Completing Your Tax Treaty Using Sprintax Calculus
Purpose
This guide provides step-by-step instructions for RISD international students completing their tax treaty in Sprintax Calculus so Payroll can apply the correct tax rate.
When You’ll Receive Access
You will receive your Sprintax Calculus Welcome Email shortly after completing your federal Form I-9 with the Office of Student Employment.
If you already have a Social Security Number (SSN): you can complete your tax treaty as soon as the Welcome Email arrives.
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If you are waiting for your SSN: you may start the tax treaty in Sprintax, but you cannot finish until your SSN card arrives.
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After you receive your SSN card, first enter your SSN in your Workday Student Profile (Personal Information → Identification).
Then return to Sprintax Calculus to complete your tax treaty (see directions in this guide).
What is a Tax Treaty?
A tax treaty is an agreement between the U.S. and another country that may reduce or eliminate federal income tax on certain types of income (e.g., wages (both hourly and salaried (graduate assistantships)), scholarships, stipends).
Not all countries have treaties.
Eligibility and amounts vary by country and income type.
Completing Sprintax Calculus ensures RISD Payroll applies the correct rate to your pay.
Important Notes on Tax Treaties
If you do not complete Sprintax Calculus, Payroll will withhold the maximum required taxes from your pay.
Tax treaties are not retroactive—benefits begin only after Sprintax Calculus is completed.
If you’re eligible but did not complete Sprintax, you can still claim back taxes when you file your annual return (using Sprintax) next year.
If your country has no treaty, normal U.S. tax rates apply.
Reminder: A tax treaty does not replace filing your annual U.S. federal tax return. In addition, tax treaties do not apply to Rhode Island state taxes—you may still have state tax withheld and may need to file a state return.
Step 1: Receive Your Sprintax Calculus Welcome Email
After you complete your Federal Form I-9 with the Office of Student Employment, you’ll receive a welcome email from Sprintax Calculus. This email gives you access to set up your tax treaty profile.
Step 1A: Watch for your email
Step 1B: Take action
Step 1C: Timing notes
The email usually arrives within a few days after your I-9 is complete.
If you do not see the welcome email, check your spam/junk folder.
Still don’t see it? → Contact Student Employment for help.
Step 2: Verify Personal Information
This is the first page you’ll see when you log into Sprintax Calculus. Some information is carried over from your Workday Student Profile.
Step 2A: Review your details
Confirm that your name, date of birth, and address are correct.
Review your tax identification information (country of tax residence, SSN/ITIN if applicable).
Step 2B: Take action
Step 2C: Update in Workday if needed
How to change your phone number, address, name etc.
Tip: Updates in Workday may take up to 24 hours to appear in Sprintax Calculus.
Step 3: Complete Immigration Status Questionnaire
This section collects details about your immigration history and U.S. travel dates. Answer as accurately as possible to ensure your tax treaty is applied correctly.
Step 3A: Provide your home country details
Enter your home address outside the U.S. (street, city, postal code, country).
Include your home country phone number if requested.
Step 3B: Provide immigration information
How to find your travel dates:
Go to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection I-94 Website.
Select “View Travel History.”
Enter your passport details exactly as they appear on your passport.
Review the list of all recorded entries and exits from the U.S.
Use these dates to complete the Sprintax Calculus questionnaire.
Step 3C: Accuracy matters
Tip: Keep your passport and I-94 travel record open while completing this section so you can copy the dates directly.
Step 4: Input U.S. Travel History
Sprintax uses your travel history to determine tax residency (Substantial Presence Test) and treaty eligibility. Enter every period you were in the U.S., even short visits or earlier visa types.
Step 4A: Gather your dates
Open your I-94 travel history and keep it next to you.
List each entry and exit (or status change) to/from the U.S., including older visits (tourist, exchange, etc.).
Step 4B: Add each visit/status in Sprintax
In “Visits to the US,” choose your Visa type and Subcategory for that period (e.g., F-1 → Student).
Enter Date of entry under this status.
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For Date when the status ends, enter:
Your exit date from the U.S., or
The date you changed status (if you stayed but switched visas), or
Leave as prompted by Sprintax if the status is ongoing (still in the U.S. under the same status).
Click + Add status and repeat for every additional visit/status period.
At the bottom, check any full calendar years you were outside the U.S. (Jan 1–Dec 31).
Step 4C: Accuracy & common pitfalls
Match I-94 exactly; don’t estimate. If an exit is missing on I-94, use your passport stamp or ticket confirmation.
Include short trips and prior visa types (B-2, ESTA, J-1, etc.).
If you arrived late at night, confirm the calendar date (airlines sometimes cross midnight).
When unsure whether a period ended by exit or status change, choose the option that matches your documents.
After entering all periods, review the list before continuing.
Tip: Enter visits in chronological order (oldest → newest) to avoid missing gaps.
Step 5: Social Security Number (SSN) Entry
Your SSN must be stored in Workday before Sprintax can use it for your tax treaty analysis.
Step 5A: Enter your SSN into Workday
Log in to Workday → Personal Information → Government IDs.
