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Posted by Alan on September 3, 2009, 5:22 pm
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Alan wrote:
> GPN Reunion wrote:
>> On Sep 3, 3:17 pm, kam...@panix.com (Arthur Kamlet) wrote:
>>> In article
>>>
>>>> My next door neighbor's son is starting his Ph.D at a local
>>>> university. His school sent him an email telling him that he would
>>>> not be receiving a W-2 or a 1099 for his stipend. His first paycheck
>>>> had city and state taxes withheld but no Federal. Questions:
>>>> 1. I know the stipend is taxable, but is it subject to self
>>>> employment tax.
>>>> 2. If it's taxable, why doesn't the university withhold.
>>>> 3. How can they get away with not issuing a tax reporting statement?
>>>> How many of these students are going to know they need to report it?
>>> If it's under $600 it does not need a 1099.
>>>
>>> If it's more, yet less than the tuition, it may not be reportable by
>>> the student or taxable.
>>>
>>> Even if it's treated as an award not as compensation, it should be
>>> reported by the university if over 600.
>>> --
>>>
>>> ArtKamlet at a o l dot c o m Columbus OH K2PZH
>>
>> A PhD student stipend is about $20,000 a year. It is in addition to
>> the tuition, so it will all be taxable. The tuition and scholarship
>> will be reported on the 1098T. The stipend will not be reported at
>> all, according to the school.
>>
>> So why isn't the school reporting it? And why withhold only city and
>> state?
>>
> There is no federal requirement to withhold income taxes on a stipend
> paid to a Phd candidate. I believe the reason is that the payment could
> be used for tax-free benefits (tuition, fees, course related supplies,
> etc.) and Congress opted not to require withholding. The income is
> taxable and the candidate is on his own to ensure he meets the estimated
> tax requirements and/or declares the income and pays taxes. Unless the
> candidate is required to perform services for the university to obtain
> the stipend, it is not compensation. It is taxable scholarship income
> reported on Line 7 of the 1040/1040A. If the candidate is required to
> perform services for the university, then some part representing
> compensation has to be reported by the university using the 1099-MISC
> rules. This amount is self-employment income. Under certain
> circumstances, the candidate may be treated as an employee and get a W-2.
>
> It is quite possible that the state requires tax withholding on such
> payments.
>
I should have added, for completeness, that my answer related to
candidates who were US citizens, US resident aliens or
nonresident aliens from a country with a tax treaty with the US
exempting such income. Any other international student would have
taxes withheld from the taxable stipend.
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