Tax Information
International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) encourages all international students and scholars to file taxes in compliance with federal and state tax regulations. ISSS staff members are unable to give individual tax advice.
Filing Deadlines
- Federal Taxes: April 15, 2013
- Iowa State Taxes: April 30, 2013
- Form 8843 only (no income earned): June 15, 2013
Please note that all non-residents (for tax purposes) who were present in the U.S. in F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2, M-1, or M-2 status during 2012 must file Form 8843, even if they received no income during 2012. This form does not require a social security number or ITIN. For assistance with filing Form 8843, please plan to attend a VITA workshop.
Tax Return Preparation Software
ISSS provides access to federal tax preparation software for current University of Iowa nonimmigrant students and scholars and those who were present at the University of Iowa during the 2012 tax year. Access to Windstar FNTR software is now available. For more information, please visit the tax software webpage.
Non-Resident Alien Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (NRA VITA) Workshops for University of Iowa
ISSS sponsors Non-Resident Alien Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (NRA-VITA) workshops for UI international students and scholars. Workshop volunteers are certified by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to assist international students and scholars in preparing non-resident tax returns. Volunteers can also answer questions about State of Iowa tax returns and Form 8843. NRA-VITA workshops are open to current University of Iowa nonimmigrant international students and scholars and those who were present at the University of Iowa during the 2012 tax year. NRA-VITA workshops begin in March. The schedule is now available on the tax workshop webpage
Warning about Tax Scams and Fraudulent Emails
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) does not discuss tax account information with taxpayers via e-mail or use e-mail to solicit sensitive financial and personal information from taxpayers. For more information, view the following webpages provided by the IRS.
Online Scams that Impersonate the IRS
Suspicious Emails
Information about Tax Scams/Consumer Alerts
Resources relating to international student and scholar tax
“Ten Common Tax Return Errors and the Foreign Nationals Who Make Them”
United States Income Tax Treaties - A to Z
Nafsa Federal Income Tax Brochure This brochure is designed to offer general guidelines only for federal income tax obligations, including determining tax residency and which forms must be filed and when.
VITA for residents (sponsored by UI College of Business)
State of Iowa Department of Revenue
Tax information for employers of students
Disclaimer: International Student and Scholar Services provides this tax resource information to UI students and scholars for informational and educational purposes and not as a substitute for advice obtained from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or a qualified tax professional. Students and scholars who have questions about their income tax situation should consult a qualified tax professional. Each person is responsible for the accuracy of his/her income tax returns and any resulting penalties or interest.
