Use Sprintax to prepare your 2024 U.S. nonresident federal income tax return free of charge.

All nonresident international students and scholars who were at Iowa State University at some time during 2024 may use Sprintax to prepare their 2024 U.S. nonresident income tax return free of charge.   Check your ISU e-mail for a message from "issotax" on January 27, 2025, containing information and an access code for the Sprintax tax preparation software to prepare your federal tax return free of charge. 

The purpose of a tax return is to determine if you owe additional tax for 2024 or if you are due a refund from the U.S. government of some of the tax you paid with each paycheck or on your scholarship during 2024.  Your completed 2024 federal income tax return must be postmarked or filed no later than April 15, 2025.  Most, but not all, nonresident tax returns can be filed electronically using Sprintax.  If Sprintax cannot process your tax return electronically, it will prepare the required forms and provide instructions for filing a paper return. 

Most of you holding F or J immigration status are required to file a tax report of some kind.

  • If you earned U.S. source income during 2024, you must file both Form 1040-NR and Form 8843.
  • If you did not earn any U.S. source income during 2024, you are not required to file a 1040-NR form, but you must file Form 8843.

Sprintax will help you complete the right forms for your situation. Those of you with an immigration status other than F or J can use Sprintax to determine which forms you should file.    

Sprintax will calculate if you were a resident or a nonresident for U.S. tax purposes in 2024.  (Note that the definition of resident for taxes is different than the definition of resident used for immigration and tuition purposes.) If you were a nonresident for tax purposes in 2024, Sprintax will help you prepare the proper forms to electronically file, or to print, sign, and mail to the IRS. If you were a resident for tax purposes in 2024, you can use the same tax forms and software available to U.S. citizens.  Please Note:  It is not legal for a nonresident to file a resident income tax return.

Get tax preparation assistance from the Ivy College of Business VITA program by appointment only.   

Appointment slots for this free, in-person service start February 10, 2025.    Register for an appointment now at:  https://calendly.com/vita-isucampus

Ready to begin?   You may not have all the documents you need yet.  

Form W-2:

If you were employed in the U.S. during 2024, you need Form W-2 from your employer(s) summarizing the income you earned and taxes withheld for 2024.  W-2 forms for ISU employees are now available for download from the "My Tax Documents" section of the "Pay" menu in Workday.

Form 1042-S: 

If you had tax treaty benefits on wages or a taxable scholarship during 2024 also need Form 1042-S from your employer or sponsor to file your tax return.  ISU Forms 1042-S will be available by March 15th.  Please watch for a message requesting your authorization for electronic delivery of Form 1042-S.  If you do not authorize electronic delivery of Form 1042-S, your Form 1042-S will be mailed on or before March 15, 2025, to the U.S. address shown in your Workday record.  If you received tax treaty benefits on wages or had a taxable scholarship during 2024, you must include your Form 1042-S with your tax return.  

 

Additional information about filing both U.S. and State income tax returns can be found on the ISSO Website.