I receive a living stipend each month of $500 as a student in Spain, but I don´t have a job and I already pay Spanish taxes. What tax should I file for?

[peterpan85]

I didn´t know I had to file taxes as a student with no job so I´m 3 years behind. How can I catch up with minimal expenses?

[Hal_Al · Accepted solution]

Stipends are generally considered as taxable scholarship.

The general rule is that scholarships and grants, including stipends,  are tax free if used for qualified educational expenses (tuition, fees, books and other course materials). It the money is used for room and board, travel and incidental expenses, the stipend is taxable.

The money goes on line 7 of form 1040 or 1040A (line 1 of form 104)EZ0 with the notation SCH (and the SCH amount if different from the total on line 7) on the line to the left.

The cheapest way is get the form fro the IRS and mail them in. https://www.irs.gov/

past year forms: https://apps.irs.gov/app/picklist/list/priorFormPublication.html