Filing federal income tax is the personal responsibility of each international student

ALL international students are required to file Form 8843 with the IRS each year regardless of income earned (whether the student worked or not). Tax forms must be postmarked no later than April 15 of each year (information reported will be from the previous tax year - e.g., information due by April 15, 2021 will be from Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2020).

If you worked during the year, you will also need to file a tax return for both Federal and State Income Tax - Form 1040-NR or Form 1040-NR-EZ are the forms for non-residents and you must use these forms. You must also complete 1NPR for State of Wisconsin income tax purposes.

Unfortunately, Viterbo does not have tax professionals on staff. Students should seek the help of a Certified Public Accountant or tax preparation company (e.g., H&R Block).

International students should not use Turbo Tax to prepare their taxes as this program is for U.S. residents only. If you would like to file your taxes through an online system, please consider using Sprintax.

Who Must File Form 8843? - All non-resident aliens present in the U.S. under F-1, F-2, J-1, or J-2 non-immigrant status must file Form 8843 even if they received NO income during the tax year.

What is Form 8843? - Form 8843 is not an income tax return. It is merely an informational statement required by the U.S. government for certain non-resident aliens (including the spouses and/or dependents of non-resident aliens).

Do I Need a Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number to File Form 8843? - Generally, no. Non-resident aliens who are not required to file an income tax return (Form 1040-NR or Form 1040-NR-EZ), but who are required to file Form 8843, need not apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). If, however, a SSN/ITIN has been assigned, the number must be included on Form 8843.