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This chapter discusses how to pay your U.S. income tax as you earn or receive income during the year. In general, the federal income tax is a pay as you go tax. There are two ways to pay as you go.
See chapter 12 for information about getting these publications and forms.
You must let your employer know whether you are a resident or a nonresident alien so your employer can withhold the correct amount of tax from your wages.
If you are a resident alien under the rules discussed in chapter 1, you must file Form W-9 or a similar statement with your employer. If you are a nonresident alien under those rules, you must furnish to your employer Form 8233 or Form W-8BEN, establishing that you are a foreign person, or Form W-4, establishing that your compensation is subject to graduated withholding at the same rates as resident aliens or U.S. citizens.
If you are a resident alien and you receive income other than wages (such as dividends and royalties) from sources within the United States, file Form W-9 or similar statement with the withholding agent (generally, the payer of the income) so the agent will not withhold tax on the income at the 30% (or lower treaty) rate. If you receive this type of income as a nonresident alien, file Form W-8BEN with the withholding agent so that the agent will withhold tax at the 30% (or lower treaty) rate. However, if the income is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business, file Form W-8ECI instead.
The following discussion generally applies only to nonresident aliens. Tax is withheld from resident aliens in the same manner as U.S. citizens.
Wages and other compensation paid to a nonresident alien for services performed as an employee are usually subject to graduated withholding at the same rates as resident aliens and U.S. citizens. Therefore, your compensation, unless it is specifically excluded from the term “wages” by law, or is exempt from tax by treaty, is subject to graduated withholding.
If you are an employee and you receive wages subject to graduated withholding, you will be required to fill out a Form W-4. Also fill out Form W-4 for a scholarship or fellowship grant to the extent it represents payment for past, present, or future services and for which you are not claiming a tax treaty withholding exemption on Form 8233 (discussed later under Income Entitled to Tax Treaty Benefits). These are services you are required to perform as an employee and as a condition of receiving the scholarship or fellowship (or tuition reduction).
Nonresident aliens should fill out Form W-4 using the following instructions instead of the instructions on the Form W-4. This is because of the restrictions on a nonresident alien's filing status, the limited number of personal exemptions a nonresident alien is allowed, and because a nonresident alien cannot claim the standard deduction.
A U.S. national is an individual who, although not a U.S. citizen, owes his or her allegiance to the United States. U.S. nationals include American Samoans, and Northern Mariana Islanders who chose to become U.S. nationals instead of U.S. citizens.
See Withholding on Scholarships and Fellowship Grants later, for how to fill out Form W-4 if you receive a U.S. source scholarship or fellowship grant that is not a payment for services.
If you are eligible for the benefits of Article 21(2) of the United States-India Income Tax Treaty, you may claim an additional withholding allowance for the standard deduction. You can claim an additional withholding allowance for your spouse only if your spouse will have no gross income for 2010 and cannot be claimed as a dependent on another U.S. taxpayer's 2010 return. You may also claim an additional withholding allowance for each of your dependents not admitted to the United States on “F-2,” “J-2,” or “M-2” visas if they meet the same rules that apply to U.S. citizens.
Wages that are exempt from U.S. income tax under an income tax treaty are generally exempt from withholding. For information on how to claim this exemption from withholding, see Income Entitled to Tax Treaty Benefits , later.
Wages paid to aliens who are residents of American Samoa, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands may be exempt from withholding. The following paragraphs explain these exemptions.
Certain residents of Canada or Mexico who enter or leave the United States at frequent intervals are not subject to withholding on their wages. These persons either:
The statement can be in any form, but it must be dated and signed by the employee and must include a written declaration that it is made under the penalties of perjury.
If you are a nonresident alien employee who is a resident of American Samoa or Puerto Rico, wages for services performed in American Samoa or Puerto Rico are generally not subject to withholding unless you are an employee of the United States or any of its agencies in American Samoa or Puerto Rico.
