All international students must file tax forms. If you work in the United States and earn a salary or wages, you will likely have to pay both U.S. federal and Indiana state income taxes.
Both federal and state taxes are due April 15 for the previous calendar year. In most cases, a percentage of your income tax will be with held by your employer each month or each pay period. This federal-government withholding tax is an estimate of the taxes due on that amount of earnings. Every employer is required to report total earnings for the calendar year and the total amount of taxes that have been withheld. This report (W-2) must be sent to the employee and the federal government by January 31 of each year.
The amount of taxes you must pay both the U.S. government and the state of Indiana could be affected by the length of your stay, a tax treaty between your country and the United States, or your status and the type of employment you hold. By law, international students are only permitted to claim either zero or one exemption on their W-4 forms, unless you are a married citizen of Canada, Japan, Mexico, or South Korea. Questions regarding exemptions, tax treaties or withholding should be directed to either the
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the
Ball State Office of Payroll and Employee Benefits.
If you have not worked or if you have only received a scholarship (not a salary), you will need to file taxes by June 15 for the previous calendar year.
The Rinker Center for International Programs provides workshops about taxes each year, typically after spring break. Details about these workshops, including how to sign up and the date, time, and location, are usually announced via e-mail and posted on the
Rinker Center Web site and calendar.
Students are eligible for certain types of employment, depending on visa status. Before beginning any type of employment, permission must be granted. To begin employment without permission is a violation of your status and taken very seriously by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Employment opportunities fall into the following categories:
- On-campus work permission is possible for anyone enrolled in a degree-seeking program taking regular (not Intensive English Institute) classes who has F-1 or J-1 status. Please note that J-1 visa holders will need special permission from their sponsor.
- Academic training is available to students with J-1 visa status. Permission is specific to the employer.
- Practical training, both curricular and optional, is available to students in F-1 visa status.
- J-2 work permission, available only to J-2 visa holders.
- Hardship work permission, which is difficult to obtain, is available to students who can demonstrate drastic and unforeseen changes in their financial situation.
- To apply for work permission, you should make an appointment to see the international student advisor to discuss your situation and to do the necessary paperwork.