Received Form 1042-S? Read the Income and Withholding Before Filing
A Form 1042-S guide for F-1 students with scholarships, treaty income, or other U.S.-source payments.
Form 1042-S reports certain U.S.-source payments to foreign persons and the withholding or exemption applied. An F-1 student might receive one for a taxable scholarship, treaty-exempt pay, or another reportable payment. The form is a record for your return, not a bill and not proof that everything on it is tax free.
Identify the payment before entering a box
Read the payer name, recipient identification, income code, gross income, tax rate, exemption code, and federal tax withheld. Compare those entries with your award letter, payroll statement, or bank record. If you received more than one 1042-S, review each separately.
A qualified scholarship for tuition and required educational costs can be excluded under the general rules, while room-and-board or a living stipend is usually different. A treaty may reduce tax on certain income if all conditions are met. The form’s codes help explain payer treatment but do not substitute for your own eligibility review.
Reconcile with W-2
The same university can issue W-2 for some wages and 1042-S for a treaty-exempt portion or scholarship. Do not omit one form, and do not count the same pay twice. Compare the payment periods and contact the payer if a number or identification field is wrong.
Federal tax withheld on 1042-S can be relevant when calculating a refund or amount due on Form 1040-NR. A zero withholding line does not automatically remove a filing requirement.
Document the treaty or scholarship decision
If you claim a treaty benefit, identify the treaty country and article and complete Schedule OI as required. Keep the 1042-S, award records, and calculation with your filed return. If the form relates to a prior tax year, use that year’s instructions.
What to do next
First determine what the payment represents, then match Form 1042-S with the correct return lines and supporting documents.
Related guides
Topics: Form 1042-S, Scholarship tax, Tax treaty, Form 1040-NR
Official sources
General educational information. Tax rules depend on your facts and the tax year; check current IRS instructions before filing.