The tax year runs from January 1 through December 31st. All F or J visa holders are required to file a US Federal Tax Return, even if you didn’t have taxable income during the previous tax year. You may owe taxes, you may be eligible for a refund, or you may simply be documenting your days of presence to the IRS. This depends on how much taxable income you had, how much tax you already paid, and whether you are able to claim benefits of a tax treaty between your home country and the US.

The OISA offers free access to GLACIER Tax Prep (formerly CINTAX) for Grinnell’s non-resident taxpayers (students, staff & faculty). GLACIER Tax Prep is a web-based system designed exclusively to help international students and scholars prepare U.S. Federal Income Tax Forms: 8843 and 1040NR or 1040NR-EZ. *J visa holders should consult their sponsor.

Once the OISA activates your access to GLACIER Tax Prep, but it is YOUR responsibility to:

  1. Read the User Tips the OISA provides, as well as the email instructions that GLACIER Tax Prep provides;
  2. Log into GLACIER Tax Prep and follow the prompts to complete your Tax Return;
  3. Print the completed Tax Return and make a copy for your permanent records;
  4. Attach documentation (W-2, 1042S) and mail the completed Tax Return to the IRS, postmarked on or before April 18.

If you need help beyond the written instructions, you may attend a Help Session offered by the OISA (email Brenda Strong if you want to be notified about this.).  In addition, you may email your questions directly to GLACIER Tax Prep, as advised in the user tips we send out.

**Wondering where your Tax Return is?**  If it has been over two months and your return has still has not be processed, you are free to call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.