Nonresident aliens who are bona fide residents of the U.S Virgin Islands are not subject to withholding of U.S. tax on income earned while temporarily employed in the United States. This is because those persons pay their income tax to the U.S. Virgin Islands. To avoid having tax withheld on income earned in the United States, bona fide residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands should write a letter, in duplicate, to their employers, stating that they are bona fide residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands and expect to pay tax on all income to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
If you receive a pension as a result of personal services performed in the United States, the pension income is subject to the 30% (or lower treaty) rate of withholding. You may, however, have tax withheld at graduated rates on the portion of the pension that arises from the performance of services in the United States after December 31, 1986. You must fill out Form W-8BEN and give it to the withholding agent or payer before the income is paid or credited to you.
Tips you receive during the year for services performed in the United States are subject to U.S. income tax. Include them in taxable income. In addition, tips received while working for one employer, amounting to $20 or more in a month, are subject to graduated withholding.
If there is no employee-employer relationship between you and the person for whom you perform services, your compensation is subject to the 30% (or lower treaty) rate of withholding. However, if you are engaged in a trade or business in the United States during the tax year, your compensation for personal services as an independent contractor (independent personal services) may be entirely or partly exempt from withholding if you reach an agreement with the Internal Revenue Service on the amount of withholding required. An agreement that you reach with the IRS regarding withholding from your compensation for independent personal services is effective for payments covered by the agreement after it is agreed to by all parties. You must agree to timely file an income tax return for the current tax year.
Your final payment of compensation during the tax year for independent personal services may be entirely or partly exempt from withholding. This exemption is available only once during your tax year and applies to a maximum of $5,000 of compensation. To obtain this exemption, you or your agent must give the following statements and information to the Commissioner or his delegate.
If satisfied with the information, the IRS will determine the amount of your tentative income tax for the tax year on gross income effectively connected with your trade or business in the United States. Ordinary and necessary business expenses can be taken into account if proven to the satisfaction of the Commissioner or his delegate. The Commissioner or his delegate will send you a letter, directed to the withholding agent, showing the amount of the final payment of compensation that is exempt from withholding and the amount that can be paid to you because of the exemption. You must give two copies of the letter to the withholding agent and must also attach a copy of the letter to your income tax return for the tax year for which the exemption is effective.
Withholding on payments for independent personal services is generally based on the amount of your compensation payment minus the value of one exemption ($3,650 for 2010).
To determine the income for independent personal services performed in the United States to which the 30% (or lower treaty) rate will apply, you are allowed one personal exemption if you are not a U.S. national and are not a resident of Canada, Mexico, or South Korea. For purposes of 30% withholding, the exemption is prorated at $10.00 a day in 2010 for the period that labor or personal services are performed in the United States. To claim an exemption from withholding on the personal exemption amount, fill out the applicable parts of Form 8233 and give it to the withholding agent.
Eric Schmidt, who is a resident of Country X worked under a contract with a U.S. firm (not as an employee) in the United States for 100 days during 2010 before returning to his country. He earned $6,000 for the services performed (not considered wages) in the United States. Eric is married and has three dependent children. His wife is not employed and has no income subject to U.S. tax. The amount of the personal exemption to be allowed against the income for his personal services performed within the United States in 2010 is $1,000 (100 days × $10.00), and withholding at 30% is applied against the balance. Thus, $1,500 in tax is withheld from Eric's earnings (30% of $5,000 ($6,000 − $1,000)).
If you are eligible for the benefits of Article 21(2) of the United States-India Income Tax Treaty, you are allowed an exemption for your spouse only if your spouse will have no gross income for 2010 and cannot be claimed as a dependent on another U.S. taxpayer's 2010 return. You are also allowed an exemption for each dependent not admitted to the United States on “F-2,” “J-2,” or “M-2” visas if they meet the same rules that apply to U.S. citizens. For the 30% (or lower treaty rate) withholding on compensation for independent personal services performed in the United States, you are allowed $10.00 per day for each allowable exemption in 2010.
