When should I update my Sprintax Calculus record?

Updates to your immigration status, residency, certain biographical information, and obtaining a U.S. tax ID can greatly impact accurate tax withholding or reporting to federal and state government agencies. It's important that you act with urgency to maintain all of your records at Harvard, which includes Sprintax Calculus.

Examples of required Calculus updates include: extensions to your immigration status, changes in the type of income you will receive from Harvard, obtaining a new U.S. tax ID number, changes in your country of residency or permanent address, etc. If any...

I am a nonresident performing services outside the United States, will I be taxed at 30%?

The Sprintax Tax Summary Report indicates the tax withholding amount that will be applied to payments for services performed in the United States. If you are a foreign individual or entity performing services exclusively outside of the United States, there will be no tax applied to payments for those services. Please note that payments for royalties are treated as U.S. sourced if the intellectual property is used inside the United States. U.S. sourced royalty payments are taxed at 30% unless a tax treaty applies and is granted.

Can I register with Sprintax Calculus without an invite from Harvard?

International payees should register via the link emailed to them from Harvard (the email will be sent from HUtax@sprintax.com) in order to correctly assign their account with Harvard. Users who already have a Sprintax Calculus account should still use the Harvard activation link to add Harvard to their account.

I didn't enable two-factor authentication on my account. Why is Sprintax Calculus asking me to use two-factor authentication when I try to log in?

If you used the e-sign function within Sprintax Calculus, you were required to set up two-factor authentication. This setup acticated two-factor authentication on your account. The same two-factor authentication method will also be used to log in to your Sprintax Calculus account for future logins.

How can I get support with Sprintax Calculus?

You can contact Sprintax Calculus directly for support. They offer a Live Chat feature, FAQs, and email support via calculussupport@sprintax.com.

For Harvard-specific issues, contact the International Payee Tax Compliance (IPTC) Team.

Is Sprintax Calculus the same as Sprintax Returns?

No. Sprintax Calculus is separate from Sprintax Returns (Tax Preparation), which assists with annual income tax preparation and your tax filing

How should I answer questions in Calculus if I have no U.S. presence in the current calendar year but expect payments from Harvard for US activities that occurred in a prior year?

If you were unable to complete Sprintax Calculus before the end of the calendar year that corresponds to your recent visit to Harvard, and you are expecting payments relating to that visit, then you will need to indicate at least 1 day present in the U.S. this calendar year to complete your Sprintax Calculus profile.

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What is the “Location of Activity” when processing a payment in Accounts Payable, and why is it important to include?

Harvard is required to indicate the “location of activity”, particularly when paying income to foreign individuals and foreign entities, to comply with IRS tax withholding and reporting regulations. A clear indication of the location of the activity (such as the country) is necessary on all supporting documentation for the payment to be correctly classified for tax purposes. This applies to both service and non-service income.
Generally, the location of...

Which W-8 Form do foreign entities need to submit to Harvard in order to be set-up for payment as a vendor?

There are 3 forms Harvard is able to accept from a foreign entity to be set-up to receive payments as a supplier (W-8 BEN-E, W-8 EXP, or W-8 ECI). Information on the various forms can be found on the Foreign Entities and W-8 Forms page. We are unable to advise on which form should be used, as this is a individual business decision a supplier must make based on their legal structure, and in consultation with a professional tax advisor if necessary.

Is there a way to process a payment only for Harvard business expenses to a foreign individual that does not require Sprintax Calculus?

Yes, under certain circumstances, and only to non-employees. Please refer to the requirements and instructions for this process Business Expense Reimbursement to Foreign Individuals (BER Vendor)