Tax Information

All international students and scholars who were present in the United States for any period of time in the previous calendar year are required to file tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), regardless of whether you worked or received income.

Why File a Tax Return

  • Stay tax compliant: Failing to file may impact the status of your current visa and make future U.S. visa applications difficult
  • Avoid penalties: If you miss the deadline, you may face late filing penalties
  • You may be owed a refund: Last year, the average federal refund received by eligible students was more than $1,000

What If I Did Not Work or Receive Income

You are still required to file Form 8843 with the IRS for being present in the United States during the calendar year.

Deadline for the 2025 tax filing season: April 15, 2025

Sprintax

Understanding the U.S. tax system and filing a tax return can be confusing. To make things easier, UMKC has partnered with Sprintax, an online tool specifically designed for international students and scholars.

How to get started

1. Register with Sprintax

Create your account and complete the online questionnaire.

Register with Sprintax

2. Prepare your return

Sprintax will prepare your tax return and check if you are due a refund.

3. Submit your documents

Print, sign, and mail your documents to the IRS.

Documents you will need

Gather the following before you begin:

  • Passport
  • Entry and exit dates for your current and all past visits to the United States
  • Visa and immigration status information, including your I-20 (F-visa holders) or DS-2019 (J-visa holders)
  • Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). If you do not have an ITIN, Sprintax can help you obtain one.

Tax forms you may need

  • W-2: If you worked on campus or for a U.S. employer, this form reports your annual wages and the amount of taxes withheld from your paycheck
  • 1042-S and/or 1099: If you received a scholarship, fellowship grant, or other award, you may receive this form from the university payroll department

If you are using Sprintax for state tax return preparation only, you will also need the federal tax return you already prepared.

Sprintax resources

Other Tax Preparation Services

Several private tax preparation services are available, such as TurboTax and H&R Block. However, these services charge fees and may not provide the correct forms for nonresidents. We do not recommend using these services unless you know you qualify to file as a resident.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the tax collection agency for the United States.

Questions

If you have questions about your taxes, from "Am I required to file?" to "Can someone help me with Sprintax?", contact the University of Missouri Nonresident Tax Office at nonrestax@umsystem.edu.

Disclaimer: The International Student Affairs Office (ISAO) and UMKC are not permitted to assist students or scholars with IRS tax form preparation or tax-related questions. The information provided here is for your benefit only. Direct any questions or concerns to Sprintax, a certified tax preparer, or a local IRS field office.