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Preparing Your Tax Return

Plan Ahead to File On Time

All income tax return forms must be postmarked by April 15, 2024. Don't wait until the last minute to prepare your tax forms! We highly recommend that you file your tax forms by the deadline so you do not have to worry about being late. The ISO recommends that individuals start preparing their appropriate tax forms once they have received all of their required tax documents. 

Collect the Necessary Documents

Be sure you have statements of all sources of US income during 2021! Most forms are sent directly to individuals either by mail, which could take a few days to arrive, or can be accessed electronically; generally these forms are available by the end of January or February. Please note that the ISO is not responsible for and does not have access to any individual tax forms for foreign nationals. 

Your individual forms will depend on your earnings and activities in the US during the relevant tax year. Start your taxes only when you are sure you have the documents from all income sources. Otherwise, any tax return forms generated will NOT be an accurate representation of your tax situation. 

Common income and tax summaries include:

  • W-2 Statement

    A W-2 is a summary of all wages paid from a single employer and taxes withheld during the previous calendar year. If you worked for multiple US employers during the year (the University, an internship, etc.), you will receive a separate W-2 Statement for each source of income.

    University of Rochester: If you selected electronic delivery of your W-2 from UR, you will be able to print this form by logging in to your HRMS account (click on “Main Menu,” then click “Self-Service,” then select “Payroll and Compensation”). Otherwise, this form will be mailed to the address in your HRMS record.

  • 1042-S

    This statement summarizes US sources of income specifically for foreign nationals. This can include:

    • Wages that are exempt from taxes under a treaty
    • Scholarship/fellowship payments
    • Independent services income
    • Awards or royalties
  • 1099

    This statement summarizes all other income, which varies based on the type of transaction. This can include interest earned from a bank account, dividend payments or distributions, proceeds from a real estate transaction, and more.

    The government does not always require that a Form 1099 be issued, if the income is below a specified dollar amount. Your tax return forms, however, should still list the total earnings and income during the previous calendar year.

    If you have a US bank account but it earned less than $10 in interest, then the bank will not send a Form 1099 and you do not have to report the interest on your tax return. 

  • 1098-T

    The University of Rochester must file a Form 1098-T for each student enrolled for the given calendar year and for whom a reportable transaction is made. However, the IRS does not require the University to provide a Form 1098-T for:

    • Courses for which no academic credit is offered, even if the student is otherwise enrolled in a degree program
    • Nonresident alien students
    • Students whose qualified tuition and related expenses are entirely waived or paid entirely with scholarships and/or grants
    • Students whose expenses are covered by a formal 3rd party billing arrangement.

     UR Bursar's Office is responsible for all 1098-T forms for the University. 

Complete and File Your Own Tax Forms

Many students and scholars choose to complete their own tax forms and mail their return directly to the IRS. The instruction sheet that prints with your tax return or forms will provide you with specific information regarding which documents should be included with your tax return and the appropriate mailing address. Be aware in the days leading up to income tax deadline, many USPS locations will have longer than normal wait times to buy postage and/or send mail.