Tax Filing Information 2023

All international students and scholars are required to file a return with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) each year they are in the U.S. If you were in the U.S. in 2023 in F or J status you MUST file a tax return.

Tax filing deadline:

The deadline to file 2023 tax returns is Monday, 15 April 2024.

Tax workshop:

If you have any questions or concerns about filing your 2023 tax returns, please attend our Tax Workshop on Thursday, 7 March at 1:30 – 4:00pm. This workshop is organized via . Please email us at uaf-isss@alaska.edu for the meeting ID and password. 

Free Sprintax nonresident tax webinars for the 2023 tax season: 

In these tax webinars, international students, scholars and professionals will be run through everything they need to know about nonresident tax for the 2023 tax season. Topics will include who must file, tax residency, FICA, State returns, implications of misfiling as well as how to use Sprintax to prepare a compliant tax return.

  • Thursday April 4th at 11am AKDT – 
  • Wednesday April 10th at 8am AKDT – 
  • Monday April 15th at 9am AKDT – 

Tax forms to be completed:

  • : ALL individuals in F- or J-status who had U.S. source income (pay from the university, tuition awards and/or other scholarships). Please refer to irs.gov for the most up to date information and instructions. 

  • : ALL individuals in F- or J-status who are non-residents for U.S. tax purposes MUST COMPLETE and submit this form even if you did not have any U.S. source income (pay from the university, tuition awards and/or other scholarships). Forms MUST also be submitted for dependents in F-2 or J-2 status.

How to complete the above-mentioned forms:

You can complete the forms online, print them out, sign them, and mail to the IRS with required documentation.

You may be able to e-file your tax return (see  for more information).

If you want to use tax software:

  • Non-residents for tax purposes should use  to prepare their taxes.
  • Residents for tax purposes should NOT use Sprintax. Residents for tax purposes may file income tax returns electronically using commercially purchased tax software like TurboTax, TaxSlayer or H&R Block.

 

Documents needed:

It is extremely important that you have all required documents and tax forms needed before you prepare and file your 2023 tax return.

Following is a brief description of the tax forms you may have received:

  • Form W-2: shows the amount paid by the university during 2023, through payroll. You will get a W-2 if you were employed in any ÐÔÓûÉç job and you did not claim tax treaty benefits. W-2s were mailed by 31 January. If you did not receive your W-2 via mail, you can access it through your . For more information, please go to the .

  • Form 1042-S: will show the amount of money that you received in qualified, U.S. tax reportable scholarships (such as housing and food) or tax treaty benefits for either payroll income or reportable scholarships (or both). The university is required to mail Form 1042-S to you NO LATER than 15 March. You may also receive this electronically through your account in Glacier Online Tax Compliance if you selected that option.  

  • 1095-B or C: documents that you were covered with health insurance meeting the requirements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and are not subject to a tax penalty for not having health insurance. This is only applicable for people who are U.S. residents for tax purposes. If you are a non-resident for tax purposes, disregard the form. However, if you receive the form, you should keep it in your tax documentation file.

  • Form 1098-T: shows the tuition and fees paid during 2023. If you registered for the spring 2024 semester before 31 December 2023, you may have 2024 tuition and fees showing on the 1098-T. This has no relevance for international students who are non-residents for U.S. tax purposes. It is referred to as the "useless" form. However, you should keep it in your tax documentation file.

  • Unusual Income types: Under IRS guidelines capital gains and stock/mutual fund dividends are taxable to the individuals receiving them whether they are U.S. residents for tax purposes or not. This includes stock market and mutual fund transactions as well as virtual currency transactions like bitcoin. Failure to report these transactions appropriately can lead to penalties and interest.

Additionally, the following documents and information are needed to prepare your taxes:

  • Passport
  • F-1/J-1 Visa
  • I-20 (if you are in F-1 status)
  • DS-2019 (if you are in J-1 status)
  • Social Security Number or Individual Tax Identification Number (not required if only Form 8843 filed)
  • U.S./foreign address and phone number information
  • Entry and exit dates for your current and past visits to the U.S. We recommend .
  • Academic institution information and contact person for the forms to be completed: Reija Shnoro, Student Immigration Advisor, University of Alaska Fairbanks, P.O. Box 757760, Fairbanks, AK 99775, Tel: 907-474-7583.

Where to file:

Please check the form instructions for the correct mailing address.

Additional resources: