Stanford employees (U.S. citizens, permanent residents, resident aliens and U.S. nonresidents) can use Sequoia to securely declare or update their tax withholding elections.
For U.S. Citizen, Permanent Resident & Resident Alien Employees
Before You Start
You need a SUNet ID and password to log in to Sequoia.
- Go to Sequoia
- Select Sign in with SUNet ID
- Enter SUNet ID and password, if prompted
- Select Me tab
- Select the Pay tile
- Select the Tax Withholding tile
- The default view is a summary of your most recent federal tax withholding information
- Select the Federal tab
- Select the Pencil icon to modify your federal tax withholding
- Step 1: Select a Filing Status
- Steps 2, 3, and/or 4 should be completed only if relevant to your personal situation
- Exempt from Federal Income Tax Withholding: Select the applicable radio button
- Refer to Form W-4 General Instructions to determine if you meet the criteria to claim exempt from federal withholding
- Nonresident Alien: Select the No radio button
- Step 5: Select the I agree checkbox to affirm: "Under penalties of perjury, I declare that this certificate, to the best of my knowledge and belief, is true, correct, and complete."
- Select Submit (upper right corner) when all entries are complete
The steps below are for California. The prompts will vary based on the region/state selected.
- Select Regional tab
- Confirm the proper state is displayed
- Select the Pencil icon to modify your state tax withholding
- Select your Filing Status
- Enter the Number of Regular Withholding Allowances you wish to claim
- Enter the Number of Allowances from Estimated Deductions (optional)
- Enter any Additional Tax Amount you want withheld from each paycheck (optional)
- Exempt from State Income Tax Withholding: Select the applicable radio button.
- Refer to your state’s withholding form to determine if you meet the criteria to claim exempt from state withholding.
- Answer any other prompts where applicable
- Select the I agree checkbox to affirm: “Under penalties of perjury, I declare that this certificate, to the best of my knowledge and belief, is true, correct, and complete.”
- Select Submit (upper right corner) when all entries are complete
What Happens Next?
- The Submit Successful page displays to confirm the changes have been received.
- Updates submitted by the last day of each pay period will take effect for that period.
U.S. Nonresident Employees
Before You Start
- You need a SUNet ID and password to log in to Sequoia
- Verify if there is a tax treaty between your country of residence and the U.S.
- Go to Sequoia
- Select Sign in with SUNet ID
- Enter SUNet ID and password, if prompted
- Select the Me tab
- Select the Journey tile
- Select Explore on the bottom left of screen
- If you do not see the appropriate journey in the Explore screen, clear any filters listed under the search field by selecting the X next to them
- Select the Foreign Nationals Details journey tile
- Using the Actions drop-down menu, select Start Journey
- Open the Foreign Nationals Details Form by selecting the dropdown arrow on the right of the screen
- Select the statuses that apply to you:
- Currently Registered S.U. Student Grad/Undergrad
- Registered Postdoc
- Visiting Student Researcher
- Enter your Country of citizenship
- Enter your Country of residence
- Enter your Current visa type
- Enter your most recent Entry Date
- List all your stays in the U.S. during the last six years:
- Enter Entry Date
- Enter Exit Date
- Select a Visa Type from the drop-down menu
- Select Add Row to add multiple Entry and Exit Dates, or select Remove to delete the entry
- If claiming treaty exemption, you must complete Form 8233. Refer to How to: Claim Tax Treaty for Salary Payments.
- After required information is entered, select Done
- Select Me tab
- Select the Pay tile
- Select the Tax Withholding tile
- The default view is a summary of your most recent federal tax withholding information
- Select the Federal tab
- Select the Pencil icon to modify your federal tax withholding
- Step 1: Select a Filing Status
- Steps 2, 3, and/or 4 should be completed only if relevant to your personal situation
- Exempt from Federal Income Tax Withholding: Select the applicable radio button
- Refer to Form W-4 General Instructions to determine if you meet the criteria to claim exempt from federal withholding
- Nonresident Alien: Select the Yes radio button
- Step 5: Select the I agree checkbox to affirm: "Under penalties of perjury, I declare that this certificate, to the best of my knowledge and belief, is true, correct, and complete."
- Select Submit (upper right corner) when all entries are complete
Nonresident aliens are limited to Single or Married filing separately regardless of your actual marital status on the Federal W-4, with the exception of residents of Canada, Mexico and Korea.
The steps below are for California. The prompts will vary based on the region/state selected.
- Select Regional tab
- Confirm the proper state is displayed
- Select the Pencil icon to modify your state tax withholding
- Select your Filing Status
- Enter the Number of Regular Withholding Allowances you wish to claim
- Enter the Number of Allowances from Estimated Deductions (optional)
- Enter any Additional Tax Amount you want withheld from each paycheck (optional)
- Exempt from State Income Tax Withholding: Select the applicable radio button.
- Refer to your state’s withholding form to determine if you meet the criteria to claim exempt from state withholding.
- Answer any other prompts where applicable
- Select the I agree checkbox to affirm: “Under penalties of perjury, I declare that this certificate, to the best of my knowledge and belief, is true, correct, and complete.”
- Select Submit (upper right corner) when all entries are complete
What Happens Next?
- The Submit Successful page displays to confirm the changes have been received.
- Updates submitted by the last day of each pay period will take effect for that period.