Most international students, scholars, and non-immigrant visa holders are required to file taxes with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) each year they are present in the US regardless of wages earned/not earned. Most F-1 and J-1 students are considered non-residents for tax purposes for a period of five years following initial arrival in the US. However, tax codes are complex and do not always align with immigration categories. 

Taxes must be filed with the IRS every year on or before April 15. Failure to do so may result in penalties. On occasion, UAA may offer tax workshops for international students. Should such workshops be available, an official announcement will be made on the ISS homepage.

More information regarding taxes for international students and visitors may be found on the IRS website. For assistance with taxes and related issues, please contact a tax professional or certified public accountant. 

Note: Tax information provided by UAA ISS is intended for reference purposes only and is no way intended to serve as official guidance or advice. UAA hereby disclaims all warranties as to the accuracy of such information and shall have no liability of any kind for any use made of such information by any person or organization. Those needing assistance or advice regarding taxes and/or immigration law should consult a tax professional, certified public accountant, or attorney.

University of Alaska is now collecting nonresident alien tax information using the GLACIER Online Tax Compliance system, developed by Arctic International. You will be able to access your international information from a web-enabled computer anywhere in the world.

Individual emails have been sent to all international visitors asking for information. The first email provided a temporary username and password, along with a link for accessing GLACIER. Recipients should sign into GLACIER and follwo the on-screen instructions for changing passwords and entering personal data. Some of the information you will be asked to provide includes social security, ITIN, and/or passport numbers, local and permanent (foreign) addresses, dates of curent and past visits to the US, your visa status for each visit, type of payment expected (if any), and your relationship to the University of Alaska.

Once you have completed the GLACIER input, a tax summary will let you know the forms you need to print and copies of documents you need to provide. If you receive 2012 forms from GLACIER and have already provided paper forms and documents to your home campus, it is not necessary to send them again. If you receive 2013 forms, please print and sign forms, copy documents, and mail to the address provided on the summary.

For questions regarding GLACIER, please contact Ryan Belnap, UAA Senior Consultant and Records/Systems Manager, at rkbelnap@uaa.alaska.edu.