Social Security Number (SSN)

A nine-digit number assigned to an individual by the Social Security Administration for tax and wage reporting purposes

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...

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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 am I paying taxes when I’ve submitted all the required forms to claim tax treaty benefits?

This could be due to one or more of the following factors:

  • Sprintax Calculus has indicated that you're eligible for tax exemption on a dollar limit for the tax year, however, administrative/technical restrictions at Harvard prevent us from granting treaty benefits when there's a dollar limit.
  • On average, it takes around 1 month to process tax classification/treaty forms, and your submission is still in the queue.  Once it has been processed, however, your earnings will be tax exempt and we can...
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Do I have to file a tax return?

If you were a nonresident alien and were present in the United States during any part of the tax (calendar) year in question on an F,J, M, or Q visa, there is at least one tax form you must complete (IRS Form 8843).

If you were a nonresident alien who did not receive funding from a U.S. source (please be aware that funding from a foreign source that is paid through Harvard is usually considered U.S.-source), you do not have to complete an actual tax return (eg.1040 NR), but, as mentioned above, may...

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Social Security Number (SSN) and Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)

General Information

Foreign national individuals, both resident aliens and nonresident aliens, may have either a Social Security Number (SSN) or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)

A Social Security Number (SSN) is:

  • A nine-digit number assigned by the Social Security Administration to an individual for tax and wage reporting purposes

An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is:

  • A nine-digit number assigned to an individual who is required to have...

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Social Security and Medicare Tax (FICA)

Social Security and Medicare taxes, or "FICA" tax (approx. 7.5% of gross income), are collected by Harvard University but administered independently by the U.S. Social Security Administration. Non-student U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and resident aliens (as designated by the Sprintax Calculus tax compliance system) are subject to FICA taxes on salary and wages earned as an employee. 

It may be possible to refund FICA taxes incorrectly withheld by the University: 

  • To determine if FICA taxes were incorrectly withheld in the current...
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Tax Treaties and Deadlines

Please note: In January 2024, Harvard launched Sprintax Calculus as our tax determination software for international payees (non-U.S. individuals and entities). This software replaced Glacier. Visit our Sprintax Calculus page for more information and resources.

Deadline to claim *new* tax treaty exemption for current calendar year 2024: If GLACIER (see Note 1) determined you were possibly eligible to claim a tax treaty...

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