Other income subject to 30% withholding generally includes fixed or determinable income such as interest (other than portfolio interest), dividends, pensions and annuities, and gains from certain sales and exchanges, discussed in chapter 4. It also includes 85% of social security benefits paid to nonresident aliens.
Special rules for withholding on partnership income, scholarships, and fellowships are explained next.
If you are a foreign partner in a U.S. or foreign partnership, the partnership will withhold tax on your share of effectively connected taxable income (ECTI) from the partnership. You may be able to reduce your ECTI subject to withholding by certain partner-level deductions. Generally, you must use Form 8804-C for this purpose. See the instructions for Form 8804-C for more information.
The withholding rate on your share of effectively connected income is generally the highest rate of tax that applies to you (35% for 2010). However, the partnership may withhold at the highest rate that applies to a particular type of income allocable to you if you gave the partnership the appropriate documentation (generally, Form W-8BEN). Long-term capital gain is an example of a particular type of income to which a highest tax rate applies. Claim the tax withheld as a credit on your 2010 Form 1040NR.
The partnership will give you a statement on Form 8805, Foreign Partner's Information Statement of Section 1446 Withholding Tax, showing the tax withheld. A partnership that is publicly traded will withhold tax on your actual distributions of effectively connected income. In this case the partnership will give you a statement on Form 1042-S, Foreign Person's U.S. Source Income Subject to Withholding.
There is no withholding on a qualified scholarship received by a candidate for a degree. See chapter 3 .
If you are a nonresident alien student or grantee with an “F,” “J,” “M,” or “Q” visa and you receive a U.S. source grant or scholarship that is not fully exempt, the withholding agent (usually the payer of the scholarship) withholds tax at 14% (or lower treaty rate) of the taxable part of the grant or scholarship that is not a payment for services. However, if you are not a candidate for a degree and the grant does not meet certain requirements, tax will be withheld at the 30% (or lower treaty) rate.
Any part of a scholarship or fellowship grant that is a payment for services is subject to graduated withholding as discussed earlier under Withholding on Wages.
Your withholding agent may choose to use an alternate procedure by asking you to fill out Form W-4 and the Personal Allowances Worksheet (attached to Form W-4). Use the following instructions instead of the Form W-4 instructions to complete the worksheet.
Enter the total of the following amounts on line A.
Include the prorated part of your allowable personal exemption. Figure the amount by multiplying the number of days you expect to be in the United States in 2010 by the daily exemption amount ($10.00).
Include expenses that will be deductible on your return. These include away-from-home expenses (meals, lodging, and transportation), certain state and local income taxes, charitable contributions, and casualty losses, discussed earlier under Itemized Deductions in chapter 5. They also include business expenses, moving expenses, and the IRA deduction discussed under Deductions in chapter 5.
Include the part of your grant or scholarship that is not taxable under U.S. law or under a tax treaty.
Enter -0- unless the following paragraph applies to you. If you are a student who qualifies under Article 21(2) of the United States-India Income Tax Treaty, and you are not claiming deductions for away-from-home expenses or other itemized deductions (discussed earlier), enter the standard deduction on line B. The standard deduction amount for 2010 is $5,700.
Enter -0- on both lines unless the following paragraphs apply to you. If you are a resident of Canada, Mexico, South Korea, or a U.S. national, an additional daily exemption amount may be allowed for your spouse and each of your dependents. If you are a resident of India who is eligible for the benefits of Article 21(2) of the United States-India Income Tax Treaty, you can claim an additional daily exemption amount for your spouse only if your spouse will have no gross income for 2010 and cannot be claimed as a dependent on another U.S. taxpayer's 2010 return. You can also claim an additional amount for each of your dependents not admitted to the United States on “F-2,” “J-2,” or “M-2” visas if they meet the same rules that apply to U.S. citizens. Enter any additional amount for your spouse on line C. Enter any additional amount for your dependents on line D.
