Disclaimer: The Office of University Postdoctoral Affairs (OUPA) does not advise on any personal income tax requirements or issues. Use of any information from this site or any other website referred to is for general information only and does not represent personal tax advice, either express or implied. Nothing on this page should be interpreted as tax advice. Please consult a qualified tax professional or the Internal Revenue Service regarding any questions about personal income tax questions and assistance.
Suggested Helpful Resources
Quarterly Estimated Tax Guidance for Postdoctoral Fellows
OUPA utilizes Personal Finance for PhDs to offer an asynchronous workshop with live Q&A support designed to help postdoctoral fellows understand and manage quarterly estimated taxes. Upon registering, you will receive login information by email and can immediately access the workshop materials, including video modules with transcripts and a downloadable spreadsheet. In addition, live Q&A calls hosted by Personal Finance for PhDs are offered once per quarter, ahead of each estimated tax deadline. Postdoctoral Fellows will receive a reminder email about upcoming live calls each quarter from OUPA. Recordings, transcripts, and written responses to submitted questions are added to the workshop within approximately one week after each call.
Brown University Tax Resources
Brown University uses Sprintax-Calculus, a program designed to assess the tax residency of non-U.S. citizen employees, their tax withholding, and any applicable tax treaty benefits. Sprintax-Calculus is managed by the University’s Foreign National Tax Office.
International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) helps coordinate the licensing and availability of Sprintax-RETURNS, a tax filing software program that assists non-residents in preparing their annual tax return.
Tax Preparation Workshop for International Postdoctoral Scholars
Each February, OUPA hosts a workshop to help international postdocs at Brown navigate the U.S. tax system. This workshop is led by international tax specialist Mark Devine & Associates, CPA. In addition, OUPA sponsors a limited number of consultations for postdoctoral appointees to meet with Mark. An email invitation is sent directly to current postdoctoral appointees each winter.
National Postdoctoral Association - Overview of Tax Issues for Postdocs
The National Postdoctoral Association offers an Overview of Tax Issues for Postdocs, which provides information on tax withholding, reporting fellowship income, filing estimated taxes, FICA, self-employment tax, and more. You will need to be logged into your NPA account to access this resource. Please note that OUPA supports an institutional sustaining membership with the NPA. All Brown postdoctoral appointees can register for free individual membership to the NPA. Visit the NPA website, select "Affiliate Individual Member, Postdoc," and sign up with your Brown email address.
Last updated: February 19, 2026.