CINTAX International Tax Preparation

CINTAX is being provided by SISS to assist you in the preparation of your federal income taxes. To get started with CINTAX, you will need a unique password. Sometime in mid-March SISS will email instructions and password to international students and scholars at UC Davis [NOTE: This year UC Davis Accounting & Financial Services will distribute Forms 1042-S in mid-March 2009. This form is required to file your income taxes]. CINTAX will:

• Calculate the substantial presence test to determine the foreign national's U.S. residency status;
• Verify each type of payment for any applicable tax treaty exemptions;
• Check if the individual is eligible for "away-from-home" expenses (if he or she has been in the U.S. for less than 12 months);
• Complete the correct U.S. income tax form - either Form 1040NR or Form 1040NR-EZ;
• Prepare any additional statements or attachments, as applicable - Form 2106, Form 8843, Schedule C, and/or Scholarship/Fellowship Grant Statement;
• Print the tax return and all attachments (please note, the IRS does not allow nonresident aliens to file a tax return electronically); and
• Provide detailed instructions about how, when and where to submit the tax return, as well as information about the documents necessary to attach and complete the tax return filing process.

CINTAX is written in easy-to-understand language. You should only need to spend 30 minutes on the program.  However, it is important to be prepared and have all of the required documentation gathered before you begin.  For more tips on using the program, read on:

CINTAX Tips

1. CINTAX is an online system; however, you will not be able to file your tax return electronically.  After you have completed your return you will need to print, sign and mail the forms by April 15th.

2. Have all of your documents regarding your current and prior visits to the U.S. available.  This would include your DS-2019 or I-20 as well as your I-94 and entry/exit dates.

3. You will need to have all of your income documents available to you.  These include:
   1. 1099 -reports on income received that did not have taxes withdrawn by the employer.  It is the responsibility of the employee to pay taxes on this. The 1099 form is also used by banks to report interest, but usually this is not included in tax returns.
   2. W-2 - reports income received that had taxes automatically withdrawn from the employer. 
   3. 1042-S -reports on all types of stipends, scholarships, grants, fellowships and other awards.

4. Plan to spend approximately 30 minutes to completing the process.  Having all of the required documents handy and making sure the printer is working will make the process much easier.

5. All information entered into CINTAX is encrypted and secured via SSL technology.

6. You will be asked for your email address in completing the forms. CINTAX does not use the email address for any purpose other than contacting you if an error has occurred with their tax return preparation.  CINTAX assures that all of the information is secure and will not be distributed or used by anyone other than CINTAX.

7. Over 70% of the errors and inquiries are due to entering an incorrect password.  Be careful and accurate when accessing CINTAX. 

8. If there are any problems, send an email to the CINTAX Support Center at support@cintax.us.  CINTAX will only answer questions via email.

How to Access CINTAX

To get started with CINTAX, you will need a unique password. Sometime in mid-March SISS will email instructions and password to international students and scholars at UC Davis. These include:

• F-1and J-1 students registered at UC Davis in 2008
• F-1 students on Optional Practical Training in 2008
• J-1 students on Academic Training in 2008
• Current J-1 and other non-immigrant international scholars affiliated with UC Davis in 2008
• Former non-immigrant Visiting Scholars affiliated with UC Davis in 2008

If you have not received the instructions and password by March 20, 2009 and were an international student or scholar at UC Davis in 2008, please contact Marie Manlapaz. She will be able to send you the instructions and your password once she has verified your affiliation with UC Davis.

Tax Treaty and Payroll Tax Information

Please see Accounting and Financial Services or email glacier-help@ucdavis.edu.

You may have received an email from UC Davis Accounting and Financial Services regarding GLACIER, which is a nonresident alien tax compliance system. This is not the same as CINTAX.

• What is GLACIER? GLACIER is an online tax compliance system designed to allow institutions to efficiently and effectively collect information, make tax residency and income tax treaty determinations, manage paperwork, maintain data, and file reporting statements with the IRS.
• What is CINTAX? CINTAX is a web-based tax return preparation system designed exclusively for foreign students, scholars, teachers, researchers, trainees, and their dependents who are nonresident aliens to aid in preparing U.S. federal income tax Forms 1040NR and 1040NR-EZ.

California State Income Tax Workshop

Wednesday, February 4, 2009
11am-12pm and 1pm-2pm
International House, 10 College Park (NOT University House)

• State Tax Issues for Non-Resident Scholars
• Tax Scenarios
• About the Presenter

Tax Preparation Resources

Federal Tax Information
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
(800) TAX-FORM (to order forms)
(800) 829-1040 (tax questions)
Web address: www.irs.gov

California State Income Tax
Franchise Tax Board (FTB)
(800)852-5711 (For Tax Questions)
Web Address:   www.ftb.ca.gov

UC Davis Law School
Tax Law Society Tax Assistance for International Students and Scholars
Saturdays, February 7 to March 14, 2009
King Hall Law School, UC Davis
9am - 12pm and 1pm - 4pm
Appointments preferred
Drop-ins welcome
Contact Phil Kleam: pckleam@ucdavis.edu

University of Texas Guide for Nonresident Aliens Preparing 2007 Federal Income Tax Returns

Most Commonly Used Publications
Publication 17  : Your Federal Income Tax
Publication 519:U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens
Publication 901: U.S. Tax Treaties

Internal Revenue Service Contact Information
Tel 215-516-2000 or Toll free 1-800-829-4477
Non-resident aliens for tax purposes 1-215-516-2000
Resident aliens for tax purposes 1-800-829-1040