Tax Resources

**Note that we are not tax professionals and cannot provide tax advice. The following information is for reference only and may not reflect current law, policies, or procedures.**

UWM ISSS General Tax Overview

ISSS does not have expertise in U.S. tax filing and we cannot assist in determining your filing requirements. The information provided is for reference only and may not reflect the most current law, policies, or procedures.

Frequently Asked Tax Questions

Do I need to file taxes?


All international students who were in the United States during the tax year must file federal and state tax returns whether or not income was earned. See the following questions for more information on your filing status and how to file.

How do I know what my filing status for taxes is?

Refer to the following website to determine if you are a nonresident alien or a resident alien: IRS Resident and Nonresident Aliens Definition.

I am considered a nonresident alien for tax purposes and I earned income; what do I need to file?

You must file to report all your income from U.S. sources. You need to complete both a Form 8843 and a Form 1040NR. You may be required to file a state income tax return as well. You should read the instructions on the Wisconsin Department of Revenue website to determine any filing requirements.

I am considered a resident alien for tax purposes; what do I need to file?

You must follow the same tax laws as U.S. citizens. Therefore you must report all your income. You will file the federal Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return as well as a state income tax return.

I did not earn any income last year, do I still need to file taxes?

If you identify as a nonresident for tax purposes with no U.S. income, you and any dependents are required to file the Form 8843 only. 

How do I complete the form 8843?
  • You may refer to the Sprintax Form 8843 Filing Instructions – How to fill out 8843 form web page for more information.
    • Note: Sprintax is an online federal e-filing and state tax return self-preparation software for U.S. nonresidents including international students, scholars and visa holders (F, J). UWM cannot endorse any tax filing preparation vendor.
  • Use the following for Answer 9: University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, 2200 E Kenwood Blvd, Milwaukee, WI 53211, (414)229-1122
  • Use the following for Answer 10: Kevin Beisser, 2441 E Hartford Ave. Garland 138, Milwaukee, WI 53211, (414)229-4846
When should I file my taxes?

Federal and State Tax filings for the prior calendar year are due by April 15th each year (if this date falls on a government holiday or weekend date, the filing due date will be the next business day).

Who can help me complete my tax filing?

If you need assistance completing your tax filings, you should hire a Tax Professional who is experienced working with International Students or choose an online tax preparation service for international students, such as Sprintax or Glacier. UWM cannot endorse any tax filing preparation vendor.

For students who were employed by UWM, you should have access to the Glacier Tax Preparation service through your Glacier account. You can contact UW shared services for further information or review the UWM Glacier website.

Below are helpful resources:

What should I do if I missed the deadline for the prior year’s tax filing?

You still have the opportunity to submit your missed tax filing; you should submit your missed year tax filings immediately. We suggest that you work with a professional to determine your best options.  

What if I filed incorrectly for a prior year’s tax filing?

You have the opportunity to update your filing; you should update your filing immediately. We suggest that you work with a professional to determine your best options.  

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