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-   -   Tax return while on OPT (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=564094)

  • Mar 21, 2011, 04:53 PM
    nataliab
    Tax return while on OPT
    Hi I have been in US since August 2005 as an F1 student. I graduated May 2010 and starting June 1 I have been on the OPT. The forms that I have received for 2010 tax purposes are: form 1098-T from the university that I was on full scholarship and another 1098-T form for a community college that I paid for with my own money (I took a few extra classes there on top being enrolled in the university)
    1) I was wondering if I can get any money back for the community college that I paid for?

    I also received form 1042-S from the university where I had a full scholarship. They withheld 925.27 federal tax. (I'm Polish resident and they said tax treaty with Poland is 5 years so they had to withdraw that money from me).
    2) Can I get any of that money back?

    I also received a 1099-MISC form from the place where I was helping out in the summer for only a couple months. In the box for nonemployee compensation there is 1237.00 and in the box for federal income tax withheld there is nothing (blank).

    Given all the information: 4) What all forms do I need to fill out for 2010?
    5) Am I still considered Nonresident Alien or am I a Resident Alien?
    6) Do I owe any money or I will be given any money back?

    Please, help!
  • Mar 22, 2011, 02:49 AM
    MukatA

    You will file resident tax return Form 1040.
    1098-T. Tuition and fee deduction is not available in 2010. For graduate students scholarship for tuition and fees is not taxable income.
    1099-misc (nonemployee compensation) income: You will report your income and business/work related expenses on schedule C or C-EZ (Form 1040). Then you put net income (or loss) on line 12 of Form 1040. This income is subject to SE tax at 15.3% (this is shown on line 57 of Form 1040). For this you will use schedule SE (Form 1040). Self employed, independent contractor or sole proprietor Your U.S. Tax Return: Tax Filing by Self Employed Sole Proprietor or Independent Contractor
  • Mar 22, 2011, 09:11 AM
    nataliab
    When I took classes at the community college I was not a graduate student yet. Does that change anything?
    Also, I used free turbotax program and after competing it showed federal return of $700. I didn't submit it because I wasn't sure if this is the right way for me since I'm international?
  • Mar 23, 2011, 12:09 AM
    MukatA

    For 2010 you are resident of US so you can use Turbotax to do your resident tax return. Make sure to enter all tax documents in turbo tax.
  • Mar 27, 2011, 12:11 PM
    nataliab

    Okay I still have 2 concerns remaining.

    1) I also received 1042-S. Do I need to do anything with it? There is nowhere on Turbo Tax for me to "check" that this is one of the forms I received. Everything else is fine.

    2) On the form 1099-MISC the amount of money is put in box 7 as nonemployee compensation however the place where I did my work was only a one-time thing and I haven't done it before and I will not do it again, (also the amount is small) so they told me to consider it "other income" when I fill out my 1040 form. Is that a right thing for me to do? (even though on the form it was in box 7 and not box 3)?
  • Mar 28, 2011, 01:04 AM
    MukatA

    1. Report 1042-S income in same line where you report W-2 income.
    2. For 1099-misc income use schedule C. You must pay SE tax at 15.3%
  • Mar 28, 2011, 01:37 AM
    nataliab
    1) Do I have to fill out schedule C? When I tried using turbo tax it told me that I can considered it "other income" instead of a business.

    2) can I use turbo tax and efile even though I have a 1042-s form?
  • Mar 29, 2011, 10:00 AM
    nataliab

    I have received form 1042-S from University where I had a full scholarship.

    All the info that is on it:
    Box 1: Income code 15
    Box 2: Gross Income : 6609.03
    Box 5: Tax rate 14.00
    Box 7: Federal tax withheld 925.27

    My questions is: do I have to put any of that information on form 1040? If yes, then where (what lines)?
  • Mar 29, 2011, 10:01 AM
    nataliab

    Also, do I have to attach the 1042-S with all my tax documents and send it out?
  • Mar 29, 2011, 10:34 AM
    nataliab

    I have found among questions that have been answered here a couple years ago, that:

    From form 1042-S
    I should put amount given to me in box 2 in box 7 on 1040 form, but on the dotted line write "SCH 6609.03"
    The amount from box 7 (federal tax withheld) I should put in box 61 on 1040 form, but on the dotted line write "1042-S".

    HOWEVER, the exemption code given to me on form 1042-S is 0.00. US have tax treaty with Poland but its only for 5 years and I have been here longer than that.

    SO DO I STILL PUT THE AMOUNT OF TAX WITHHELD IN BOX 61 OF FORM 1040?


    PLease, help! The last 3 posts are all from me!

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