Every nonresident alien in the US is obliged to file a federal tax return before the tax deadline, which in 2024 is 15 April.
If you’re an international student or scholar in the US, by law you must file Form 8843 at least, but depending on your circumstances, you may also need to file a Federal tax return by filing a 1040NR, a State Tax return or two and maybe even a FICA return.
Are you a nonresident living in the US? We know it can be confusing to understand the tax system in your home country, let alone in a different one, so we are here to help explain what income is taxable for nonresidents in the US.
As a foreign national you can be subject to one of two different systems of taxation in the US, depending on whether you are classified as a nonresident or resident alien in the US.
If you are a nonresident alien, you are subject to US income tax only on your US source income and just like residents, you must report your income on US income tax returns.
You might be surprised to learn that, at present, there are around one million international students studying in the United States. What won’t surprise you however, is that each of these one million students have tax obligations in the United States.
What are these obligations? This is where things get a bit tricky!
Many international students on F-1, J-1, M-1 and Q engage in practical training and earn income through one of the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) approved programs or participate in on-campus and off-campus employment during or post-study. Continue reading “How to Get a Full Tax Refund as an International Student in US” »
It has never been easier to file your nonresident US federal tax return.
We are thrilled to announce that Sprintax – the best online solution for nonresident federal and state tax returns – is now live for Federal E-Filing.
This means that, by completing the easy Sprintax questionnaire, you can file your 2023 federal return directly with the IRS online.
What is E-Filing?
Sprintax is now approved by the IRS to submit Federal tax returns electronically (E-Filing).
In short, this means you no longer need to download, print and mail a physical copy of your tax return to the US tax office. Instead, you can now file your federal tax return without ever having to leave the comfort of your own home.
By E-Filing your tax return, you can ensure that your taxes are processed by the IRS faster than if you filed a paper tax return.
When you complete the Sprintax questionnaire and proceed through the order breakdown and payment stage, you will be ready to submit your 2023 US tax return.
If you wish to E-File your taxes, you must firstly confirm that you have not previously E-Filed your tax return before.
You can then click the ‘Proceed with E-File’ button to move to the next step.
E-File Authentication
To E-File your tax return you must first electronically sign your tax return using the information requested on the screen.
Before you can sign your return, we must verify your identity. To do so, we will ask you to provide information from your previous federal tax return.
If you filed a federal tax return last year, you can either provide your prior year adjusted gross income or your self-selected 5-digit pin.
You can find your adjusted gross income on line 11 of your 2022 1040NR. Please ensure the information you provide here is correct.
If you did not file a tax return for tax year 2022, please enter ‘0’ as your prior year adjusted gross income.
If you filed an amended tax return for tax year 2022, please enter the adjusted gross income listed on the return you filed originally.
Electronically signing your tax return
You will be required to select any 5-digit number (other than 00000) to electronically sign your tax return. Ensure you keep a record of this pin in a safe place.
You will need to acknowledge that this pin is your signature and that and that you are now authorizing transmission of your return.
Final steps
Next, you must read the disclaimer and consent statements and confirm your agreement and that you have reviewed the information that you have entered and examined your tax return.
You will also need to confirm that the social security numbers of each person on the return are correct.
You must then sign the above consent disclosure by entering your date of birth.
Finally, simply click ‘E-File My Return’ to electronically send your tax return to the IRS.
Can I E-File my state taxes with Sprintax?
No. You can only E-File your federal tax return with Sprintax.
However, if you are required to file a state tax return, Sprintax will help you to prepare the documents you need.
When you complete our questionnaire, our software will provide you with your completed state tax return.
To file your tax return, simply download, print and sign your documents and mail them to the tax office.
Can I E-File for tax years prior to 2021?
At present, E-Filing is only available for the 2021 tax year and later years.
However, Sprintax can help you to prepare the tax documents you need for prior tax years.
Can everyone E-File their federal taxes?
No.
You will not be able to file online if:
Any names or SSN do not coincide with the information provided at the About You step of the Sprintax questionnaire
Any of your payment documents do not have an EIN
Any of your 1042-S forms do not have a unique code identifier
You have capital gains income
You have form 1099-NEC
You have form 1099-INT
You have form 1099-MISC with box 4 higher than box 0
You have included your final payslip
You have self-employment income
If you are not eligible to E-File your taxes, don’t worry. You can still download your completed forms from Sprintax and mail them to the IRS
Note: If your W2 forms do not have a control number you must enter any 5 digit number instead.
Do I have to E-File my tax return?
No. If you would prefer not to file your taxes online, you can file by mail instead. Simply download your tax return, print it, sign it, and mail it to the IRS.
When is the tax filing deadline?
It is important to file your tax return before the 15 April 2024.
If you owe the IRS money and you don’t file your tax return by the deadline, you may incur late filing fines and penalties from the IRS. You may also jeopardize your future US visa applications.
What’s more, 70% of Sprintax users receive a tax refund. By not filing, you risk missing out on your tax refund.
The average federal refund is $1,004. Do you really want to leave that kind of money in the US? Of course not!
Every nonresident in the US has a tax filing requirement.
If you earned income in the US, you will be required to file a federal tax return. You may also have a state tax filing requirement.
Nonresident aliens who are in the US on a J or F visa must file a Form 8843 “Statement of Exempt Individuals and Individuals with a Medical Condition” even if they received no income in the US.
No matter what nonresident tax document you need to file, Sprintax can help you.
A handy tax guide for international students and scholars in the US on an F-1 visa
Tax filing might not be the most exciting aspect of international student life in the US.
After all, tax returns for international students probably weren’t high on your list of priorities when moving to the US!
However, the importance of completing these forms correctly cannot be underestimated – the way you handle your international student tax affairs will have a major impact on future Green Card and visa applications.
With this in mind, we’ve created this handy tax guide for international students and scholars in the US on an F-1 visa.
We’ve covered everything you need to know about tax returns, refunds, and how to stay in the taxman’s good books! So, let’s get started!
Need to file a US nonresident tax return from outside America?
Don’t worry. You’re not alone! Countless nonresidents face this very predicament every year.
Filing from outside the US can pose its own unique set of challenges. But, with some planning, organization and a little help from your friends at Sprintax, filing your documents can be easier than you think!
Determining your tax residency status is important, as it will determine how much tax you must pay while in the US.
The most common mistake nonresidents make is filing their taxes as a resident. If a nonresident files as a resident they can claim benefits and receive refunds that they’re not entitled to. Incorrect filing breaks the terms and conditions of a nonresident visa, this can lead to fines and penalties and you may also jeopardize your future visa or green card applications.
