International Tax Information
Continue to main contentDid you know that all international students and scholars must complete tax forms in the U.S.?
Every international student and scholar (including F-2 and J-2 dependents) enrolled in school in the U.S. in 2025 is expected to submit a tax-related form - even if they do not earn U.S.-sourced wages. Failure to file the required forms typically does not affect an international student’s current SEVIS status, but it could result in financial penalties and may be considered a factor in future applications for work visas or permanent residence.
Filing instructions...
...if you did not earn wages or have scholarship income in 2025:
You are required to file only the Form 8843. You do not need to buy a Sprintax license to do this! Please use this resource you can use to help you file your 8843.
...if you were enrolled in the U.S. in 2025 and earned wages (including employment wages, scholarships, gambling winnings, etc.):
You must file Form 8843 and a corresponding tax return if you received a W2 or 1042-S. (NOTE: If you had no taxable income due to a tax treaty between the U.S. and your home country and were not eligible to receive a W-2, please follow the instructions above for those without U.S.-sourced income.)
- There are no free non-resident alien (NRA) tax preparation services! Unless you have been enrolled continuously in the U.S. since 2020, you should not use any free tax preparation services (like TurboTax, H&R Block, FreeTaxUSA, etc.). Those systems will allow you to complete your forms, as their assumption is that you are a resident. If you file your taxes with these programs as a resident when you are not entitled to, it will give you tax benefits you are not entitled to. This could have serious consequences for your status in the United States at a later date.
- Sprintax is the only online service available to help you file non-resident tax returns. SEMO offers its international students discounted licenses for Sprintax to help you file your taxes. You can buy your discount code for $10 here.
...if 2025 was your sixth year in the U.S., enrolled as an international student on an F or J visa:
- After completing your fifth calendar year enrolled as an international student in the U.S., you are considered a "resident for tax purposes." Please note this distinction pertains to taxes, and it is the only realm in which you are considered a "resident." If you are considered a "resident for tax purposes," you can use online services like Turbo-Tax or in-person services like H&R Block. The Sprintax code does not work for individuals who can file as a resident for tax purposes.
- Also, "residents for tax purposes" may be able to claim the 1098-T form on their return.
If 2025 was your 6th year of continuous living and/or studying in the U.S., you are eligible to file as a “resident for tax purposes.” Please note the term “resident” only applies to your tax filing status and has nothing to do with your immigrant or non-immigrant visa status.
Residents may use free tax preparation services like TurboTax. Also, they can claim the 1098-T form on their taxes.
IES can sell Sprintax licenses to students for $10 to help them file their necessary forms. To buy a license, please complete the Sprintax Tax Preparation Code form.
IES can answer basic questions about a student’s tax responsibilities. However, we are not tax professionals. We are happy to advise students on their situations, but we can assume no liability.
We will hold several tax help workshops in March and April to answer any questions you may have. The workshops will be held in the International Village Admin Building. Dates and times will be announced in February.
- You need your passport and information on the exact dates you entered and departed the U.S. in the last 5 years.
- If you earned wages in the U.S. in 2025, the main document(s) you need is your W2 form. You will have a W2 from all places you earned income in 2024. Please make sure to contact your employer if you do not know where/how to access your W2 form.
- If you worked for SEMO, your W2 form is available on the “Employee SS” on the portal.
- If you worked for Chartwells, ABM, or any other non-SEMO entity, your W2s will not be in the portal. Please contact their Human Resources department for access to your W2.
- If you are an international student athlete and had scholarship money that paid for non-educational expenses, you will receive a 1042-S from Human Resources. The 1042-S is issued as a paper document and is not available on the portal.
- You cannot file your taxes until you have all these documents.
There are no free tax preparation software services for non-resident aliens (NRAs). All free systems you see (e.g., Sprintax, FreeTax USA, H&R Block, etc.) assume you are a resident and will calculate your taxes assuming you are entitled to the benefits residents receive. Thus, if you use their services when you are not eligible to, you are likely committing tax fraud.
However, international students who are eligible to file as a “Resident for Tax Purposes” may use those services.
Sprintax is the only online services that prepare NRA tax returns. International Education and Services sells discounted Sprintax licenses for $10. Each code covers the cost of filing your basic federal form.
Sprintax can also help NRAs with other services, including state returns, ITIN applications, and amending previous year returns. Unfortunately, we do not sell discounted licenses for those services.
To buy a discounted Sprintax code, please go to the Sprintax Preparation Code Request. Once we verify your purchase, the code will be emailed to you with further instructions. (Please note that the codes are not available until early March. Once they are available, they will be emailed to all who have made the purchase.)
We will also hold a number of tax help workshops to answer any questions you may have. The workshops will be all be held in the International Village Admin Building computer lab. The scheduled workshops will be:
- Tuesday, March 3, 2 - 4:30 pm
- Thursday, March 12, 9 am - 12 pm
- Monday, April 6, 2 - 4:30 pm
- Friday, April 10, 2 - 4:30 pm
- Wednesday, April 15, 1 - 4 pm
SEMO’s international student merit-based scholarships (International Academic Excellence, International Academic Achievement, and International Student Award) are not considered income and do not have to be reported as income.
Scholarship money for international student athletes that covers room and board or other non-education expenses is considered income and needs to be included on your tax return. That information is included in your 1042-S.
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701