[YAV]

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

[AtlantaTaxExpert]

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.