Center for International Faculty and Student Services

NON RESIDENT TAX SOFTWARE FREE FOR RUTGERS-NEW BRUNSWICK INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND SCHOLARS

Dear New Brunswick international students and scholars:

To familiarize yourself with general tax rules and helpful tax resources, we strongly recommend you start by reading "Income Tax Information for International Students and Scholars at Rutgers-New Brunswick" on our website at http://cifss.rutgers.edu/pdfs/taxinfo_2007_tax_year.pdf. The CINTAX program will make more sense to you if you understand these basic tax rules first.

Using the CINTAX Nonresident Tax Program

STEP 1.

Before accessing the CINTAX nonresident tax program, you must first determine if you are a nonresident or resident for federal income tax purposes. Use the guidelines below to assist you in making the determination.

(NOTE: "nonresident" for tax purposes is not the same as "nonimmigrant" for visa purposes!)

For F-1 and J-1 students, the following general guidelines apply:

F-1 and J-1 students are normally considered nonresidents for federal tax purposes only during the first five calendar years of study. Calculations should include any part of a calendar year within the first five years. For example, a student who arrived in August 2004 should count 2004 as an entire year, even though the student was only in the U.S. for five months of that year.
After five years, F-1 and J-1 students are presumed to be residents for federal tax purposes by the IRS.

For J-1 professors and research scholars, the following general guidelines apply:

J-1 professors and research scholars are normally considered nonresidents for federal tax purposes during their first two calendar years in the U.S. Calculations should include any part of a calendar year in the first two years. For example, a J-1 scholar who arrived in August 2005 should count 2005 as an entire year, even though the scholar was only in the U.S. for five months of that year.
After two years, J-1 professors/scholars are presumed to be residents for federal tax purposes by the IRS.

STEP 2.

Follow the appropriate instructions below once you have determined whether you are a RESIDENT for federal tax purposes or a NONRESIDENT for federal tax purpose. The CINTAX program is ONLY for those who are nonresidents for federal tax purposes.

RESIDENTS for federal tax purposes: If you have determined that you are a RESIDENT for federal tax purposes, THE CINTAX SOFTWARE PROGRAM WILL NOT HELP YOU, and we therefore ask you not to attempt to log into the program. There are many low-cost commercially-available tax programs for resident taxpayers, however. TurboTax (turbotax.com) is the most well-known of these, but many other free and low-cost options exist. For an IRS-recommended list, go to http://www.irs.gov/efile/lists/0,,id=101223,00.html. Do NOT follow the CINTAX instructions below! (Logging into the program "just to see it" will automatically use up one of the limited number of access codes we have been allotted. Since the program does NOT assist with resident tax forms, we ask that you NOT use one of these access codes up unnecessarily. We appreciate your cooperation in this matter.)

NONRESIDENTS FOR FEDERAL TAX PURPOSES: If you have determined that you are a NONRESIDENT for federal tax purposes, follow these instructions to access and use the CINTAX program:

1. Click on this link: Link to CINTAX

2. Accept the certificate. (Required)

3. Login with your Rutgers NETID and password. To log in, you must confirm (by checking the box) that you have determined you are a nonresident for federal tax purposes.

4. Follow instructions on the CINTAX program. If you have any questions or problems while using CINTAX, do NOT write to our Center! Instead, use CINTAX's own support that is built into the program. CINTAX answers questions quite promptly, and in any case, our Center is not qualified to advise on either individual tax issues or CINTAX

TWO IMPORTANT WARNINGS:

When you have completed your tax form(s) on CINTAX, you must print everything out and mail it yourself to the IRS at the address provided by the CINTAX program. The CINTAX Program does NOT mail the form electronically for you!
The program also does NOT do NJ State Tax forms; for information on state forms, please read the last page of our "Income Tax Information for International Students and Scholars at Rutgers-New Brunswick" on our website at http://cifss.rutgers.edu/pdfs/taxinfo_2007_tax_year.pdf.