Tax season is now! Request a code and receive instructions for filing taxes with Sprintax.
The advisors at ISSS are not tax specialists. All information on this page is intended to be general advice for informational purposes only.
Sprintax Tax Support
It is important to be aware that, as a nonresident present in the US during 2024, you’re legally required to file a tax return if you received US income during 2024 by the 15 April 2025 deadline. And even if you didn’t work or receive income in the US, you’re still obliged to file a Form 8843 with the IRS.
2025 Sprintax Tax Support Request
The ISSS office has partnered with Sprintax to help you file your federal taxes… for free! This service is ONLY for current USC students, scholars, or alumni who are actively approved and utilizing OPT or post-completion Academic Training.
Below you can find Sprintax resources to help explain the US tax system for nonresident international students and scholars.
- Sprintax International Student US Tax Guide and Blog: https://blog.sprintax.com/f1-visa-tax-return-guide-international-students/
- Sprintax YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Sprintax
Sprintax Free Educational Tax Webinars:
You will find below, a list of the free, educational tax webinars that Sprintax will
be making available to nonresidents prior to and during the US tax filing season.
You may register using the registration links below for a session that works well
for you:
- Wednesday February 26th @ 12pm EST
- Tuesday March 11th @ 2pm EST
- Thursday March 27th @ 1pm EST
- Thursday April 3rd @ 1pm EST
- Thursday April 10th @ 2pm EST
- Monday April 14th @ 11am EST
Local Tax Support: John B. Lane CPA
Certified Public Accountants, or CPAs, are professionally licensed accountants that can provide tax support. Some tax firms are equipped to assist international students with tax filing, and some are not. The tax team at John B. Lane CPA are one of the few firms in the area that specialize in international tax. They specialize in both empat and expat taxes. They can handle taxes of visa holders, international businesses and foreign business owners in the US, as well as provide insight on treaty positions for the individual tax returns to reduce tax liability.
Cost
Filling a return with assistance from John B. lane CPA and/or meeting with their tax experts will cost money. Depending on the staff needed to assist you and time to prepare, you may pay anywhere from $250-$300. Simple returns will be less expensive than more complicated ones. The price increases if any businesses or self-employment income are involved or in cases where they are reviewing tax treaties.
Contact
In order to work with this team, you will first need to contact the administrative staff to set up an initial appointment. You can call the office via phone or click the link to set up a Teams (virtual) or in-person meeting.
Office phone: 803-408-0200
Link to schedule an appointment online: https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/TalentedTaxTeam@johnblane.com/bookings/
Address: 1211 Pine Street, Elgin, SC 29045
Get Free Tax Prep Help: VITA
If English is not your first language, you may qualify for free tax assistance with the IRS via IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA). Read more and call ahead to determine if you qualify.
- Get Free Tax Prep Help (South Carolina)
- Free tax return preparation for qualifying taxpayers | Internal Revenue Service
Understanding Taxes as an International Student
In the United States, all adults present in the country are responsible for filing taxes. As an international student, this includes you, regardless of whether or not you have employment.
If you were present in the U.S. during the previous calendar year, you need to file your taxes. It does not matter if you had employment--all students need to file. Are you worried about how to do this? Never fear! ISSS offers assistance for all F-1 and J-1 students through the tax filing program, which is customized for international students. This information will be available February through April of each year.
If you have been in the U.S. for 5 years or more, you may qualify as a resident for tax purposes. This means that our tax program may not work for you, and you may need to pursue your own tax filing assistance through Turbotax or another similar company.
South Carolina has a state income tax in addition to the federal income tax. As a South Carolina resident, you will be responsible for filing both federal income taxes and state income taxes for the previous calendar year if you earned income.
Student athletes and others who receive taxable scholarships should make sure to include all information about their scholarships when utilizing the tax service provided by ISSS.
You should still file a Form 8843 with the federal government certifying that you did not earn income.
If you are a resident of India, South Korea, Canada or Mexico, you may be eligible for additional tax benefits. Go to Publication 519 [pdf] and search for your country (India, South Korea, Cananda or Mexico) to find the pertaining information.