while a resident of the state of Virginia 
  • • Form:  https://tax.virginia.gov/sites/default/files/taxforms/individual-income-tax/2017/760-2017.pdf
    • Instructions:  https://tax.virginia.gov/sites/default/files/vatax-pdf/2017-form-760-instructions.pdf

Forms you may receive related to filing taxes (keep all forms received):

·        Form W2 – Form received from employer(s) from whom you have earnings from salary or stipends during 2017 (Note:  DO NOT file your tax forms until you receive your W2 forms from ALL EMPLOYERS you worked for during 2017

·        Form 1042S – Form received if you are a taxable scholarship recipient (from U.S. sources) with living expenses.  **Note:   Failure to include your 1042S information when filing your tax return will require that you file an amended tax return.  

·        Form 1095 – Form received from educational institutions/employers showing health insurance status

·        Form 1098-T – Form received from educational institutions showing tuition paid

·        Form 1099-INT – Form received from banks and financial institutions to report interest income during 2017.  To avoid receiving a Form 1099-INT, you can file Form W-8 BEN with your bank or financial institution.

Following are the 2017 deadlines for filing your 2017 tax forms:

·         April 17, 2018 – Federal Tax forms AND IRS Form 8843 (with income)

·      April 17, 2018 – IRS Form 8843 (no income)

·      May 1, 2018 -- Virginia State Tax forms

REMEMBER:  Always keep a copy of any documents you submit for your records.

Posted By: Shirley Herline
Date: Fri Mar 16 15:59:45 EDT 2018