Tax filing information for international students

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Tax filing information for international students
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Your Earnings and Withholding

• Federal and state governments assess taxes on all
  wages earned.
• Wages you earn must be reported each year on a
  calendar year basis.
• To the US Federal government
• To the state of Michigan
• Wage is divided into the amount you receive and
  the amount withheld.
• Employee receives W2 / 1042S each year.
• Shows wages earned and amounts withheld.
• Received from employer January/February 2010
• 2009 wages must be reported by 15 April 2010.

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Reporting Your Earnings

• 2009 wages must be reported by 15 April 2010.
• Wages are reported separately to federal and
  state government.
• Nonresidents use the following forms
• Form 1040 NR US nonresident alien income tax
  return
• OR
• Form 1040 NR-EZ US income tax return for
  certain nonresident aliens with no dependents
• AND
• MI-1040 Michigan tax return
• Schedule NR Michigan nonresident schedule
• Schedule W Michigan withholding tax schedule

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More on Withholding

• Amount withheld is determined by
• Number of dependents
• Increased number of dependents decreased
  withholding.
• Tax treaty status
• Legal country, time in US may decreased/no
  withholding.
• Pre-determined amount
• You may determine how much should be withheld
  from each check.
• If too much is withheld, you will get a refund.
• If too little is withheld, you will OWE taxes.
• If too much is owed, you may pay a penalty.

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Assistance with Tax Filing?

• Neither IPS nor Accounting provides assistance in
  preparation of tax returns.
• The School of Business and Economics will offer
  assistance with preparation of tax returns in the
  spring.
• Local commercial firms may be hired to prepare
  your tax returns. Be certain you ask for an
  estimate of how much they will charge.
• On-line, look for US Tax Guide for Aliens at
  http//www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p519.pdf

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Preparing the Way

• Federal state government must have an accurate
  report of your wages and withholding.
• This means Michigan Tech must have an accurate
  report of conditions that impact your
  withholding your dependents and tax treaty
  status.
• As with everything else, there is a form
• W4
• MI-W4
• Form 8233
• I-9
• Social Security form SS-5