Taxes are not just for citizens but also for internationals. Why? Because you (and your family if they are with you) are using the host countrys resources and is taking part of the countrys cash flow. Taxes should be filed by everyone living in a country even if you are an international.
These are some of the questions that are frequently asked:
What happens if international students dont file taxes?
Many things can happen mainly the worst consequences. If you are in the US as a student with a F-1 Visa, complications will arise when you plan to extend your stay in the US. Or the Department of the Homeland Security (or the US Embassy of your home-country) can reject your extension application. Once this happens, you cannot stay in the states and go to school regularly because your I-20 will inactivated.
If you are a green card holder, there will be a huge penalty where you have to pay a huge fine and will show in your records.
Where and how do international students file taxes?
In every school, there is an office for international students (international students services, office of international students and scholars, etc) where tax information will be sent to each international student by school mail or by mail-box mail. They usually send students a pdf file where students can fill in the different sections. Or you may download it for the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) website (www.irs.gov).
Once you are done filling up the necessary information, students have to send a copy to the Department of the Treasury:
Internal Revenue Service Center
Austin, TX 73301-0215
What happens if international students work without social security/green card outside school?
When an international student is caught working off campus without a social security or a green card, the student is likely to get in trouble. In every institution, international students are not allowed to work off campus due to safety reasons and also due to the I-20 rules.
What are ways of international students to earn money legally?
Earning money legally for international students can be hard especially in a small school. The American students can find on-campus employment easily because they already have a social security number and the other necessary files prior to working. But for international students, they have to complete different papers and make trips to the Social Security Administration. But after all that is done, students can easily look for jobs strictly on campus. For large campus schools, looking for employment opportunities are easier because there are more working places that need helping hands.
Be sure to file taxes and be out of trouble.
