About
Arkansas Asset Builders is partnering with UCA's Office of International Engagement this spring to provide tax filing assistance for international students and scholars. This is an outreach of our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which serves low-to-moderate income households throughout the Conway community.
Temporary visitors (international students and scholars) to the United States who are in F, J, M, or Q immigration visa status have a filing requirement. They must file at least one form with the IRS for federal income tax purposes but often need help navigating the U.S. tax system.
Volunteers serving in this program will be trained how to:
- Distinguish between resident and nonresident aliens
- Determine whether a nonresident alien is required to file
- Determine the correct forms to file
- Determine whether a tax treaty applies and determine which income is taxable and which is excludable
- Correctly complete Form 8843 and Form 1040NR
This required training session will prepare volunteers to complete the required IRS Foreign Student VITA certification. This is a stand-alone certification and does not require completion of any other tax law certifications. So, whether you are a current VITA volunteer or have never participated in volunteer tax assistance, this is an opportunity to get the training you need to serve in a new way.
Int'l student tax assistance workshops will happen on the UCA campus on Monday evenings and Thursday afternoons, March 17-April 28. During these workshops, volunteers will guide students through using a free tax software product to prepare their own tax return. Volunteers can also help prepare more complicated or prior year tax returns for international students (other days/times TBD). In either case, we need volunteers to complete this IRS training and certification in order to provide needed tax assistance services to the UCA community.
