PLEASE NOTE: The federal tax filing deadline for the Year 2019 income has been extended to July 15, 2020. Most states have extended their filing dates as well, but these vary; you can check the deadline in the state where you were living here: https://www.taxadmin.org/state-tax-agencies

If you have received an Economic Impact Payment, it is possible that you filed your Year 2018 or Year 2019 taxes incorrectly. Most program participants are considered non-residents for tax purposes and should not have received this payment. Non-residents should have filed Form 1040NR or 1040NR-EZ. You can check this by referring to your previous tax filing paperwork. If you are unsure if you filed correctly, please contact Sprintax: sprintax.com. They will be able to answer all of your questions and assist you in filing an amended return if needed.

It is required that you file an income tax return since federal, state, and local taxes were deducted from the pay you received while working in the United States. In some cases, participants are eligible for a tax refund, which is a good incentive to file your income tax return!

You must have a copy of a W-2 form from your employer in order to complete the income tax return. The form will show the total amount of your taxes withheld from your paycheck during the calendar year. Employers are required to issue the W-2 form by January 31 for the prior calendar year (January through December).

If you are still in the U.S., please make arrangements with your employer to receive a paper or electronic copy of your W-2.

If you have already returned home, the W-2 form will often be mailed to your home or the agency in your home country. In most cases, your W-2 will be mailed to your agency in your home country in January/February. Some employers will provide your W-2 electronically. When this is the case, the employer will send you instructions on how to download your form.