[pps-news] Tax Return for Non-Immigrant Employees

[Gabe Nwandu]

February 23, 2006

 

To:       All Departments

Fr:        International Services Center

Re:       Tax Return for Non-Immigrant Employees

----------------------------------------------------

 

This message was sent to all faculty, lecturers, and researchers in
non-immigrant visa status (H-1B, J-1, F-1 OPT, TN).
A similar message will be sent to all graduate students in F-1 and J-1
status:

This message is intended for those who received any U.S. salary during
the year January to December 2005.
 
You should have received your W-2 form from the UCR Payroll Office.
Your total annual salary for 2005 was reported on your W-2 form.  The
Payroll Office deducts federal and state tax from your monthly paycheck,
unless you qualify for a tax treaty benefit (federal tax only).  If you
can claim the benefit of a tax treaty during the year 2005, you will
also receive a 1042S form from the UCR Payroll Office by March 15th.  If
you are from a country which has an income tax treaty with the United
States, and if your employment meets the treaty requirements, you may
qualify for certain tax benefits.  For UCR employment, tax treaty
benefits should be reflected in your monthly salary deductions.  If you
do not owe any tax (no federal tax was deducted) due to the tax treaty
benefits, you still must file a federal income tax return, or there will
be a severe penalty.  You will lose all your treaty benefits.
 
This year International Services Center has contracted with a company,
called Arctic/CINTAX, which provides a web-based tax return preparation
system, exclusively designed for foreign researchers and professors.  We
will provide you with a password to log into the system by the beginning
of March.  Do not share this password with others.  We have purchased a
limited number for access into the system.  If you know of any
non-immigrant visa holder who has not received the password, please let
me know promptly.
 
There is no cost for you to have your federal income tax return prepared
with Arctic/CINTAX.  If you are required to file a state tax return in
addition to the federal tax return, you will get an alert that a state
tax return may be required and you will be given three options: 

*	Use Specialty Tax Services to prepare your state tax return(s)
for a fee of $35 per return.  If you choose to do so, you will be
prompted to give Arctic permission to securely transfer the previously
entered data (through SSL, just as you would transfer data for online
banking) to STS to seamlessly prepare the state tax return avoiding the
need to reenter data. STS may take up to 24 hours to prepare the state
tax return and the assigned tax professional will contact you to provide
the completed return. 
*	Complete the state tax return on your own. 
*	Contact a tax accountant or professional. 

The web-based system will determine whether you will have to prepare a
tax return for non-residents or residents.  If you have to file as a
resident you will be given three options: 

*	Arctic/CINTAX has arranged with Specialty Tax Services to assist
resident aliens (for tax purposes) in filing a U.S. tax return if they
need assistance.  If you choose to use their services, you need to click
on the link on the screen that alerts you to being a resident alien to
be transferred to the STS website.  You will be charged a fee if you
choose to use the STS services (the fee is dependent upon the issue and
you will accept the charge before providing any payment information). 
*	Complete the state tax return on your own.  The UCR Rivera
Library, Government Publications, 1st floor, has all the tax forms for
residents. 
*	Contact a tax accountant or professional. 

You must have your W-2 (and if applicable your 1042S form) before you
enter the system.
 
If you can file your tax return as a resident and want to claim your
dependent(s), your dependents must have a social security number.  If
they do not have an SSN, they must apply for an Individual Tax
Identification Number at the Internal Revenue Service in San Bernardino.
 
We have posted additional information on our website at
http://www.internationalcenter.ucr.edu/intlrf_tax.htm
 
We cannot conduct individual tax advising sessions nor answer questions
by e-mail.
 
 =====================================
Horst Hoffmann, Associate Director
International Scholar & Student Programs
International Services Center
Surge Building, Room 319
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521-0307
Phone: (951) 827-4113
FAX: (951) 827-3778
http://www.internationalcenter.ucr.edu/


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