2002 Tax Help Archives  

Instructions for Form 1040NR (Revised 2002) 2002 Tax Year

U.S. Nonresident Alien Income Tax Return

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This is archived information that pertains only to the 2002 Tax Year. If you
are looking for information for the current tax year, go to the Tax Prep Help Area.

Other Miscellaneous Deductions

Line 16

List the type and amount of each expense on the dotted lines next to line 16. Enter one total on line 16. Examples of these expenses are:

  • Casualty and theft losses of income-producing property from Form 4684, lines 32 and 38b, or Form 4797, line 18b(1).
  • Deduction for repayment of amounts under a claim of right if over $3,000. See Pub. 525 for details.
  • Impairment-related work expenses of a disabled person.
  • Certain unrecovered investment in a pension.

For more details, see Pub. 529.

Total Itemized Deductions

Line 17

Use the worksheet above to figure the amount to enter on line 17 if the amount on Form 1040NR, line 35, is over $137,300 ($68,650 if you checked filing status box 3, 4, or 5).

Tax on Income Not Effectively Connected With a U.S. Trade or Business (Page 4)

The following items are generally taxed at 30% if they are not effectively connected with your U.S. trade or business. The rate may be lower if your country of residence and the United States have a treaty setting lower rates. Table 1 in Pub. 901 summarizes which countries have such treaties and what the rates are.

The 30% tax applies only to amounts included in gross income. For example, the tax applies only to the part of a periodic annuity or pension payment that is subject to tax; it does not apply to the part that is a return of your cost.

The following list gives only a general idea of the type of income to include on page 4. (For more information, see Pub. 519.) Include the following only to the extent the amount received is not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States.

  1. Income that is fixed or periodic, such as interest (other than original issue discount), dividends, rents, salaries, wages, premiums, annuities, other compensation, or alimony received. Other items of income, such as royalties, also may be subject to the 30% tax.
    Interest from a U.S. bank, savings and loan association, or similar institution, and from certain deposits with U.S. insurance companies is tax exempt to nonresident aliens if it is not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. For more information, see Pub. 519.
    Note:   Portfolio interest that you received as a nonresident alien on obligations issued after July 18, 1984, is exempt from the 30% tax. For more information, see Pub. 519.
  2. Gains, other than capital gains, from the sale or exchange of patents, copyrights, and other intangible property.
  3. Original issue discount (OID). If you sold or exchanged the obligation, include in income the OID that accrued while you held the obligation minus the amount previously included in income. If you received a payment on an OID obligation, see Pub. 519.
  4. Capital gains in excess of capital losses from U.S. sources during 2002. Include these gains only if you were in the United States at least 183 days during 2002. They are not subject to U.S. tax if you were in the United States less than 183 days during the tax year. In determining your net gain, do not use the capital loss carryover.
    Losses from sales or exchanges of capital assets in excess of similar gains are not allowed.
    If you had a gain or loss on disposing of a U.S. real property interest, see Dispositions of U.S. Real Property Interests on page 5.
  5. Prizes, awards, and certain gambling winnings. Proceeds from lotteries, raffles, etc., are gambling winnings (see section 871(j) for exceptions). You must report the full amount of your winnings. You cannot offset losses against winnings and report the difference.
    Note:   Residents of Canada may claim gambling losses, but only to the extent of gambling winnings. They should report both their total gambling winnings and their total gambling losses on the dotted line on line 83 (or attach a separate schedule if more space is needed). If they have net gambling winnings (after offsetting their total gambling losses against their total gambling winnings), they should include this net amount on line 83, column (d).

Social security benefits (and tier 1 railroad retirement benefits treated as social security).   85% of the U.S. social security and equivalent railroad retirement benefits you received are taxable. This amount is treated as U.S. source income not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. It is subject to the 30% tax rate, unless exempt or taxed at a reduced rate under a U.S. tax treaty. Social security benefits include any monthly benefit under title II of the Social Security Act or the part of a tier 1 railroad retirement benefit treated as a social security benefit. They do not include any Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments.

You should receive a Form SSA-1042S showing the total social security benefits paid to you in 2002 and the amount of any benefits you repaid in 2002. If you received railroad retirement benefits treated as social security, you should receive a Form RRB-1042S.

Enter 85% of the total amount from box 5 of all of your Forms SSA-1042S and Forms RRB-1042S in the appropriate column of line 81 of Form 1040NR. Enter any Federal tax withheld in column (a) of line 81. Attach a copy of each Form SSA-1042S and RRB-1042S to Form 1040NR.

