International Tax Assistance Program - Appointments/Workshops

General Information
ALL International Students who are non-residents for tax purposes are required by federal law to complete certain tax forms during their course of study in the United States -- even if the student did NOT work!

The International Student Life Office (ISL) will offer a number of options for international students to receive assistance with filing the appropriate tax forms for the current tax year. All of the tax services provided by ISL are offered FREE of charge for current UGA international students.  Please read the following information carefully in order to obtain information concerning the tax assistance options available this year for internationals at UGA.

Please remember that ISL Tax Volunteers are NOT tax experts! All members of the ISL Tax Team have completed the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) training offered by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for non-resident tax issues. However, this 8-hour training only includes information for SIMPLE non-resident (student) tax returns. For this reason, the ISL Tax Team members will only be able to assist international students on an F-1 or J-1 visa who earned a basic income from a campus job. We will refer you to a tax preparer in Athens or Atlanta if we cannot help you. Additionally, the ISL Tax Team is only trained to assist international students with filing the appropriate tax forms. Courtesy of the Office of International Education, scholars and researchers may also utilize the CINTAX on-line option for filing federal tax forms or choose to visit a professional tax preparer.

Please note: a list of the documents and immigration paperwork needed for each workshop is located at the bottom of this section.  Be sure to bring all of these items with you to receive assistance.

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Options for Getting Help to Complete your Tax Forms this Tax Season

UGA International Students
All UGA International Students have the following options for completing the necessary tax forms for the 2007-2008 academic year:

• Complete your federal forms on-line with the CINTAX software
• Individual appointments for the Georgia 500 form
• ISL Tax Workshops including:
• 8843 Tax Workshop
• Coffee Hour Walk-Ins for the Georgia 500 form
• Georgia 500 Weekend Workshop

Check the current ISL Tax Brochure for specific information concerning dates, times and locations for the ISL workshops as well as for the date of release for the CINTAX software password for UGA users.

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UGA International J Scholars/Researchers
UGA International J Scholars/Researchers have the following options for completing the necessary tax forms for the 2007-2008 academic year:

• Complete your federal forms on-line with the CINTAX software compliments of the Office of International Education

Check the current ISL Tax Brochure for specific information concerning dates, times and locations for the date of release for the CINTAX software password for UGA users.

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Specific Information about ISL Tax Advising, Appointments, & Workshops

Federal Forms On-line (The CINTAX Software Program)
Complete the Federal Tax forms (8843 and the 1040 NR or 1040NR EZ) on-line from anywhere in the world via the CINTAX international tax software program. UGA access to the CINTAX software will be available beginning Friday, February 1, 2008. Email isltax@uga.edu from your UGA email account for instructions on how to access the CINTAX software program. The CINTAX software program has been purchased by International Student Life for UGA international students.

Individuals seeking access to CINTAX software MUST email International Student Life from your UGA email account in order to gain access to the UGA license for the CINTAX software for the 2007 tax year. (Please note that the on-line option will only assist with the Federal forms. Individuals who earned income during 2007 will also need to complete the Georgia State Tax Forms. See below for more information regarding how to get assistance completing the state form.)

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Georgia 500 Individual Appointments with the ISL Tax Team
Beginning Monday, February 18, 2008, UGA international students may request assistance with their Georgia Form 500 through individual appointments with members of the ISL Tax Team. The Georgia State Tax Form is needed ONLY if the individual has earned income during the tax year.  The last Georgia 500 Individual Appointments for the 2007 tax season will be announced shortly.

In order to request an appointment, individuals should be UGA international STUDENTS and should have already completed their federal tax forms. UGA international STUDENTS may email isltax@uga.edu to request an individual appointment for assistance with the Georgia Form 500. Contact 706-542-5867 for more information.  Appointment times must be kept!!! If you miss your appointment, you will be placed on a waiting list due to a high demand for assistance. 

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Georgia 500 Walk-Ins During Coffee Hour Each Week:
Beginning Friday, February, 15, 2008 through Friday, March 28, 2008, UGA international students are invited to come to Coffee Hour on Friday's each week (excluding March 14 - Spring Break) for Walk-In assistance with the Georgia 500 Form ONLY. Coffee Hour is held each week in the Memorial Hall Ballroom from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The last appointment each week will be taken at 1:00 p.m. International students will be assisted on a first-come, first-served basis. Students MUST bring their completed Federal Tax Return with them to this session as well as their immigration documents. Students should also bring any W2s, 1042-s, 1099s, or other applicable governmental forms with them for this session.  Remember: the last Coffee Hour walk-in session for the 2007 tax season will occur on Friday, March 28, 2008.

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8843 Workshop
The 8843 Workshop is for International Students (and their dependents) who were present in the U.S. during the tax year on an F-1 or J-1 student visa AND who did NOT work or receive income in 2006. This workshop will help international students (and their dependents) complete their tax report (the 8843 form) as required by federal law. This workshop will occur on Monday, March 3, 2008, time and location to be announced. Individuals attending this workshop will need to bring their immigration documents (passport, etc.) with them, a calculator, and a pen. Email isltax@uga.edu for more information.

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Georgia 500 Weekend Workshop
Join us for the ISL Georgia State Form Walk-In Workshop on Sunday, April 6, 2008, times to be announced, in the Memorial Hall Ballroom. This workshop is the last one of the tax season and will include assistance with the Georgia 500 Form ONLY! International Students will be assisted on a first-come, first-served basis and the last appointment will be taken at to be announced. Students should bring their passport, visa, UGA ID card, COMPLETED federal tax forms as well as any W2s, 1042-s, 1099s, or other applicable governmental forms with them for this session.

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Tax & Immigration Documents to Bring with You for Individuals Participating in any Portion of the ISL Tax Assistance Program

1. W-2s for the tax year (if any)
2. 1042-S for the tax year (if applicable)
3. Passport and Visa
4. Calendar and exact dates in the U.S. for the past SIX years
5. Social Security Number or ITIN (individual tax ID number)
6. Previous year(s) form(s) if applicable
7. A calculator

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