All international students and scholars who were in the U.S. during the calendar year in any visa type other than B (Visitor) visa, and received income (scholarship / fellowship, wages, prizes, royalties, self-employment income, etc.), must file an annual income tax return with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS). If you earned wages of $10,000 (filing as single) or $20,000 (filing as married) or more, you will also be required to file a New Jersey state income tax return.
The annual tax filing deadline is April 15 for 2024 tax returns.
Residents for Tax Purposes
For U.S. taxes, international students or scholars are considered either 'non-residents for tax purposes' or 'residents for tax purposes'. Your tax residency status depends on your current immigration status and/or how long you have been in the United States. Sprintax Returns will determine your residency status after you have entered all prior visits to the U.S. and completed your Sprintax Returns profile.
Tax Season
Tax Forms
Not every international student or scholar receives the same tax forms. The tax forms you receive will be based on:
- The type of income you have received, such as a scholarship / fellowship, wages, prizes, royalties, etc.;
- Your residence country; and
- Whether your home country has a tax treaty with the United States.
Below are the types of tax forms you may receive:
Accessing your 1042-S or W-2 electronically
W-2 forms from Princeton University are available online for active faculty, staff, and students to view and print. The Payroll Office will distribute Form W-2 forms by January 31 to individuals who did not opt for the online version of the form.
To obtain your Form 1042-S online:
Login to your Sprintax Calculus profile for 2024 (Make sure to select 2024 as the tax year)
Select “Tax Forms” to access your 2024 Form(s) 1042-S
You can directly import your Form(s) 1042-S to Sprintax Returns by selecting "Yes, Take Me to Sprintax."
To obtain your Form W-2 online:
Form W-2 for Faculty or Staff
- Log on to PeopleSoft through HR Self Service.
- Select the link for Self Service.
- Select the link for the Payroll and Compensation page.
- Select the link to view the W2, W2c, or 1042S Form.
- Select the link to view your Year End Form.
- Your W-2 Form will appear in a PDF version that you may view and print.
If you are not able to obtain your Form W-2 through PeopleSoft Self Service, please contact the Payroll Department by email, [email protected]
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Request a Duplicate Form 1042-S
For those faculty, staff and students who are no longer able to access TigerHub, HR Self Service, or Sprintax Calculus, you can request a duplicate copy of your Form(s) 1042-S. To do so, please complete the Request a Duplicate Form 1042-S and submit it by email.
Assistance with Filing Nonresident Taxes
Princeton offers free access to Sprintax, a nonresident tax preparation software to assist international students and scholars with filing their annual federal tax return. The program asks you a series of questions, and as you answer each question, the program will generate the forms for you to file with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). For more information about how to use the Sprintax software, please view the Sprintax Tutorial, which is available on the Sprintax YouTube Account. For any particular questions about your taxes or the program, please email Sprintax Support.
Please note: Princeton staff members in the Davis International Center or in Global Financial Services are not tax preparation professionals and cannot grant tax advice. We recommend that you consult with a professional tax advisor if you need more assistance than what is offered through Sprintax.
Additional information can be found on the Prepare and File a Nonresident U.S. Tax Return webpage.
What taxes does Princeton withhold?
For more information about tax rates, please visit the IRS website.
WAGE TYPE | WITHHOLDING |
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Scholarships or Fellowships | Federal (Visit Taxation of Scholarships and Fellowships to learn more) |
Wages | Federal New Jersey |
Prizes | Federal |
Other IRS Resources