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International Student Filing Taxes

Income Taxes

Income is taxable in the United States. If you were present in the United States at any point during the previous calendar year, you should file for taxes when filing season begins (February through April of each year). The filing deadline is April 15 of each year.

Understanding Taxes as an International Student

Introduction
In the United States, all adults present in the country are responsible for filing taxes. As an international student, you must file your taxes, regardless of whether or not you are, or have been, employed.

All Students
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 were or were not employed, you are still obligated to file a Form 8843 with the IRS. The Cooper Union has arranged access for one free federal tax filing with Sprintax to assist with your tax preparation. The access code and other necessary information will be emailed to you sometime between February and April.

After 5 Years of Residence in the United States
If you have been in the U.S. for five 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.

The International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) is not a tax specialist, and we legally cannot advise you on your tax returns nor on the filing of your taxes.

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.