Tax Information

ATTENTION! SPRINTAX & ISSS WILL BE OFFERING FREE TAX RETURN ASSISTANCE FOR 500 STUDENTS ON A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED BASIS! PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING FAQ ON HOW TO SIGN UP FOR THIS SERVICE.

All F-1 students are required to file taxes each year, regardless of whether or not you were employed during that time. This does not necessarily mean you will owe money. The due date for submission of tax forms is generally on or near the 15th of April.

If you did not work or receive taxable payments during the reporting year, you are required to complete and file Federal Form 8843.

If you worked or received taxable payments during the reporting year, you are required to complete and file:

  • Federal Form 8843
  • Form 1040-NR or 1040-NR-EZ
  • Form 540-NR or 540-NR-EZ for California taxes

These forms can be downloaded from the following sources:

The ISSS Office cannot provide advice on income tax filing. International students may prepare and submit tax forms on their own. However, if you are unsure how to file tax forms, we suggest that you seek professional advice from a tax specialist or hire an online non-resident tax preparation company, such as Sprintax, Glacier, or NR Tax Return. 

The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) are programs which offer free help for taxpayers who qualify. You can learn more about these services on the IRS website. If you plan to seek volunteer tax assistance, you must call in advance to confirm whether or not you qualify for their services, and if the volunteers can assist you with questions regarding non-resident taxes.

For additional information, see What International Students & Scholars Should Know About U.S. Tax Laws & Tax Filing

SPRINTAX Discount Code for International Students

Use this special SPRINTAX link created for SJSU international students to file tax forms.

Sprintax instructions sheet

Get a $5 discount on your Federal tax return!* Enter code SJSU2017F5 on the 'Review your order' page.

*Discount available to the first 250 students who use the code.