No entries should be made on lines E, F, and G.
Add the amounts on lines A through D and enter the total on line H.
After the withholding agent has accepted your Form W-4, tax will be withheld on your scholarship or grant at the graduated rates that apply to wages. The gross amount of the income is reduced by the amount on line H of the worksheet and the withholding tax is figured on the remainder.
You will receive a Form 1042-S from the withholding agent (usually the payer of your grant) showing the gross amount of your taxable scholarship or fellowship grant less the withholding allowance amount, the tax rate, and the amount of tax withheld. Use this form to prepare your annual U.S. income tax return.
If a tax treaty between the United States and your country provides an exemption from, or a reduced rate of, tax for certain items of income, you should notify the payor of the income (the withholding agent) of your foreign status to claim a tax treaty withholding exemption. Generally, you do this by filing either Form W-8BEN or Form 8233 with the withholding agent.
File Form W-8BEN for income that is not personal services income. File Form 8233 for personal services income as discussed next.
Central Withholding Agreement Program
Internal Revenue Service
M/S 0175 110 City Parkway
Las Vegas, NV 89106
If you are a nonresident alien and you dispose of a U.S. real property interest, the transferee (buyer) of the property generally must withhold a tax equal to 10% of the amount realized on the disposition.
A distribution by a qualified investment entity to a nonresident alien shareholder that is treated as gain from the sale or exchange of a U.S. real property interest by the shareholder is subject to withholding at 35%. Withholding is also required on certain distributions and other transactions by domestic or foreign corporations, partnerships, trusts, and estates. These rules are covered in Publication 515.
For information on the tax treatment of dispositions of U.S. real property interests, see Real Property Gain or Loss in chapter 4.
If you are a partner in a domestic partnership, and the partnership disposes of a U.S. real property interest at a gain, the partnership will withhold tax on the amount of gain allocable to its foreign partners. Your share of the income and tax withheld will be reported to you on Form 8805, Foreign Partner's Information Statement of Section 1446 Withholding Tax, or Form 1042-S, Foreign Person's U.S. Source Income Subject to Withholding (in the case of a publicly traded partnership).
Withholding is not required in the following situations.
The certifications in (3) and (4) must be disregarded by the buyer if the buyer or qualified substitute has actual knowledge, or receives notice from a seller's or buyer's agent (or substitute), that they are false. This also applies to the qualified substitute's statement under (4).
The tax required to be withheld on a disposition can be reduced or eliminated under a withholding certificate issued by the IRS. Either you or the buyer can request a withholding certificate. A withholding certificate can be issued due to any of the following.
If you work as an employee in the United States, you must pay social security and Medicare taxes in most cases. Your payments of these taxes contribute to your coverage under the U.S. social security system. Social security coverage provides retirement benefits, survivors and disability benefits, and medical insurance (Medicare) benefits to individuals who meet certain eligibility requirements.
In most cases, the first $106,800 of taxable wages received in 2009 for services performed in the United States is subject to social security tax. All taxable wages are subject to Medicare tax. Your employer deducts these taxes from each wage payment. Your employer must deduct these taxes even if you do not expect to qualify for social security or Medicare benefits. You can claim a credit for excess social security tax on your income tax return if you have more than one employer and the amount deducted from your combined wages for 2009 is more than $6,621.60. Use the appropriate worksheet in chapter 3 of Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax, to figure your credit.
If any one employer deducted more than $6,621.60, you cannot claim a credit for that amount. Ask your employer to refund the excess. If your employer does not refund the excess, you can file a claim for refund using Form 843.
In general, U.S. social security and Medicare taxes apply to payments of wages for services performed as an employee in the United States, regardless of the citizenship or residence of either the employee or the employer. In limited situations, these taxes apply to wages for services performed outside the United States. Your employer should be able to tell you if social security and Medicare taxes apply to your wages. You cannot make voluntary payments if no taxes are due.
