About Taxes
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the U.S. government agency responsible for collecting taxes. If you work in a paid position, your employer usually withholds a portion of your paycheck to send directly to the IRS. Additionally, other forms of income such as scholarships or fellowships may also be subject to taxation.
At the start of each year, you must file an income tax return for the previous calendar year to ensure the correct amount of taxes was withheld. If too much was withheld, you could receive a refund. If too little was withheld, you’ll need to pay the remaining balance to the IRS.
Who Must File a Tax Return?
Every international student (F and J status) has an obligation to file taxes once per year for their first five years in the U.S.
What Documents Do I Need?
Before filing taxes, you should collect the necessary documentation if applicable.
- Form W-2 Wage and Tax Statement (if applicable): This form shows how much you earned last year and how much was taken out for taxes. Employers mail W-2 forms to current and former employees. You will only receive this form if you have been employed. Many employers allow you to print your W-2 online.
- Form 1042-S (if applicable): This form form shows scholarship or fellowship funds exceeding tuition and related fee charges. The UW Payroll Office issues 1042-S forms around mid-February. You will not receive a 1042-S form if your account only includes a tuition waiver and no checks. If you expect to receive this form, wait for it before filing your tax return.
- Form 1099 (if applicable): The 1099 form documents miscellaneous income. For example, if you had CPT authorization to work as an independent contractor, rather than as an employee of an organization, you might receive Form 1099 instead of Form W-2 to document your earnings.
- Passport
- I-20 (F-1 status)
- DS-2019 (J-1 status)
- Social Security Number or Individual Tax Identification Number (not required if you will file only Form 8843)
- Address information (current U.S. address and foreign address)
- U.S. entry and exit dates for current and past visits to the U.S. You can get much of your travel information from the online I-94 system: USCBP I-94 Website
- Academic institution or host sponsor information (name, address, phone)
- Scholarship/fellowship grant letter (if any)
- A copy of last year’s federal income tax return, if filed
How Do I File Taxes?
ISS advisers are not able to provide guidance on filing taxes or using GLACIER Tax Prep. GLACIER Tax Prep will prompt you to create a user account if you do not already have one. Do not use your UW NetID for this purpose but create a UserID and Password that is unique to GLACIER Tax Prep. Students who work on campus will already have a GPT account.
Students Who Worked on Campus
Did Work On-Campus – Online-Tax.net
Students Who Did Not Work on Campus
Did Not Work On-Campus – Glacier Tax Prep [UW NetID required]
The tax software will determine whether you are a resident or non-resident for tax purposes.
Resident for Tax Purposes:
If GTP determines you are a resident for tax purposes, click on the link provided by GTP for Free File: Do Your Federal Taxes for Free and select a company. Note: this applies only to students who GTP indicates have been in the U.S. long enough to qualify as residents for tax purposes and cannot use GTP. If you are a resident for tax purposes, you must file a 1040EZ or 1040 instead of a 1040NR.
Non-resident for Tax Purposes:
- If you received no U.S. source income in 2024 and you are a nonresident alien for tax purposes, you must file Form 8843 by June 15, 2025.
- If you received wages or taxable scholarships from U.S. sources and you are a nonresident alien for tax purposes, you must file Form 8843 AND 1040NR by April 15, 2025.
Depending on whether you have wages, you will need to file taxes by the following deadline:
| Forms: | Who: | Deadline: |
|---|---|---|
| Form 8843 Only | Non-resident – no income | June 15, 2025 |
| Form 8843 and Form 1040 NR/NR-EZ | Non-resident – income | April 15, 2025 |
| Form 1040 or 1040-EZ | Resident – income | April 15, 2025 |
Need Help with Taxes?
ISS advisers are not able to provide guidance on filing taxes.
We encourage you to use any of the below resources to help you with this process.
UW VITA
The UW Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program provides free tax help and preparation including preparing non-resident returns.
Seattle Public Library
Offers in-person tax help at eleven locations in partnership with United Way of King County and AARP.
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
U.S. government agency responsible for collecting taxes and providing tax-assistance services.
FAQs
Find answers to commonly asked questions about taxes.
Tax Clinic
The UW School of Law Federal Tax Clinic assists low-income individuals throughout Western Washington resolve disputes with the Internal Revenue Service.
UW Payroll Office
UW Payroll provides resources for international students filing their personal tax returns.