Students have special tax situations and benefits. Understand how that affects you and your taxes. Get general information about how to file and pay taxes, including many free services, by visiting the Individuals page. Tools Get Your Tax Information for FAFSA Get Your Transcript or Non-Filing Letter If you're filing a tax return, you may need to include scholarships and grants as taxable income. Tax benefits for higher education, such as loan interest deductions, credits and tuition programs, may help lower the tax you owe. Filing You may need to file a tax return depending on your gross income and whether your parents can claim you as a dependent. Find out if you need to file a tax return and if you can be claimed as a dependent. Keep in mind that scholarships and grants are typically tax free, but there may be situations where you have to include them in taxable income. Find whether your scholarship or grant is tax-free Find out if you need to include your scholarship, fellowship or education grant as income on your tax return with the Interactive Tax Assistant You may be able to get a refund even if you aren’t required to file. For example, you may qualify for a refund if you worked a part-time or full-time job for the year and your Form W-2 shows federal and state withholding. Your first job How to report gig income Are my wages exempt from federal income tax withholding? What to do if you don't have a bank account for tax refund direct deposit Tax Benefits for Higher Education If you have student loans or pay education costs for yourself, you may be eligible to claim education deductions and credits on your tax return, such as loan interest deductions, qualified tuition programs (529 plans) and Coverdell Education Savings Accounts. For more information, see Tax Benefits for Education. Students who are dependents on their parents' tax returns aren’t generally eligible to claim education credits. In this case, the student’s parents may be eligible to claim the education deductions and credits. International Students Foreign students and scholars Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TINs)