Enter your SSN (or update if it is missing).
Allow 1 business day for this information to sync into Sprintax Calculus.
Step 5B: Confirm in Sprintax
Step 5C: If you do not yet have an SSN
Step 5D: Tips & reminders
Do not try to enter your SSN directly in Sprintax — it only pulls from Workday.
If your SSN does not appear in Sprintax after 1–2 business days, contact Student Employment.
Keep your SSN card in a safe place for future employment and tax filing.
Step 6: Confirm Residency Status (for tax purposes only)
Sprintax will determine whether you are a Nonresident Alien or Resident Alien for tax purposes. This does not change your visa or immigration status.
Step 6A: Review your residency information
Some questions will already be prefilled in red for your convenience (e.g., citizenship, immigration status, or dates already in the system).
Review carefully to make sure everything matches your records.
Provide details where information is missing (such as passport number or first date of entry).
Step 6B: Understand your result
Step 6C: Important notes
“Resident Alien” here is a tax designation only. It does not grant you a green card, permanent residency, or change your visa type.
Accuracy is critical — incorrect answers may affect your tax treaty benefits.
If unsure, hover over the blue info icons in Sprintax for guidance, or contact Student Employment.
Example: If you are an F-1 student who first entered the U.S. in Fall 2025, Sprintax will almost always classify you as a Nonresident Alien for tax purposes. You would only become a Resident Alien after meeting the Substantial Presence Test, which typically requires several years of presence in the U.S.
Step 7: Review & Accept Tax Treaty Eligibility
If your country has a tax treaty with the U.S., Sprintax will display the specific article that applies to you. This determines whether part of your wages can be exempt from federal tax withholding.
Step 7A: Review your treaty details
Carefully read the tax treaty article displayed.
Make sure the country and type of income listed match your situation (e.g., wages, scholarship, fellowship).
Step 7B: Confirm your eligibility
Step 7C: Important notes
Accepting a treaty does not replace filing your annual tax return — you must still file each year.
Not all students are eligible, even if their country has a treaty (eligibility depends on income type and residency status).
If you are unsure, you can click the blue info icon for clarification or contact Student Employment.
Example: A student from France on an F-1 visa may be eligible for up to $5,000 in wage exemption under Article 20 of the U.S.–France treaty. Sprintax will display this option, and the student can choose to claim it.
Step 8: Completion of Tax Forms (Handled by RISD Payroll)
After you finish your Sprintax analysis, the system will automatically create your required tax treaty forms. You do not need to send these forms yourself — RISD Payroll receives them directly.
Step 8A: Review your Sprintax-generated forms
At the end of your analysis, Sprintax will show you the tax forms it has created (for example, treaty forms if you are eligible).
These forms are stored electronically in Sprintax.
Step 8B: RISD Payroll retrieval
You do not need to download, print, or email these forms.
RISD Payroll will automatically retrieve your completed Sprintax forms directly.
Step 8C: Complete your W-4 forms separately
In addition to Sprintax, you must also complete your Federal and State W-4 forms in Workday.
Log in to Workday → Pay → Withholding Elections to complete this step (See Manage Payroll Options in Workday)
Tips:
Sprintax handles your treaty forms; Workday handles your W-4 tax forms. Both are required.
If your W-4 is incomplete, RISD Payroll cannot process your pay correctly.
Don’t worry if you don’t understand every detail of the tax forms Sprintax shows you — RISD Payroll will process them based on the information you entered.
Step 9: Monitor Your Status
After you complete Sprintax, your tax treaty forms are sent to Payroll. You can track the status of your approval directly in Sprintax.
Step 9A: Check your Sprintax account
Step 9B: Payroll processing
RISD Payroll receives your treaty forms directly from Sprintax.
Payroll will process them and confirm completion on their end.
You do not need to email or deliver forms yourself.
Step 9C: Stay on top of your approval
Continue to log into Sprintax until you see confirmation that your treaty is complete.
If your treaty does not show as approved after a reasonable time (usually a few business days), contact Student Employment for assistance.
Tip: If your treaty is still pending but you begin working, don’t worry — Payroll will withhold taxes until the treaty is approved. Once approved, the treaty will apply to your future pay.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What happens if my immigration status changes during the year?
A: Immediately contact ISSA
Q: What if my personal details in Sprintax are incorrect?
A: Your personal details such as your name, date of birth and address come from Workday. If you need to change them, update them in Workday.
How to change your phone number or address
How to change your name
How to change your birthday
Q: Can I work without my SSN?
A: You can begin working but must apply for an SSN immediately. Update Workday once received to ensure timely tax treaty completion.
Q: Do I need to manually send signed treaty forms to Payroll?
A: No. RISD Payroll retrieves your completed forms directly from Sprintax.
Q: Where do I fill out my Federal and State W-4 forms?
A: Complete these forms directly within Workday ([Link to instructions]).
Q: Why does Sprintax call me a 'Resident Alien'?
A: This designation is strictly for tax purposes, not immigration. Your visa status remains unchanged.
Q: Who can I contact for additional assistance?
Resources: