Hi, I have been a student at Georgia Tech for over a year, and I have been working as a GRA under an F1 (international student) visa.
My question is: Can I use the Georgia tax form 500EZ instead of the form 500 to fill my taxes? Which, for my case, is equivalent to asking whether I was considered a Georgia resident during the year 2008. As I was living in Georgia during the entire year (with a Georgia home address, and a Georgia driver's license), I would consider myself resident; but I acknowledge that the distinction might not be that evident, as, at a federal level, I would not be considered a US resident.
Then, if I fill the form 500EZ, it seems that I would be exempt of taxes on $10,000; while if I use the form 500, the exemption seems to only amount to $7,700 (or so)! Which one is correct? Can you help me determine the amount of my income that I can claim as exempt of taxes. For your information, I am a French citizen, my annual wages are less than $25,000, and the exempted amounts that I referred to above include the $5,000 of the tax treaty between France and the US.

Thank you so much for your help.

Sincerely,

YAV

Yes, as far as the state of Georgia is concerned, you ARE a Georgia resident.

The special status that the F-1 visa gives you does not apply when it comes to the state tax return! That means you CANNOT apply the $5,000 treaty exemption to the Georgia state return.

Double check your facts about the Form 500EZ versus the Form 500. It should make no difference tax-wise which form you file; the result will be the same if it done properly.