All international students and scholars are required to report to the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) each year — even if they did not work during the prior year. You will not necessarily need to pay taxes; but reporting your presence in the US is a legal requirement.

Although the OGS cannot advise on tax issues, we hope to give you basic information here as a helpful starting point. Please note, this information is not tax advice but rather it is meant to help you in completing your tax filing obligations as an international student or scholar. For further tax guidance, we recommend you consult with a professional tax service (free or fee-based). Resources on these services are listed below.

Who Needs to File Tax Reports

If you were present in the US even for 1 day during 2023, then you have tax filing obligations. 

Consequences of Not Filing Your Tax Forms

Penalties for not complying with the filing requirement can include but are not limited to:

  • Denials of future requests for a Change of Status (especially to Permanent Resident)
  • Denials of visa renewals at American Consulates/Embassies
  • Fines and interest will accrue on unreported income and could result in more money being owed to the IRS in the future
  • If filed more than 3 years late, a refund will not be remitted by the IRS to the taxpayer

If you don't file your tax forms with the IRS by the tax deadline, or need to correct a mistake, you may be able to submit an amended tax return or mail the necessary tax documents even after the deadline date. Consult with a tax professional for assistance if you need to adjust a previously filed tax return.

When to File

The federal deadline is April 15 if you earned US income in 2023. Confirm the deadline for the state(s) you will need to file taxes in. The earliest we recommend you file your taxes is mid-February. If you are unable to file your forms by the deadline, you must submit an application for Automatic Extension of Time to File Your Tax Return to the IRS.

The deadline is June 17 if you were present in the US in 2023 but did not earn any US income.

How to File

1. Gather the following documents

You may not have or need some of these; this is a list of all documents you might need:

  • Passport, Visa, I-94 record
  • Exit and Entry Dates for all past US visits
  • I-20, DS-2019, I-797, or other US immigration documents
  • Social Security Number (if you don't have a Social Security Number, you may need an Individual Tax Identification Number, Sprintax will determine if this is the case, and if so, you will be prompted to fill out a Form W-7; see step 2)
  • Current US Address AND Permanent Foreign Address
  • Name of Educational Institution or Sponsoring Organization
  • All relevant tax form(s) for taxable purposes:
    • Form(s) W-2, 1042-S, or 1099 as applicable
    • Scholarship or Fellowship grant letters (if no related Form 1042-S)
  • Copy of past year’s tax forms (if you had any)

2. Create a Sprintax Account

Create your Sprintax account with the link provided below. It is created specifically for NYU international students and scholars. By setting up your account through this link, NYU will cover the costs of the federal tax return, state tax return, and 8843, meaning no cost to you. Open your new Sprintax account by creating a User ID and password, or if you have an existing account on Sprintax, you can log in using your existing credentials. Be sure to use the Sprintax codes we emailed to you when being prompted for any payment (search your NYU email for Need to Know: Tax). This way, you will be able to use the service for free. Contact us if don't have the Sprintax codes.

Sprintax for the 2023 tax year will be made available and linked here by late February 2024

3. Answer Questions in Sprintax to Complete the Required Tax Forms

If you did not earn any US income: Sprintax will generate a completed Form 8843 for you and each of your dependents (if you have any).

If you did earn US income: Sprintax will generate your "tax return documents," including Form 1040NR, depending on your circumstances.

4. If Required, Complete Your State Tax Return

After you finish your federal tax return, Sprintax will inform you if you need to complete a state tax return. If so, you will have the option to use Sprintax for an additional fee. However, it is your choice to use them or to do the state tax return on your own.

5. Sign and Send the Forms to the Relevant Tax Department as Provided by the Sprintax Instructions

Remember to read the instructions that Sprintax provides. You will be required to download, print, and sign your federal tax return and mail it to the IRS. If you have a state filing requirement, you must also mail this to the tax authorities. Finally, if you only need to file Form 8843, this will also need to be mailed to the IRS.

6. Be Aware of Tax Scams and Fraud

Each year, scammers claiming to be IRS or other government employees ask students and scholars for money that is "owed" to avoid any so-called tax penalties or fees. Please be aware and cautious of such calls, emails, letters or unusual contacts. These scammers might even say that they will call the police if you hang up or you will get deported if you do not comply with their requests. Review our Tips to Avoid Scams and Fraud to protect yourself.

Helpful Resources

Please note, the websites outside of NYU that we link to in this section are provided to assist you. NYU doesn't have any relationship with these companies. Inclusion on this list does not mean that we are recommending or endorsing these companies.

Free Assistance

  • IRS Tax Assistance Center (TAC): Making an appointment is necessary. Many federal tax questions can be answered by an IRS professional. If your ITIN application is rejected, please see an OGS advisor before going to the IRS TAC.
  • Turbotax: Online software for resident tax filers to prepare their federal and state tax returns. The free edition is best for individuals with simple returns and minimal deductions. The paid editions would help with more complicated tax situations. (Please note, if you are considered a nonresident for tax filing purposes, Turbotax is unavailable to you and you will instead be directed to Sprintax).
  • Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA): IRS-certified volunteers offer free basic tax filing assistance for nonresident and resident tax filers. NYU Stern's Accounting Fraternity, Beta Alpha Psi, is a VITA site located at NYU's Stern School of Business and assists resident tax filers.

Tax Treaties

The United States has over 50 tax treaties with different countries. The treaties vary in terms of the benefits they offer to students, the types of income covered, the total amount of the exemption, and the number of years you could claim the benefit. If you file your tax forms with a suitable tax software, the software will automatically factor in any benefit offered through a tax treaty with your country.

For more information on tax treaties, including a list of the countries that the United States has tax treaties with, see IRS Publication 901, US Tax Treaties. Note that tax treaties vary in their implications for state taxes.

Tax Workshops

Registration is required. Click on one of the timings below to register.