All international students need to file and send tax documents to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) every year they are present in the United States. For example, if you earned money in year 2012, you would send your tax forms to the IRS before the 2013 deadline. These tax forms are for the 2011 tax year.

Students are responsible for completing their tax documents. Not completing tax documents may delay future visa applications to the U.S. All IRS forms, form instructions, and publications are available for download at www.irs.gov. Students are free to hire tax consultants on their own. Bellevue College (BC) CANNOT give any tax advice due to liability issues.

BC has an International Student Tax Workshop in February or March. Attending this workshop is optional and students are e-mailed the time and location of this workshop. Also, BC purchases a license to use online software, called GLACIER TAX PREP (www.glaciertax.com), to assist students. This software is only for students who earned money. Students who have been in the U.S. for five years or longer should not use this software, rather these students should complete tax documents as if they are U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

PLEASE READ BELOW FOR YOUR SITUATION:

1. IF A STUDENT DID NOT WORK (did not earn money in the last tax year), the student must fill out and mail Form 8843 to the IRS by the June 17, 2013 deadline. This form and instructions will be available at the ISP Front Desk. Students are e-mailed when these forms are available. All tax forms and form instructions can be downloaded at www.irs.gov. Students should make copies of all tax forms for their records.

2. IF A STUDENT EARNED MONEY LAST YEAR, the student must fill out two forms, Form 8843 and Form 1040NR (or 1040NR-EZ), and then send both forms to the IRS before the deadline in mid-April. (The exact date is in the instructions on the 1040 form.)

   If a student wants to purchase GLACIER TAX PREP, which will help them complete these forms, students can do this at the International Student Programs (ISP) Office. Students are e-mailed when GLACIER TAX PREP is available. The cost of GLACIER TAX PREP is usually $10-$12. (BC is not allowed to profit from offering GLACIER TAX PREP.)

   (Students who earned money last year should receive W-2 Forms from their employer. W-2 forms show how much money was earned during a tax year. W-2 Forms are needed to complete tax forms. Contact your school's Payroll or Finance department to receive your W-2 form if you did not receive it by mail.)

   IF STUDENTS DO NOT PURCHASE GLACIER TAX PREP, then students can complete their tax documents on their own or with a tax professional. BC CANNOT give any tax assistance due to liability issues. Not completing income tax documents may negatively affect future visa applications to the U.S.

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