Generally, services performed by you as a nonresident alien temporarily in the United States as a nonimmigrant under subparagraph (F), (J), (M), or (Q) of section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act are not covered under the social security program if the services are performed to carry out the purpose for which you were admitted to the United States. This means that there will be no withholding of social security or Medicare taxes from the pay you receive for these services. These types of services are very limited, and generally include only on-campus work, practical training, and economic hardship employment.
Social security and Medicare taxes will be withheld from your pay for these services if you are considered a resident alien as discussed in chapter 1, even though your nonimmigrant classification (“F,” “J,” “M,” or “Q”) remains the same.
Services performed by a spouse or minor child of nonimmigrant aliens with the classification of “F-2,” “J-2,” “M-2,” and “Q-3” are covered under social security.
If you are a nonresident alien temporarily admitted to the United States as a student, you generally are not permitted to work for a wage or salary or to engage in business while you are in the United States. In some cases, a student admitted to the United States in “F-1,” “M-1,” or “J-1” status is granted permission to work. Social security and Medicare taxes are not withheld from pay for the work unless the student is considered a resident alien.
Any student who is enrolled and regularly attending classes at a school may be exempt from social security and Medicare taxes on pay for services performed for that school.The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) permits on-campus work for students in “F-1” status if it does not displace a U.S. resident. On-campus work means work performed on the school's premises. On-campus work includes work performed at an off-campus location that is educationally affiliated with the school. On-campus work under the terms of a scholarship, fellowship, or assistantship is considered part of the academic program of a student taking a full course of study and is permitted by the USCIS. Social security and Medicare taxes are not withheld from pay for this work unless the student is considered a resident alien.
Students in “F-1” status may be permitted to participate in a curricular practical training program that is an integral part of an established curriculum. Curricular practical training includes work/study programs, internships, and cooperative education programs. In this case, the educational institution endorses the Form I-20. Social security and Medicare taxes are not withheld from pay for this work unless the student is considered a resident alien.
Employment due to severe economic necessity and for optional practical training is sometimes permitted for students in “F-1” status. Students granted permission to work due to severe economic necessity or for optional practical training will be issued Form I-688B or Form I-766 by the USCIS. Social security and Medicare taxes are not withheld from pay for this work unless the student is considered a resident alien.
Students in “M-1” status who have completed a course of study can accept employment for practical training for up to 6 months and must have a Form I-688B or Form I-766 issued by the USCIS. Social security and Medicare taxes are not withheld from “M-1” students' pay for these services unless the student is considered a resident alien.
In all other cases, any services performed by a nonresident alien student are not considered as performed to carry out the purpose for which the student was admitted to the United States. Social security and Medicare taxes will be withheld from pay for the services unless the pay is exempt under the Internal Revenue Code.
Nonresident aliens are temporarily admitted to the United States as nonimmigrant exchange visitors under section 101(a)(15)(J) of the Immigration and Nationality Act through the sponsorship of approved organizations and institutions that are responsible for establishing a program for the exchange visitor and for any later modification of that program. Generally, an exchange visitor who has the permission of the sponsor can work for the same reasons as the students discussed above.
Social security and Medicare taxes are not withheld on pay for services of an exchange visitor who has been given permission to work and who possesses or obtains a letter of authorization from the sponsor unless the exchange visitor is considered a resident alien.
In all other cases, services performed by an exchange visitor are not considered as performed to carry out the purpose for which the visitor was admitted to the United States. Social security and Medicare taxes are withheld from pay for the services unless the pay is exempt under the Internal Revenue Code.
If you are a “J-1” visa holder, your spouse or child may be permitted to work in the United States with the prior approval of the USCIS and issuance of Form I-688B or Form I-766.
Nonresident aliens temporarily admitted to the United States as participants in international cultural exchange programs under section 101(a)(15)(Q) of the Immigration and Nationality Act may be exempt from social security and Medicare taxes. The employer must be the petitioner through whom the alien obtained the “Q” visa. Social security and Medicare taxes are not withheld from pay for this work unless the alien is considered a resident alien. Aliens with “Q” visas are not permitted to engage in employment outside the exchange program activities.
