Taxes

Rice University cannot provide individual tax advice. We can only provide general guidelines to help you get started on preparing your taxes. No information on this site may be considered formal tax advice. Consult appropriate tax counsel as necessary.

Tax forms are due to the IRS by April 15th of each year.
Stay tuned for information regarding Sprintax Returns license codes!
Codes will be available starting February 16, 2026.

Filing taxes in the United States can be a confusing responsibility. Failure to comply with IRS regulations can produce serious consequences. Even if no taxes are owed, it is required by law to comply with filing procedures. Penalties can range from fines to interest on unpaid taxes to incarceration if convicted of tax fraud or evasion. While Rice cannot file your taxes for you, we have compiled the following resources/guidance to assist you.

**NOTE: For questions or concerns regarding issues with previous years' tax returns, please contact the IRS directly by phone at their International Taxpayer Assistance line (1-267-941-1000)

Sprintax Returns Access Code

Sprintax Returns discount codes for the 2025 tax year will be available starting February 16, 2026. Check back for the request link!

This link is exclusively for members of the Rice University international community. OISS sponsors these codes at no cost to you.

**Sprintax Returns codes are only valid for a particular tax year. You must use a new code every year**

Discount codes are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Sprintax Returns is a web-based software program designed to assist internationals with tax form preparation. It is available to Rice international students (both F-1 and J-1 status) who have been in the U.S. for less than 5 years, or international scholars on J-1 status who have been in the U.S. for less than 2 years and are considered non-residents for tax purposes.

**If you are unsure of your tax residency status, you may go to Sprintax, create an account, and Sprintax will assist you in determining your tax status prior to purchasing the software.
• If you are found to be a non-resident for tax purposes, you can then use Sprintax Returns to complete your tax forms.
• If you are found to be a resident for tax purposes and cannot use Sprintax Returns to complete your tax form preparation, you may visit the IRS website for free file assistance options.

Using Sprintax Returns:

  1. Use the license for the correct tax year
  2. Gather all your tax documents before beginning (including W-2's if you worked, 1042-S if you received a fellowship or scholarship, etc.). If you file too early and later discover you forgot to include a tax document, you will need to prepare an amended return that is an entirely separate process. For information on receiving these forms from Rice, please see https://controller.rice.edu/tax-home.
  3. Follow the instructions provided by Sprintax very carefully, so that you don't miss any steps.
  4. If you need an ITIN because you are not eligible for an SSN, please see OISS and read ITIN Process
  5. If you need to file State Taxes because you worked in a state that charges State Income Tax, you may purchase a Sprintax Returns software license to assist you in filing those taxes. Please visit Sprintax.

Additional Resources

• Short webinar on main principles of non-resident tax – Click here
• Sprintax Returns software walkthrough video – Click here
• Sprintax Returns e-filing video – Click here

Sprintax Calculus

Sprintax Calculus, separate from the Sprintax Returns system, is used to determine your U.S. tax residency status and possible tax treaty eligibility. The Rice Tax Office will set up a Sprintax Calculus account for you. If you have not received an email with your Sprintax Calculus login instructions within one week of your start date, please contact the Tax Office at ForeignNationalTax@Rice.edu.

If you are a nonresident alien using Sprintax Returns to file your tax return (Form 1040-NR), any personal, contact, or 1042-S data from your Sprintax Calculus account will flow to your tax return.

Tax Webinars

How to Prepare for the U.S. Tax season (post by Sprintax)

OISS partners with Sprintax to offer webinars specifically for the Rice international community. Sprintax also offers general webinars throughout the spring, as well as webinars for taxes related to OPT/CPT employment.

Rice U exclusive webinar:

This webinar is offered exclusively to the Rice international community.

• Wednesday, April 1st @ 2:00-3:00pm CST – Register here

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with details on how to join the webinar.

General webinars by Sprintax:

In these tax webinars, international students, scholars, and professionals will be run through everything they need to know about nonresident tax for the 2025 tax season. Topics will include who must file, tax residency, FICA, State returns, implications of misfiling, as well as how to use Sprintax Returns to prepare a compliant tax return. Remember, taxes are due April 15, 2026!

Please note that these are Eastern Time Zone:
• Jan 20th @ 10am ET – Register here
• Jan 28th @ 12pm ET – Register here
• Feb 5th @ 1pm ET – Register here
• Feb 10th @ 7pm ET – Register here
• Feb 18th @ 3pm ET – Register here
• Feb 24th @ 10am ET – Register here
• Mar 5th @ 12pm ET – Register here
• Mar 11th @ 1pm ET – Register here
• Mar 16th @ 2pm ET – Register here
• Mar 27th @ 11am ET – Register here
• Apr 1st @ 1pm ET – Register here
• Apr 7th @ 8am ET – Register here
• Apr 14th @ 2pm ET – Register here

Tax Basics and Frequently Asked Questions

Learn all about taxes in the United States and get answers to frequently asked questions – http://oiss.rice.edu/taxbasics.

Tax Events Deadlines

  • January 31: W-2 and/or 1099 provided by employers. For Rice forms, please see https://controller.rice.edu/tax-home for more information.
  • March 15: Form 1042 and 1042-S due to the IRS by Payroll. For more information, please see https://controller.rice.edu/tax-home.
  • April 15: Forms 1040NR and 1040NR-EZ due to the IRS by individuals (if Nonresident Alien receives compensation).
  • June 15: Form 8843 due to IRS (if Nonresident Alien does not receive compensation, and that is the only form that is required to be filed.)

SSN and ITIN Process

A SSN or ITIN is needed to facilitate payment for scholarships, fellowships, employment in the U.S., and to file a U.S. tax return. If you are not eligible to apply for an SSN, you may need to request an ITIN in order to receive tax treaty benefits and to file a U.S. tax return.

NOTE: If you are only required to file Form 8843 for your U.S. tax return, then no SSN or ITIN is required.

CPT/OPT Pre-employment Tax Support

Please see https://oiss.rice.edu/cpt-opt-tax for information on a helpful resource.

Additional Resources

AARP Tax Aide Program
Volunteers provide free tax return preparation assistance to foreign students and scholars, for both the non-resident and resident alien tax forms. Walk-ins are welcome (please arrive at least 1 hour before closing):

University of Houston - Downtown VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program
Free Tax Preparation by IRS Certified Preparers. See https://www.uhd.edu/academics/business/acci/vita/index.aspx for more details.

Other Resources

Please note that the OISS staff is not trained or qualified to provide tax advice.