Withholding of tax at the source.   Tax must be withheld at the source on certain income from U.S. sources paid to nonresident aliens. The withholding is generally at the 30% rate. There are exceptions to the general rule, and tax treaties with various countries may provide a lower rate or exempt certain income from withholding. The tax must be withheld by the person who pays fixed or determinable annual or periodic income to nonresident aliens. The income subject to this withholding should be reported on page 4 of Form 1040NR. For details, see Pub. 519, Pub. 515, and section 1441 and its regulations.

Other Information (Page 5)

Item D

Enter the type of U.S. visa (for example, F, J, M, etc.) you used to enter the United States. Also enter your current nonimmigrant status. For example, enter your current nonimmigrant status shown on your current INS Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record. If your status has changed while in the United States, enter the date of change. If your status has not changed, enter N/A.

Item E

You are generally required to enter your date of entry into the United States that pertains to your current nonimmigrant status. For example, the date of arrival shown on your most recent INS Form I-94.

Exception:   If you are claiming a tax treaty benefit that is determined by reference to more than one date of arrival, enter the earlier date of arrival. For example, you are currently claiming treaty benefits (as a teacher or a researcher) under article 19 of the tax treaty between the United States and Japan. You previously claimed treaty benefits (as a student) under article 20 of that treaty. Under article 22 of that treaty, the combination of consecutive exemptions under articles 19 and 20 may not extend beyond 5 tax years from the date you entered the United States as a student. If article 22 of that treaty applies, enter in item E the date you entered the United States as a student.

Item M

If you are a resident of a treaty country (that is, you qualify as a resident of that country within the meaning of the tax treaty between the United States and that country), you must know the terms of the tax treaty between the United States and the treaty country to properly complete item M. You may download the complete text of most U.S. tax treaties at www.irs.gov. Technical explanations for many of those treaties are also available at that site. Also, see Pub. 901 for a quick reference guide to the provisions of U.S. tax treaties.

If you are claiming treaty benefits on Form 1040NR, you must provide all of the information requested in item M.

CAUTION: If you are claiming tax treaty benefits and you failed to submit adequate documentation to a withholding agent, you must attach all information that would have otherwise been required on the withholding document (for example, all information required on Form W-8BEN or Form 8233).

Treaty-Based Return Position Disclosure.   If you take the position that a treaty of the United States overrides or modifies any provision of the Internal Revenue Code and that position reduces (or potentially reduces) your tax, you must report certain information on Form 8833 and attach it to Form 1040NR.

You can be charged a $1,000 penalty for each failure to report the required information. For more details, see Form 8833 and Regulations section 301.6114-1.

Exceptions.   You do not have to file Form 8833 for any of the following situations.

  1. You claim a reduced rate of withholding tax under a treaty on interest, dividends, rents, royalties, or other fixed or determinable annual or periodic income ordinarily subject to the 30% rate.
  2. You claim a treaty reduces or modifies the taxation of income from dependent personal services, pensions, annuities, social security and other public pensions, or income of artists, athletes, students, trainees, or teachers. This includes taxable scholarship and fellowship grants.
  3. You claim a reduction or modification of taxation of income under an International Social Security Agreement or a Diplomatic or Consular Agreement.
  4. You are a partner in a partnership or a beneficiary of an estate or trust and the partnership, estate, or trust reports the required information on its return.
  5. The payments or items of income that are otherwise required to be disclosed total no more than $10,000.

Item P

See Special Rules for Former U.S. Citizens and Former U.S. Long-Term Residents on page 6 for details on how to answer the question in item P and for information that must be included in the annual information statement, if required. If you are a former U.S. long-term resident filing a dual-status return for your last year of U.S. residency, you must also attach Form 8854. See Dual-Status Taxpayers on page 4.

Reminders

Sign and Date Your Return

Form 1040NR is not considered a valid return unless you sign it. You may have an agent in the United States prepare and sign your return if you could not do so for one of the following reasons:

  • You were ill.
  • You were not in the United States at any time during the 60 days before the return was due.
  • For other reasons that you explained in writing to the Internal Revenue Service Center, Philadelphia, PA 19255, U.S.A., and that the IRS approved.

A return prepared by an agent must be accompanied by a power of attorney. Form 2848 may be used for this purpose.

Be sure to date your return and show your occupation in the United States in the space provided. If you have someone prepare your return, you are still responsible for the correctness of the return.

Child's return.   If your child cannot sign the return, you may sign the child's name in the space provided. Then, add By (your signature), parent for minor child.

