The International Students and Scholars Office has purchased a software package called Sprintax to help you complete your 2024 U.S. nonresident income 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 returns can be filed electronically using Sprintax.  If Spintax 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 1040NR and Form 8843.
  • If you did not earn any U.S. source income during 2024, you are not required to file a 1040NR 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.

Ready to begin?   It's not quite time yet...

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.  You will receive a message with information and an access code for the Sprintax tax preparation software to prepare your federal tax return free of charge when the 2024 tax return filing season opens in late January/early February.  

If you were employed in the U.S. during 2024, you will need Form W-2 from all employers summarizing the income you earned and taxes withheld for 2024.  ISU W-2 forms will be available for download from the "My Tax Documents" section of your "Pay" menu in Workday in mid-January.   Those of you who had tax treaty benefits on wages or a taxable scholarship during 2024 will also need Form 1042-S from your employer or sponsor.  ISU Forms 1042-S will be available prior to March 15th.  Please watch for a message requesting your authorization for electronic delivery of your Form 1042-S.  If you do not authorize electronic Form 1042-S delivery, 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.  We strongly encourage you to authorize electronic delivery of your Form 1042-S. 

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

Thank you!