ISSS-BU News . 13 March 2006. ISSS-BU News
An electronic news service for international students and scholars, owned by the Office of International Student and Scholar Services at Binghamton University, State University of New York
Visit ISSS on the Web! http://isss.binghamton.edu
Editor's Note: Spring break began last Friday, and will continue until classes resume next Monday, March 20. All University offices, including the ISSS, remain open during Spring break.
CONTENTS:
1. BU Summer Session Registration Opens Monday, March 13
Registration for Summer Session 2006 will open for students on Monday, March 13. Students must clear all outstanding financial obligations before they can register or add classes. You can view and/or pay your outstanding financial obligations at http://busi.binghamton.edu To view your outstanding debts, select Outstanding Debts and to pay via the Web, select Make Web Payment.
Summer Session Bulletins are now available in the Registrar's Office, Student Wing Room 119. You can also view Summer Session information on-line at:
http://summer.binghamton.edu/
The Summer Session Course Schedule can be viewed at:
http://busi.binghamton.edu/schedule.html
2. Next Income Tax Seminar is Tuesday, March 14
The third in a series of Income Tax Workshops for Spring 2006 will be held on Tuesday, March 14 beginning at 1:30pm in Lecture Hall 8, and will be conducted by Ellen Badger. Classes are not in session on this day.
These workshops are designed for students in F and J status who have been in the U.S. in that status for five years or less (2001 or later) and J faculty/research scholars who have been in J status for two years or less (2004 or later). The workshops focus on completing New York State income tax forms for non-residents, since students should use CINTAX to complete your federal income tax forms.
Be sure to bring your CINTAX -completed federal income tax forms, a calculator, your W-2 forms, 1042-S Forms, and Forms 1098 or 1099 with you to the workshop. Please note that not all students will have received all of these forms. Copies of Income Tax Forms and Publications will be available at the workshop.
If you have not yet obtained your CINTAX password, but plan to attend the March 14 workshop, please note that it takes 2 business days to respond to password requests. So, be sure to allow time to obtain a CINTAX password AND complete your federal forms using CINTAX. To request your CINTAX password, see: http://isss.binghamton.edu/taxes/cintax.htm Already, nearly 400 BU international students have obtained a CINTAX password.
There will be one more income tax workshop on Friday, March 31, 2006 at 5:00pm in Lecture Hall 8.
3. Need Help Finishing Your Dissertation?
Sometimes it's hard to get started on a dissertation, and sometimes it's hard to finish one! A Dissertation Support Group is being formed for those doctoral students who need that “extra push” to finish or start their dissertation. The group will meet Fridays at 1:00pm.
“Life interferes. We know that. It always will. Weekly contracts will help you keep your promise to get something done on your project.”
Interested? Send a note to the facilitator, Dr. Elizabeth Droz droz@binghamton.edu , or call the University Counseling Center at 607-777-2772 to sign up.
4. Advance Announcement! Important Workshop on Post-Graduation Employment Issues Wednesday, April 5
What may be the most important immigration workshop offered this year will be held Wednesday, April 5 at 4:00pm in Science 2 Room 144. Will you be seeking employment in the United States after graduation? Do you have questions regarding H-1B visas, labor certification, PERM and employment-based permanent residency? Are you confused about the announcement that the H-1B “cap” has been reached for fiscal year 2006, and there will be no new H-1B visa availability until October, but applications will begin to be accepted as of April 1? What will happen to those 20,000 extra H-1B visa slots for those with U.S. master's degrees or higher? You do not want to miss this workshop!
Learn about your options under U.S. immigration law from special guest and featured speaker, nationally known immigration attorney, professor of law and author Stephen Yale-Loehr from the law firm of True, Walsh & Miller in Ithaca, New York. This workshop is co-sponsored by the Office of International Student and Scholar Services and the Career Development Center.
5. Avian Influenza (“Bird Flu”)
Avian Influenza has been in the news for quite a while now. Also known as avian flu or bird flu, it has been found in parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe. At the present time, because the virus is much more likely to spread from animal to human than from one human to another, travel to and from affected countries is not yet restricted. However, there have been more than ninety human deaths reported world wide from Avian Influenza. It is important for travelers to remain aware of this illness and its potential to continue to spread.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have created a web site devoted to information on Avian Influenza: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/index.htm
The World Health Organization has created a web site as well:
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/
The U.S. State Department has also developed a web page on Avian Flu, designed mostly for Americans planning to travel abroad.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/health/health_1181.html
6. Income Tax Information: Who's Using CINTAX ?
More than 400 current BU international students and BU international alumni are using CINTAX for the filing of their federal tax returns. This is the first year that CINTAX is available for BU student use, thanks to a license purchased by International Students and Scholar Services.
What do you think of CINTAX ? Let us know by sending your comments to isss@binghamton.edu
7. Income Tax Information: Common Mistakes When Reporting Income
There are some common mistakes that international students frequently make on income tax forms. Here are a few of them.
Mistake 1: Attempting to e-file (electronically file) the federal income tax return.
Non residents for tax purposes (F and J students who have been in that status in the United States for five or fewer years, 2001 or later) and J scholars/faculty who have been in that status in the United States for two or fewer years, 2004 or later) are non-residents for tax purposes and must file non-resident income tax forms. Currently, the federal non-resident forms, 8843, 1040NR and 1040NR EZ, cannot be filed electronically. If you have used an e-filer for your federal income tax returns, and you are a non-resident, you have filed the wrong forms and will need to file an amended income tax return. If you use CINTAX, this mistake will not be made.
Mistake 2: Confusing wages with scholarships/fellowships.
All wages are reported on form W-2, and should be indicated on line 3 of form 1040NR EZ. All scholarships are generally reported on a form 1042-S, and if coded as a scholarship (code 15 on the 1042-S) is indicated on line 5 of form 1040NR EZ. If you think you have a scholarship, but the earnings were reported on a form W-2, it is NOT a scholarship, and must be reported on line 3 of form 1040NR EZ. If you use CINTAX, this mistake will not be made.
Mistake 3: Putting the wrong amount on line 11 of form 1040NR EZ.
Only state or local income tax withheld can be reported on line 11 of form 1040NR EZ. DO NOT list federal income tax withheld on this line, only state and local tax (found on box 17 and box 19 of form W-2 and also on form 1042-S). Students from India eligible to claim the India Tax Treaty must put only the standard deduction amount on line 11. If you use CINTAX, this mistake will not be made.
Mistake 4: Including your tuition scholarship on line 5 of form 1040NR EZ
Graduate students who have received a tuition scholarship from Binghamton University should NOT enter the amount of the scholarship on line 5 of form 1040NR EZ. These tuition scholarships do not fit the IRS definition of "taxable scholarship." If you use CINTAX, this mistake will not be made.
Mistake 5: Excluding the wrong amount on line 9 of form 1040NR EZ
You can only exclude an amount on line 9 if you also had a taxable scholarship/fellowship amount on line 5. Exclusions are limited to the amount you spent on fees and books during the period you had a scholarship/fellowship. There are no exclusions for wages reported on form W-2. If you use CINTAX, this mistake will not be made.
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