RA Stipend Taxable?

[knowspamn]

Is the stipend and tuition waiver of a research assistantship taxable? If the stipend is taxable, the tax might be very little. But if the tuition is considered as income, it might take a huge chunk out of the stipend.

Comments and/or links to similar topics appreciated on these questions and in general about tax and assistantships.

[scheng75]

I don't think tuition waivers are taxed. RA stipends are taxed but usually very little, unless you are making over $30K a year or something. I was a RA and made around $1000 a month and only paid $20-$30 for tax every month. Usually I get all of that back as tax refund because it's used for education.

[econphd123]

yeah, in Canada u've to pay taxes on scholarships in excess of 2 grands or smth like that. but they'll refund you most of it later on, since u're a full time student.

[Quas]

I second Econphd123...you are going to be taxed on your RA, but as your tuition (since you're full time student) can be deducted, you may end up paying close to zero...

[knowspamn]

Yes, I found out, and you confirmed that in most places, only the stipend is taxable and not the tuition. The stipend income would most probably fall in the 10% block which makes the tax almost negligible. (in the US)

[ritwik]

Only stipend in taxable and in case your an international student and your country has a tax treaty with US then you get most of the money taxed atleast for the first year back. And it has been rightly pointed out by earlier post that generally the tax on stipedn is pretty small.