Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sprintax Calculus?

Sprintax Calculus is an online tax compliance program, to which foreign nationals receiving payment from Harvard will be given access. It is a secure, web-based system that will classify international individuals and entities for U.S. tax purposes and determine appropriate tax withholding and tax treaty eligibility (if applicable).

There is a number on my tax reporting document that is located in the field for a Social Security Number, but I either never applied for an SSN/ITIN or the number doesn’t match my actual tax ID. Should I use this number on my tax return?

  • If you never applied for an SSN or ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number), the number on your 1042-S or W-2 is just a number Harvard has assigned for administrative purposes, and should not be used on your tax return. You should apply for an SSN, or, if ineligible for one, for an ITIN, as soon as possible. The latter can be applied for while completing your tax return, although it is strongly recommended that you do not wait till then to do so.
  • If you now have an SSN or ITIN, you should deliver a copy of the card/letter to our office, and use the SSN/ITIN...
Read more about There is a number on my tax reporting document that is located in the field for a Social Security Number, but I either never applied for an SSN/ITIN or the number doesn’t match my actual tax ID. Should I use this number on my tax return?

Why didn’t I receive a 1042-S when I received a scholarship, stipend, fellowship, or grant?

If the Nonresident Alien Tax Office has classified you as a resident alien for tax purposes (a status based on your visa type and U.S. visa history), then you will not be receiving a 1042-S. As a resident alien, you are responsible for independently reporting your income to the U.S. tax authorities by referring to your personal pay records.

Alternatively, if your scholarship was less than your tuition and related expenses, it would have been reported on the 1098-T, not the 1042-S. Please contact the...

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Should I receive any tax reporting documents?

If you had no U.S.-source funding, you will not receive any tax reporting documents. It is possible to receive more than one type of tax reporting document, if you received more than one type of funding from a U.S. source (wages plus a fellowship, for example). The type of document you might receive depends on the type of funding you received.  If the only funding you received from Harvard was a scholarship that was applied directly to your term bill (1098-T), you will not receive any tax reporting documents. If you had no U.S. source funding, you will not receive any tax reporting...

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Do I have to file a Massachusetts State tax return?

Not everyone has to file a State tax return. It depends, among other things, on the source and amount of income you received during the tax year. You do not have to file a Massachusetts tax return if you only have to file Federal Form 8843. You should go to the Windstar tax preparation software for nonresident aliens (available through the International Office) to determine if it is necessary for you to file a State form.

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Since I already had taxes withheld from my paychecks, do I need to file a tax return?

Yes, you should still file a tax return. The U.S. tax system is a “pay as you go” one, where taxes are withheld from your paychecks as you receive them (based on information you gave your employer at the time of hire). You should file a federal and/or a state income tax return to determine if you paid too much tax and are due a refund, or if you did not pay enough and owe tax.