Paid preparer must sign your return.   Generally, anyone you pay to prepare your return must sign it by hand in the space provided. Signature stamps or labels cannot be used. The preparer must give you a copy of the return for your records. Someone who prepares your return but does not charge you should not sign your return.

Income Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax Payments for Individuals for 2003

If the amount you owe or the amount you overpaid is large, you may be able to file a new Form W-4 with your employer to change the amount of income tax withheld from your 2003 pay. For details on how to complete Form W-4, see the Instructions for Form 8233.

In general, you do not have to make estimated tax payments if you expect that your 2003 Form 1040NR will show a tax refund or a tax balance due the IRS of less than $1,000. If your total estimated tax (including any household employment taxes or alternative minimum tax) for 2003 is $1,000 or more, see Form 1040-ES (NR). It has a worksheet you can use to see if you have to make estimated tax payments. However, if you expect to be a resident of Puerto Rico during all of 2003 and you must pay estimated tax, use Form 1040-ES.

Gift To Reduce the Public Debt

If you wish to make such a gift, make a check payable to Bureau of the Public Debt. You can send it to: Bureau of the Public Debt, Department G, P.O. Box 2188, Parkersburg, WV 26106-2188. Or, you can enclose the check with your income tax return when you file. Do not add your gift to any tax you may owe. See page 20 for details on how to pay any tax you owe.

TAXTIP: You may be able to deduct this gift on your 2003 tax return as a charitable contribution.


Address Change

If you move after you file, always notify the IRS of your new address. To do this, use Form 8822.

How Long Should Records Be Kept?

Keep records of income, deductions, and credits shown on your return, as well as any worksheets you used, until the statute of limitations runs out for that return. Usually, this is 3 years from the date the return was due or filed, or 2 years from the date the tax was paid, whichever is later. You should keep some records longer. For example, keep property records (including those on your home) as long as they are needed to figure the basis of the original or replacement property. Also, keep copies of your filed tax returns and any Forms W-2, 1099, and 1042-S you received as part of your records. For more details, see Pub. 552.

Amended Return

File Form 1040X to change a return you already filed. Also, use Form 1040X if you filed Form 1040NR and you should have filed a Form 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ, or vice versa. Generally, Form 1040X must be filed within 3 years after the date the original return was filed, or within 2 years after the date the tax was paid, whichever is later. But you may have more time to file Form 1040X if you are physically or mentally unable to manage your financial affairs. See Pub. 556 for details.

Requesting a Copy of Your Tax Return

If you need a copy of your tax return, use Form 4506.

Interest and Penalties

TAXTIP: You do not have to figure the amount of any interest or penalties you may owe. Because figuring these amounts can be complicated, we will do it for you if you want. We will send you a bill for any amount due.

If you include interest or penalties (other than the estimated tax penalty) with your payment, identify and enter the amount in the bottom margin of Form 1040NR, page 2. Do not include interest or penalties (other than the estimated tax penalty) in the amount you owe on line 72.

Interest.   We will charge you interest on taxes not paid by their due date, even if an extension of time to file is granted. We will also charge you interest on penalties imposed for failure to file, negligence, fraud, substantial valuation misstatements, and substantial understatements of tax. Interest is charged on the penalty from the due date of the return (including extensions).

Penalty for late filing.   If you do not file your return by the due date (including extensions), the penalty is usually 5% of the amount due for each month or part of a month your return is late, unless you have a reasonable explanation. If you do, attach it to your return. The penalty usually cannot be more than 25% of the tax due. If your return is more than 60 days late, the minimum penalty will be $100 or the amount of any tax you owe, whichever is smaller.

Penalty for late payment of tax.   If you pay your taxes late, the penalty is usually ½ of 1% of the unpaid amount for each month or part of a month the tax is not paid. The penalty cannot be more than 25% of the unpaid amount. It applies to any unpaid tax on the return. This penalty is in addition to interest charges on late payments.

Penalty for frivolous return.   In addition to any other penalties, the law imposes a penalty of $500 for filing a frivolous return. A frivolous return is one that does not contain information needed to figure the correct tax or shows a substantially incorrect tax because you take a frivolous position or desire to delay or interfere with the tax laws. This includes altering or striking out the preprinted language above the space where you sign.

Other penalties.   Other penalties can be imposed for negligence, substantial understatement of tax, and fraud. Criminal penalties may be imposed for willful failure to file, tax evasion, or making a false statement. See Pub. 17 for details on some of these penalties.

Taxpayer Assistance

IRS assistance is available to help you prepare your return. But you should know that you are responsible for the accuracy of your return. If we do make an error, you are still responsible for the payment of the correct tax.

