Stipends
Fellowship stipends and allowances are paid biweekly, from the end of August through the end of May. The stipend for the year is $57,500, i.e. $2648 paid biweekly over 10 months. Checks are issued through Harvard’s payroll department. You will need to set up a direct deposit after you have arrived in Cambridge and have claimed your Harvard ID. You must have a United States bank account for direct deposit.
Reimbursements
To be reimbursed for any expense you might incur (with prior authorization) on behalf of a Loeb Fellowship sponsored project or event, please retain the original receipts, indicating date, amount paid, and method of payment. Submit them along with a completed Non-Employee Reimbursement Form to Program Coordinator Rosana Restrepo as soon as possible after the event. Please allow up to 45 days for Harvard to complete a reimbursement. We regret that Harvard will not reimburse expenses that are more than 60 days old.
Each Loeb receives a travel grant based on an estimate of the costs of 2 round trips between Cambridge and their home; like the stipend, it is taxable income. Fellows work with the Loeb Office to determine the amount.
Taxes
The stipend is taxable income. All Fellows must submit an IRS I-9 form to the GSD’s faculty affairs office prior to payroll processing by August X to receive their check on September Xth.
All incoming Fellows, as residents of the United States during their Fellowship, are responsible for filing tax returns with the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and possibly the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, depending on your tax status. Since Loeb Fellowships cross calendar years, stipends and allowances must be declared in two separate years. US and international fellows have different tax reporting responsibilities, as outlined below.
US Fellows
For US citizens and permanent residents, Harvard is not required by the IRS to report Fellowship income. No taxes will be withheld from US Fellows’ stipend and allowance checks, and you will not receive a statement of earnings (IRS Form W-2 or IRS Form 1099) from Harvard. However, US Fellows are responsible for declaring their income, claiming any exemptions, and satisfying tax responsibilities. Your income can be determined by the year- to-date information on your pay stubs — final check of December 2026 for tax year 2026, and final check of May 2027 for tax year 2027.
International Fellows
Your stipend and allowances are subject to US income taxes of 14% of your total income. The amount of taxes you pay depends on the type of income you receive and your tax status in the United States. Your tax status will be determined by Harvard’s International Payee Tax Compliance department after you arrive at Harvard. Please contact the IPTC department as soon as possible after you arrive to clarify your tax status, ensure that the correct amount of taxes is withheld, and to take advantage of any tax treaty your country may have with the US. International Fellows will receive IRS Form 1042-S from Harvard in March of the Fellowship year. This form will summarize the total stipend and allowance payments received in the prior calendar year and will provide the amount that has already been withheld. International Fellows will receive a second IRS Form 1042-S from Harvard in March of the year following the Fellowship. Tax forms must be filed again to cover the part of the Fellowship that occurred in the second calendar year.
For detailed information about tax returns and obligations visit Harvard Student Financial Services.
Banking for International Fellows
For international Fellows residing in Cambridge, the Bank of America branch in Harvard Square opens accounts for foreign students who do not have Social Security numbers.
Another option is the Harvard Federal Credit Union, which is open to all Harvard affiliates. To open an account, you will need to apply in person and bring your Harvard-issued ID card, your passport, and a $5 initial deposit. The branch in Harvard Square is located at 104 Mount Auburn St. Note that the account holder will need to have or apply for a US Social Security number (SSN), but if you are an international Fellow and you explain to them that you will receive a Harvard stipend while on campus and that you are required to apply for an SSN while at Harvard, the credit union will be able to process the application, and you can submit the SSN to them at a later time.
J-1 Visas
International Loebs must obtain J-1 visas. It is not required to send in your passport. A J-1 scholar’s spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 are eligible for J-2 visa status. J-2 visa holders may apply for Employment Permission with USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services) once they arrive in the US. For more information, please contact the Harvard International office.
Health Insurance
Owing to the high cost of healthcare in the US, Loeb Fellows are strongly urged to have adequate health insurance for themselves and for accompanying family members. By law, J-1 visa holders and Massachusetts residents are required to have insurance. Coverage options are different for domestic and international Fellows.
International Fellows can check options through the Harvard International Office.
Domestic Fellows without health insurance can apply through the MA Health Connector.