Tax Information for International Students

International students earning income through a position on-campus must settle the following tax requirements. Failure to do so can jeopardize the student’s status in the U.S., not just their employment.

Starting New Employment

Students from countries that have tax treaties with the United States may be eligible to exempt a portion of their earnings from taxes. If you are an international student working on campus, whether you are a new student employee or have worked in the university before, please take the time to follow our International Taxation Set-Up Procedure to ensure that you are being taxed appropriately on your income.

Mandatory Tax Filing Information

After each calendar year (January to December), you must file a 1040NR or 1040NR-EZ tax return and Form 8843 with the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by April of the following calendar year. These forms are available on the IRS website or by calling the IRS at 1-800-829-3676.

Important: Failure to file these forms is a violation of United States law and may jeopardize your future status in the U.S.

Students from countries that have tax treaties with the United States may be eligible to exempt a portion of their earnings from taxes. Eligible students who have completed the tax treaty process with Student Payroll whose earnings exceeded their country’s tax treaty limit will receive both a Form 1042-S and a Form W-2. These students should not file a tax return until they have received both forms.

You may also be required to file a Massachusetts Income Tax Form with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR). Consult the DOR website to determine your filing responsibilities. Forms are available on the DOR website or by calling 1-800-392-6089.