Tax Information and Help for Graduate Students

Remember that you need to file tax returns by April 15, 2003. You may download federal and state tax forms from the internet and in some cases can file your tax return electronically.

Again this year, our volunteer, Mr. David North, will be in Room 2101 of the Lee Building on seven days this spring to help graduate students fill out their federal and state income tax forms. There is no need to make an appointment, and the services are free. The hours are 9:15 A.M. through 5:00 P.M. The experience of recent years suggests that waiting time is shorter early in the morning. This is the schedule:

• March 14, U.S. citizens and international students with "green cards" only. Also, grad students who are parents.
• March 21, 31, April 3 (10-3 only), and April 11 and 14 - all grad students.

All students should bring the tax forms they previously filed for the year 2001, as well as financial information for 2002, such as pay stubs, the W-2, and, if they have them, 1099s. (Many students will not have this last form.)

While Mr. North can be helpful with income tax and some other state and federal programs, he is not an expert on education-based assistance programs (i.e. fellowships and grants).

Please be advised that neither Mr. North nor his assistant are employees of the University of Maryland, so their advice does not constitute tax advice from the University of Maryland.

International Students:

1. International students are encouraged to use the NRAware software that the IES has provided for their federal returns, but that system does not help with state filings. If international students need help with the federal returns, they MUST obtain a federal form 1040-NR (not 1040-NR-EZ) and form 8843. (Download these from the IRS site above.) For the Maryland taxes they will need a Maryland form 502. (Download these from the Maryland tax site.) All MUST bring the 1042-S that arrived in the mail.

2. First year international students from the same nation are encouraged to come in groups of three or four, as such groups can be assisted quickly. This is the case because their tax situations are likely to be identical.

3. International Educational Services (IES) also has resources to assist international students with income tax reporting. Consult their website for further information.

4. Most first-year international grad students will receive refunds of taxes previously withheld.