A number of ISSS-BU readers who are familiar with the process for filling out their income tax forms have asked the ISSS to provide information on specifically what has changed, or what is new for Tax Year 2011.
For the seventh year, the ISSS has purchased a license with GLOBAL TAX PREP (formerly CINTAX) to allow BU international students, alumni, scholars and faculty to use GLOBAL TAX PREP to compute and print the federal income tax forms. GLOBAL TAX PREP is a web-based tax preparation system designed exclusively for international students, scholars and faculty who file forms 1040NR or 1040NR EZ as non-residents for tax purposes.
The filling deadline for both US Federal and New York State income tax this year is April 17, 2012. This is because April 15 falls on a Sunday, and April 16 is the emancipation day holiday in the District of Columbia.
An important item of note is to remind readers of the criteria that determines who qualifies as a non-resident for tax purposes for tax year 2011. F-1 and J-1 students, and their F-2 and J-2 dependents, qualify as non-residents if they have been in the United States in that status since 2007 or later. F-1 or J-1 students who have been in the United States in that status for more than five years (2006 or earlier) are considered to be residents for tax purposes.
J-1 scholars and their dependents qualify as non-residents if they have been in the United States in that status since 2010 or later. J-1 scholars who have been in the United States in that status for more than two years (since 2009 or earlier) are considered to be residents for tax purposes.
The personal exemption deduction (line 13 on form 1040NR EZ, line 40 on form 1040NR) is $3700 for tax year 2011. This amount is $50 higher than last year.
The standard deduction (used only by students from India as their tax treaty amount) is $5800 for single individuals and those who are filing as "married filing separately" for 2011 on form 1040NR EZ. The standard deduction is $11,600 for Indian nationals who are filing as "married filing jointly" for 2011 on form 1040NR. Indian nationals enter the standard deduction amount (line 11 on form 1040NR EZ, line 38 and page 3 line 1 on form 1040NR) instead of their state and local taxes.
There is a new tax treaty between the United States and Malta.
New York State filers must continue to use New York State form, IT-2 "Summary of Federal Form W-2 Statements" which was introduced four years ago. New York State filers must use the IT-2 to copy over information from the W-2 forms onto this form, and include it with forms IT-203 and IT-203B.
New York State has stopped mailing form 1099-G "Statement for Recipients of State Income Tax Refunds." This is the form that shows your NYS income tax refund amount for the previous tax year. If you filed state income tax forms for tax year 2010 and received a refund from New York state, you will need to report the amount on your 2011 non resident Federal Return (unless you are a citizen of India). To find this amount you will need to check page 4 of your 2010 NYS IT 203 form, or visit New York State's on-line tax center at http://www.nystax.gov/pit/file/1099g.htm or call (518)457-5181 (in state callers without free long distance call 1-866-698-2946)
