Overview

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires all international students and scholars to file taxes. According to the requirements of the IRS (a federal government agency), all international students and scholars should plan to declare their income (or lack of income) to the federal government every year by filing a tax return.

At the beginning of each year, you might receive documents by mail or by electronic means that are used to calculate any tax responsibility you may have for earnings during the previous calendar year. You will need to determine and file any taxes during a specific calendar year (January-December).

According to the IRS, filing a tax report (usually referred to as filing a 'tax return') is required. Students or scholars may also be subject to the regulations of other jurisdictions, including other states and other nations. For information on who should file a Federal tax return see the IRS webpage on Taxation of Nonresident Aliens.

SISS cannot provide formal tax advice and no information on this site may be considered formal tax advice. Consult a qualified tax professional if needed.

How SISS Can Help

SISS staff are not allowed to advise on tax matters. It is against the law to give tax advice without proper training, and SISS staff are not trained tax advisors. Although SISS cannot give advice, we have a resource that we hope will be helpful to complete IRS tax reporting requirements. SISS provides qualifying international students and scholars with complimentary access to tax software and trained tax professionals through GLACIER Tax Prep, which they can use to prepare their federal taxes.

Taxes can be confusing, even for those who have lived in the U.S. for a long time. Therefore, SISS offers this complimentary access to eligible international students and scholars affiliated with UC Davis at any time in 2024, including:

• Students enrolled at UC Davis at any time during the 2024 calendar year.
• Recent UC Davis graduates currently in active F-1 OPT or J-1 AT status with an I-20 or DS-2019 from SISS.
• Those employed by UC Davis or UC ANR at any time during the 2023 calendar year.
• Those in active J-1 status, with a DS-2019 issued by UC Davis at any time during the calendar year 2024.

GLACIER Tax Prep is a web-based tax preparation software program designed exclusively for international students, scholars, and their dependents identified as nonresident aliens for tax purposes in the U.S. during any time in the previous calendar year.

GLACIER Tax Prep is the tax resource SISS has arranged to help international students and scholars affiliated with UC Davis with their tax reporting requirements. Most students and scholars can successfully complete their tax reporting requirements using GLACIER Tax Prep. You are NOT REQUIRED to use GLACIER Tax Prep; this is just one option available to you.

It is your decision whether to use this service or to find your own resources. If you choose to use GLACIER Tax Prep, based on the information entered when completing your federal tax return, you will have the opportunity to continue to Sprintax for assistance in preparing a California state tax return. Sprintax is a separate service. You are responsible for any applicable fees through Sprintax.

This software becomes available each year in mid- to late-February and allows you to:

• Get step-by-step instructions in completing your tax return
• Determine the correct tax forms you need to fill out
• Complete your tax return from abroad if necessary
• Get information on fellowships and tax treaties
• Get information on printing and mailing tax forms
• Get technical and tax support from GLACIER Tax Prep