If social security or Medicare taxes were withheld in error from pay that is not subject to these taxes, contact the employer who withheld the taxes for a refund. If you are unable to get a full refund of the amount from your employer, file a claim for refund with the Internal Revenue Service on Form 843, Claim for Refund and Request for Abatement. Attach the following items to Form 843.
File Form 843 (with attachments) with the Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service Center, Philadelphia, PA 19255.
Self-employment tax is the social security and Medicare taxes for individuals who are self-employed. Nonresident aliens are not subject to self-employment tax. Residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or American Samoa are considered U.S. residents for this purpose and are subject to the self-employment tax.
Resident aliens must pay self-employment tax under the same rules that apply to U.S. citizens. However, a resident alien employed by an international organization, a foreign government, or a wholly-owned instrumentality of a foreign government is not subject to the self-employment tax on income earned in the United States.
Self-employment income you receive while you are a resident alien is subject to self-employment tax even if it was paid for services you performed as a nonresident alien.
Bill Jones is an author engaged in the business of writing books. Bill had several books published in a foreign country while he was a citizen and resident of that country. During 2009, Bill entered the United States as a resident alien. After becoming a U.S. resident, he continued to receive royalties from his foreign publisher. Bill reports his income and expenses on the cash basis (he reports income on his tax return when received and deducts expenses when paid). Bill's 2009 self-employment income includes the royalties received after he became a U.S. resident even though the books were published while he was a nonresident alien. This royalty income is subject to self-employment tax.
If you must pay self-employment tax, you can deduct one-half of the self-employment tax paid in figuring your adjusted gross income.
The United States has entered into social security agreements with foreign countries to coordinate social security coverage and taxation of workers employed for part or all of their working careers in one of the countries. These agreements are commonly referred to as totalization agreements. Under these agreements, dual coverage and dual contributions (taxes) for the same work are eliminated. The agreements generally make sure that social security taxes (including self-employment tax) are paid only to one country. Agreements are in effect with the following countries.
Agreements with other countries are expected to enter into force in the future.
U.S. Social Security Administration
Office of International Programs
P.O. Box 17741
Baltimore, MD 21235-7741
You may have income from which no U.S. income tax is withheld. Or the amount of tax withheld may be less than the income tax you estimate you will owe at the end of the year. If so, you may have to pay estimated tax.
Generally, you must make estimated tax payments for 2010 if you expect to owe at least $1,000 in tax and you expect your withholding and certain refundable credits to be less than the smaller of:
If your adjusted gross income for 2009 was more than $150,000 ($75,000 if your filing status for 2010 is married filing separately), substitute 110% for 100% in (2) above if you are not a farmer or fisherman. Item (2) does not apply if you did not file a 2009 return.
A nonresident alien should use Form 1040-ES (NR) to figure and pay estimated tax. If you pay by check, make it payable to the "United States Treasury."
If you expect to be a resident of Puerto Rico during the entire year, use Form 1040-ES or Forma 1040-ES (Español).
| 1st installment | April 15, 2010 |
| 2nd installment | June 15, 2010 |
| 3rd installment | Sept. 15, 2010 |
| 4th installment | Jan. 18, 2011 |
If your return is not on a calendar year basis, your due dates are the 15th day of the 4th, 6th, and 9th months of your fiscal year, and the 1st month of the following fiscal year. If any date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, use the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday.
Publication 519 - Introductory Material
1. Nonresident Alien Or Resident Alien?
3. Exclusions From Gross Income
4. How Income Of Aliens Is Taxed
8. Paying Tax Through Withholding Or Estimated Tax
10. Employees Of Foreign Governments And International Organizations
11. Departing Aliens and the Sailing or Departure Permit
Publication 519 - Additional Material
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