Filing your taxes.
How Do I File Taxes?
You can file your taxes for the previous year once you receive your W-2 form from your Host Company. You will receive your W-2 form in the mail at the end of January or the beginning of February. You have two options for filing your taxes:
1. File your taxes yourself. You will need these forms:
- Federal Forms - The federal Income tax form is the same for most participants. This form is called the 1040NR-EZ, which is specifically for non-resident aliens earning less than $100,000 a year. Make sure that you file IRS Form 8843 along with this. All federal forms are available from banks and post offices in the U.S. or on the Internet at www.irs.gov.
- State and City Forms- The state and city income tax forms differ for each state and city. If you plan on filing your own taxes, Intrax recommends obtaining all forms before you leave the country. Most state tax forms can be found online.
2. Pay someone else to file for you.
- You also have the option of paying a professional tax consulting service such as www.rttax.com, using online software such as Sprintax or paying a local tax consultant to complete your tax return. Before choosing any company and signing an agreement, please make sure that you understand what the service will cost and what the service includes.
The deadline for filing your tax return is April 15 of the following year (for example taxes for 2018 must be filed by April 15th, 2019). If too little tax was withheld from your paychecks, you must pay the remaining amount to the U.S. government. If too much was withheld by the U.S. government, you will receive a refund check. If you leave before the end of the year and received payment in that year, please make sure that the host company has your permanent address on file in order to send you your tax documents.