It is TAX FILING SEASON! And you can do your taxes for only $10 thanks to IE!
All international students are required to report their presence in the U.S. and some students are also required to file income tax forms if they worked in the U.S. during the 2022 year.
These are the two most common options for you as F-1 Students in the U.S.:
- If you DID NOT WORK during the 2022 Tax Year (Jan. 1, 2022 – Dec. 31st, 2022), then you must ONLY fill out and mail Form 8843 to the IRS by April of 2023. This form and instructions will be available online. Students will be e-mailed when these forms are available. All tax forms and form instructions can be downloaded at www.irs.gov. Students should make copies of all tax forms for their records.
- If you worked and EARNED MONEY during the 2022 Tax Year (Jan. 1, 2022 – Dec. 31st, 2022), then you must fill out two forms, Form 8843 and Form 1040NR and then send both forms to the IRS before the deadline in mid-April. (The exact date is in the instructions on the 1040NR form). If you worked in 2022 and earned income you may sign-up for the $10 Tax Software which will grant you access to the Sprintax Online Tax Software mentioned below.
International Education will be promoting several International Student Tax Workshops online, which are presented by Sprintax. Attending these online workshop is optional and students are e-mailed the time and location of these workshops. Also, BC purchases a license to use online software from Sprintax. This software is only for international students who earned money in the U.S. and are currently on an F-1 visa. Students who have been in the U.S. for five years or longer may be determined to require resident tax forms (Like the standard 1040 or 1040-EZ). If you complete the Sprintax software it will alert you if you are in resident status for tax purposes.
You can sign-up for the ten-dollar ($10) Sprintax code HERE in this link. Once we have your request processed, we will send you the one-time Sprintax filing code and any required information to help you complete the process. You will enter your information from your W-2 into the online tax form. Then you will have to print your form and mail it to the IRS address that it directs you to.
Students who earned money last year should receive W-2 Forms from their employer. W-2 forms show how much money was earned during a tax year. W-2 Forms are needed to complete tax forms. If you worked in an on-campus job at Bellevue College, you should make sure that the college has your correct address on file as an employee. If you don’t receive your W-2 then contact Payroll or your campus supervisor at Bellevue College. If you worked on-campus you should expect to receive your W-2 form from Bellevue College by February of 2023.
IF STUDENTS DO NOT PURCHASE Sprintax Tax Software, then students can complete their tax documents on their own or with a tax professional. Bellevue College and your International Advisor cannot give detailed tax advising since we are not trained tax advisors. Not completing income tax documents may negatively affect future visa applications to the U.S.
Graduates who are on Optional Practical Training (OPT) are also required to file taxes if their employment opportunities are paid. Sprintax has this video about OPT and tax filing: Video about OPT and U.S. Taxes Sprintax will also be offering a pre-employment workshop for OPT participants in May. Once we have those dates, we will promote the workshop via email.
Last Updated February 1, 2023