As an international student, navigating the U.S. tax system can be one of the most confusing parts of working on CPT or OPT. It can be complicated to determine whether or not you owe money to the government. We are here to break it down and answer the most frequently asked questions (FAQs).
Please note: The staff in the Center for Global Education are not tax professionals. We are here to provide resources and assistance from government and other affiliated websites. Please refer to the resources below if you have further questions regarding taxes.
FAQs
I did not work or have not worked during my time here at Wheaton College. Do I still need to file taxes?
Yes, you do. Even if you have not earned any income, you are still required to notify the U.S. Income Revenue Service (IRS) that you do not have a tax obligation by submitting a Form 8843 (.PDF).
If you have earned income (salary, assistantship, fellowship, grant, scholarship or authorized on- or off-campus employment etc.), you must file an income tax return.
If you did work during the previous calendar year, you will receive codes from Sprintax Tax Prep by the end of February of the current year. If you worked and you have not received those codes, please contact [email protected]
What forms do I need to submit to the government if I did work during the calendar year?
Each year, you must file a 1040NR (.PDF) tax return, your W2 and a Form 8843 (.PDF) with the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS). These forms are available on the IRS website or by calling the IRS at 1-800-829-3676.
Important: Failure to file these forms is a violation of United States law and may jeopardize your future status in the U.S.
You may also be required to file a Massachusetts Income Tax Form with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Revenue. Consult the Massachusetts Department of Revenue website to determine your filing responsibilities. Forms are available on the DOR website or by calling 1-800-392-6089.
What if I do not have a Social Security Number?
Students who have worked in the U.S. should have a Social Security Number for tax filing purposes.
Otherwise, you must use an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) for tax filing purposes. If you have filed U.S. tax forms before and you were assigned an ITIN, you should use that same ITIN to file again if you still do not qualify for a Social Security Number.
Where do I mail my taxes?
Depending on where you live, the location changes on where you need to send your taxes. Please refer to this IRS webpage for additional information. Please keep in mind that there may be two addresses you need to send them to: one for federal and one for state.