In the United States, call 1-800-829-1040. If overseas, you may call 215-516-2000 (English-speaking only). This number is not toll free. The hours of operation are from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. EST.

If you wish to write instead of call, please address your letter to: Internal Revenue Service, International Section, P.O. Box 920, Bensalem, PA 19020-8518. Make sure you include your identifying number (defined on page 7) when you write.

Assistance in answering tax questions and filling out tax returns is also available in person from IRS offices in: Berlin, Germany; London, England; Mexico City, Mexico; Paris, France; Rome, Italy; Singapore; and Tokyo, Japan. The offices generally are located in the U.S. embassies or consulates.

The IRS conducts an overseas taxpayer assistance program during the filing season (January to mid-June). To find out if IRS personnel will be in your area, contact the consular office at the nearest U.S. embassy.

How can you get IRS tax forms and publications?  

  • You can download them from the IRS Web Site at www.irs.gov.
  • In the United States, you can call 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676).
  • If you have a foreign address, you can send your order to the Eastern Area Distribution Center, P.O. Box 85074, Richmond, VA 23261-5074, U.S.A.
  • You can pick them up in person from our U.S. embassies and consulates abroad (but only during the tax return filing period).

Help With Unresolved Tax Issues

If you have attempted to deal with an IRS problem unsuccessfully, you should contact the Taxpayer Advocate.

The Taxpayer Advocate independently represents your interests and concerns within the IRS by protecting your rights and resolving problems that have not been fixed through normal channels.

While Taxpayer Advocates cannot change the tax law or make a technical tax decision, they can clear up problems that resulted from previous contacts and ensure that your case is given a complete and impartial review.

To contact a Taxpayer Advocate:

  • If you are in the United States, call their toll-free number: 1-877-777-4778.
  • You can write to the Taxpayer Advocate at the IRS office that last contacted you (or contact one of the overseas IRS offices listed above).

For more information about the Taxpayer Advocate, see Pub. 1546.

Disclosure and Paperwork Reduction Act Notice.

The IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 requires that we tell you the conditions under which return information may be disclosed to any party outside the Internal Revenue Service. We ask for the information on this form to carry out the Internal Revenue laws of the United States. You are required to give us the information. We need the information to ensure that you are complying with these laws and to allow us to figure and collect the right amount of tax.

This notice applies to all papers you file with us, including this tax return. It also applies to any questions we need to ask you so we can complete, correct, or process your return; figure your tax; and collect tax, interest, or penalties.

You are not required to provide the information requested on a form that is subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act unless the form displays a valid OMB control number. Books or records relating to a form or its instructions must be retained as long as their contents may become material in the administration of any Internal Revenue law.

Generally, tax returns and return information are confidential, as required by section 6103. However, section 6103 allows or requires the Internal Revenue Service to disclose or give the information you write on your tax return to others as described in the Code. For example, we may disclose your tax information to the Department of Justice, to enforce the tax laws, both civil and criminal, and to cities, states, the District of Columbia, U.S. commonwealths or possessions, and certain foreign governments to carry out their tax laws. We may disclose your tax information to the Department of Treasury and contractors for tax administration purposes; and to other persons as necessary to obtain information that we cannot get in any other way in order to determine the amount of or to collect the tax you owe. We may disclose your tax information to the Comptroller General of the United States to permit the Comptroller General to review the Internal Revenue Service. We may disclose your tax information to Committees of Congress; Federal, state, and local child support agencies; and to other Federal agencies for purposes of determining entitlement for benefits or the eligibility for and the repayment of loans. We may also disclose this information to other countries under a tax treaty, or to Federal and state agencies to enforce Federal nontax criminal laws and to combat terrorism.

Keep this notice with your records. It may help you if we ask you for other information. If you have any questions about the rules for filing and giving information, call or visit any Internal Revenue Service office.

The time needed to complete and file this form will vary depending on individual circumstances. The estimated average time is:

Recordkeeping 6 hr., 33 min.
Learning about the law or the form 2 hr., 17 min.
Preparing the form 6 hr., 24 min.
Copying, assembling, and sending the form to the IRS 1 hr., 16 min.

If you have comments concerning the accuracy of these time estimates or suggestions for making this form simpler, we would be happy to hear from you. You can e-mail us your suggestions and comments through the IRS Web Site (www.irs.gov/help and click on Help, Comments, and Feedback) or write to the Tax Forms Committee, Western Area Distribution Center, Rancho Cordova, CA 95743-0001. Do not send your return to this address. Instead, see Where To File on page 3.

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