TAXES

If you were present in the U.S. in the most recent tax year, you must submit at least one document for tax return purposes, regardless of whether you had income or not. Even if you did not have a job in the tax year, you must submit documentation to the Internal Revenue Service. 

More Information -

If you did not earn an income in the tax year, you need to complete and mail a Form 8843. This free form can be completed by yourself or with assistance through Sprintax.  

 
If you earned an income in the tax year, through employment or scholarships, you must file a Form 8843, a federal income tax return (Form 1040-NR), and a state income tax return (K-40 NR). 

  • Complete your Form 8843 and file your federal tax return. 
  • After you have generated your Form 8843 and filed your federal tax return, you will need to complete your state tax return. You must file your federal tax return before you file your state tax return. 
  • If you choose not to pay the additional fee to Sprintax to file your state taxes, you can file your state taxes on your own. 
  • If this is your first time filing a Kansas tax return, you will do your Kansas tax return on paper. If you have filed a Kansas tax return in the last three years, you can file electronically at https://www.kansas.gov/webfile/.  


If you had an F2 dependent, you must complete and mail Form 8843 in a separate envelope for each dependent. You will need to do it on your own or purchase Sprintax code.  


  • Download a Form 8843.  
  • Fill out the form on your computer or use a pen.  
  • Complete the top portion of the form with your name and address. 
  • You do not need to fill out the SSN or ITIN field if you're ONLY filing Form 8843.  
  • Part I: General Information > Answer each question. 
  • 1a: Your visa status for your most recent entry to the U.S. and the date of your recent entry (see your I-94) 
  • 1b: Write your current visa status. This is usually the same as 1a.  
  • 4a: Write the actual number of days you were physically in the U.S. for the years indicated 
  • 4b: Write the same number of days you wrote in 4a for the tax year 
  • Part II: Teachers and Trainees> You can skip this section. 
  • Part III: Students > Answer each question 
  • 9: Write Emporia State University, 1 Kellogg Cir, Emporia, KS 66801, 620-803-5374 
  • 10: Write Office of International Education, Emporia State University, 1 Kellogg Cir, ESU Box 4041, Emporia, KS 66801, 620-341-5374 
  • 11: Write your visa status only for the years you were in the U.S. 
  • Part IV and Part V: Skip this section.  
  • Sign and date on the last line of page 2 
  • Make a copy of the completed form and save it for your records 
  • Mail the form to the following address by April 15. 
  • We recommend you add tracking and receipt confirmation when you mail. This is because the mailing confirmation will become your only form of proof that you have mailed Form 8843. IRS will not send you any confirmation of receipt, so you will never know if they have received your form unless you choose to add tracking when you mail.  
  • Mailing address: 


 Department of the Treasury 

 Internal Revenue Service Center 
Austin, TX 73301-0215 


Frequently Asked Questions -


Why should I file? 
First, it is a legal requirement of the United States. Second, you may be owed a tax refund – most international students filing a tax return are due a tax refund for overpaid tax. The average refund is $800 - $1000.  
How early can I file? 
If you received a scholarship or had a job, then you must wait until you have received all of your documents to file (generally in January-February of the year immediately following the prior tax year). 
When is the deadline? 
The deadline to file is April 15. If you miss the April 15th deadline you may face late filing penalties.  
Why is my refund different from my friends? 
Everyone's refund is different as it is based on many varying factors (country of citizenship, amount of income, scholarship amounts, etc.). 
Does my Diversity Award count as income? 
No, because it is a tuition waiver, not a scholarship. 
How do I get my W2? 
Contact the Human Resources office at your place of employment.   
What if I want to use a different service? 
Other tax preparation services like TurboTax are designed for US citizens and residents. Sprintax is the only tax preparation service designed for non-residents like international students. You are considered a US resident for tax purposes if you meet the substantial presence test. If you meet the substantial presence test, you can file with another service.