Taxes
Graduate stipends will impact student taxes. Review this page for tips and information for filing your federal tax return.
All students
- When you file your tax returns, keep a signed copy of all returns and schedules.
- Use the 1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals form (found on the IRS website) to estimate the amount of tax you may owe.
- Review Publication 970 – Tax Benefits for Higher Education (found on the IRS website) to determine if you are eligible for a Lifetime Learning Credit.
- International students must submit a copy of their award letter or notice they have received concerning their financial award with their tax forms.
Fellowship recipients
You should report your fellowship stipend to the IRS after you make deductions for books/supplies (save receipts) and required fees.
The University will not withhold Federal or Illinois taxes from your fellowship stipend unless you request the Payroll Office to withhold a specific dollar amount each month (i.e. $25/month) on the appropriate W-4 form and will not withhold taxes on your fellowship even if you have filed the Federal or Illinois W-4 forms claiming any exemptions. Students who do not submit a W-4 or file quarterly taxes may be subject to a tax penalty at the end of the year.
If you are going to receive a University fellowship for an academic year, you should report the amount you receive from your September, October, November and December stipends (after you have made the allowable deductions) on your Federal and state tax returns. Likewise, you will need to report your January through December stipends (after you have made the allowable deductions) when you file the following year's tax returns.
Northwestern University will not issue you a W-2 or 1099 for your fellowship stipend, unless you have requested a specific dollar amount to be withheld. In that case, only the withholding amounts will appear, not your total stipend award.
International students receiving scholarship earnings or who have claimed a treaty for earned wages will receive a 1042-S for the calendar year. The 1042-S forms are distributed to employees on the 15th of March in the following calendar year. Non-resident students should not file their 1040NR or 1040NR-EZ form with the Internal Revenue Service until they have received their 1042-S form for the year.
Obtain IRS Publication 970 – Tax Benefits for Education (found on the IRS website) before you complete your Federal and state taxes.
Teaching, Graduate Assistants and Research Assistants
Teaching, Graduate Assistants and Research Assistants will need to complete W-4 Federal and Illinois withholding forms because the University is required to withhold taxes from your stipend checks.
The IRS treats assistantships differently than fellowships--you are not permitted to deduct books/supplies and required fees from the amount you report to the IRS. Your entire earnings as a teaching/graduate assistant or research assistant will be reported to the IRS. Northwestern will issue a W-2. If you do not have W-4s on file, NU will treat you as having zero exemptions and single. Therefore, NU will withhold the maximum amount allowable in taxes. If you wish to claim exemptions, you must complete and submit the Federal and Illinois W-4 forms to the Payroll Office (1800 Sherman Ave, Evanston).