International students arrive from around the world to pursue their studies at Carleton. Alongside classes and campus life, however, many must navigate an important responsibility: filing taxes in the United States. Although taxes are a routine obligation for working domestic students who work, international students face a more complicated system.
At Carleton, international students represent about 70 different countries, and they are all required to fill out a W-4 form once they arrive on campus.
“All international students need to file taxes regardless of whether they work or not,” explained Kelly Hsu ’27, an International Student Life (ISL) programming assistant and international student.
Tax payments depend on several factors, including income, scholarship funding, and tax treaties between one’s home country and the United States. Tax treaties are agreements between governments that determine how certain types of income are taxed. For international students, these treaties can significantly reduce tax obligations.
“If a student is from a country with a tax treaty, then it means that they can apply the tax treaty amount and do not need to pay taxes on any income up to that amount. For example, the tax treaty with China is $5,000,” said Liz Cody, director of ISL. “If a student from China made less than $5,000 from working, they would not owe taxes.”
According to Cody, specific tax treaties vary by country, and these agreements mean that two students earning the same amount of money could end up paying different taxes depending on their nationality. Some students benefit from treaty protections, while others may need to pay taxes on their full income. Additionally, scholarship money used for expenses such as housing or food may also be considered taxable income.
Despite these complexities, most international students at Carleton do not owe large amounts of federal taxes.
“About 40% of international students owe taxes to Minnesota. Less than 10% owe money to the federal government, and most students get a refund from the [Internal Revenue Service] (IRS),” Cody said.
To help students manage these requirements, Carleton uses a specialized software system called Glacier Tax Prep, which is designed specifically for non-resident taxpayers. The software helps students determine whether they qualify for tax treaty benefits and prepares the appropriate federal tax forms.
“Everyone uses Glacier Tax Prep unless they have been in the United States for more than five years. The software prepares all federal taxes, and we have a local Certified Public Accountant (CPA) come in to prepare state taxes for students. If a student doesn’t work, then they may not need to file state taxes,” said Cody.
In addition to the software, Carleton organizes help sessions for international students. The International Student Orientation (ISO) introduces new students to the basics of the tax system, particularly those receiving financial aid who are more likely to have taxable income. Later in the year, the International Student Life office hosts multiple tax preparation sessions to provide guidance.
These sessions also include support from outside professionals. A local CPA works with the college to assist with state tax filings.
According to Cody, around 120 international students at Carleton have already completed their tax filings this year. During this process, pPeer leaders and staff guide students through each step to ensure the process is completed. This includes checking that documents are sent to the correct tax authorities.
“The [tax filing] process is very long and involves a lot of documents, but we try to make it as streamlined as possible and make sure students are supported,” said Eloise Macklin ’28, an International Student Life peer leader. “We, alongside other ISL workers, lead a couple of different tax sessions during Winter Term where students can either make appointments if they need to get documents notarised or overseen by a tax professional, or drop in and be guided through the process.”
Some students say they do not feel strongly about the obligation itself, and taxes are just another administrative task.
“I mean, I pay taxes, obviously,” said Hsu. “I don’t feel strongly for or against it. I’m here, and I don’t want to do things illegally.”
Still, the system remains unfamiliar to many newcomers, especially during their first year in the United States.
“I did fill out a form at the ISO. I don’t know how to pay taxes, but I’m curious about the process. You know, what if one day I need to pay taxes?” said Evaen Lei ’29, an international student from China.
“In general, I think Carleton and the ISL team do a really good job of being there for students and providing clear guidance and support through the various elements that come with being an international student in the USA,” said Macklin.