Tax Filing Requirements and Resources
Important Disclaimer: The following information is general guidance for the benefit of Tufts international students, scholars, and employees. The International Center staff are not qualified tax specialists and we are unable to provide specific tax guidance on individual cases.
Who must file tax forms for the 2023 tax filing season?
Even if you did not earn any income, if you were physically in the US on F or J status anytime between January 1st – December 31st 2023, you’re obligated to file a Form 8843 with the IRS (the Internal Revenue Service, or ‘IRS’, are the US tax authorities).
Meanwhile, if you earned any taxable US source income, you may need to file a federal tax return with the IRS. Depending on your individual circumstances, you may also need to file a state tax return(s).
Tax Filing Deadline
April 15, 2024* is the last day for residents and nonresidents who earned US income to file Federal tax returns for the 2023 tax year.
(*Note: Taxpayers living in Maine or Massachusetts have until April 17, 2024, due to the Patriot's Day and Emancipation Day holidays.)
Who is Considered Resident or Nonresident for Federal Tax Purposes
Generally, most international students & scholars who are on F, J, M or Q visas are considered nonresidents for tax purposes. International students on F-1 & J-1 visas are automatically considered nonresident for their first five calendar years in the US, while Scholars/Researchers on J visas are automatically considered nonresidents for two out of the last six calendar years in the US.
If you’ve been in the US for longer than the five or two year periods, the Substantial Presence Test will determine your tax residency.
How to File Your Tax Forms
We have teamed up with Sprintax to provide you with an easy-to-use tax preparation software designed for nonresident students and scholars in the US.
The International Center staff (and all other university staff) are not qualified or allowed to provide individual tax advice.
Before getting started, review the Sprintax How-To Guide for tips on determining if you need to file a tax return, and how.
After you login to Sprintax, you will be asked a series of questions about the time you have spent in the US over recent years. Sprintax will then determine your tax status. If it determines that you are a “nonresident alien” (NRA) for federal tax purposes, you can continue to use the software and respond to a series of guided questions. Sprintax will then complete and generate the tax forms you need to send to the tax authorities.
However, if Sprintax determines that you are a resident alien for federal tax purposes, you won’t be able to continue using the software.
Step by Step guide on How to File Your Nonresident Tax Forms (F and J)
Document | Description | |
✔ | Passport | |
✔ | Visa/Immigration information, including form I-20 (F status) or form DS-2019 (J status) | |
✔ | Social Security or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (if you have one) | This is not needed if you had no income and the 8843 is the only form you have to file. |
✔* | W-2 | This form reports your wage earnings if you worked. If you had more than one employer you should get a W-2 from each employer. It is issued by the end of January for the previous year. Make sure all employers from last year have an up-to-date address for you. |
✔* | 1042-S | This form is used to report:
If you received this type of income, the 1042-S will be mailed to you by March 15 by the payer. Note: Only Nonresident Aliens receive this form. If your tax status changes to a Resident Alien, you will not get a 1042-S. Login to Sprintax to check your tax status if you're not sure. |
✔ | US entry and exit dates for current and past visits to the US | In addition to passport stamps, you can review or print your US travel history here |
✔* | 1099 | This form reports miscellaneous income. Can include interest on bank accounts, stocks, bonds, dividends, earnings through freelance employment |
✘ | 1098-T | This form is NOT needed and can NOT be used for a nonresident tax return because nonresidents are not eligible to claim education expense tax credits. |
You will receive an email from the International Center providing you with a link to Sprintax to set up your account as well as your unique code to use on Sprintax. This unique code will cover the costs of the federal tax return and 8843 at no cost to you. Open your new Sprintax account by creating a User ID and password - or, if you have an existing account on Sprintax, you can log in using your existing credentials.
Remember to read the instructions that Sprintax provides.
You will be required to download, print and sign your federal tax return and mail it to the IRS. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to E-file your Federal tax return. However, this will depend on certain eligibility criteria. You can learn more about eligibility in this Sprintax blog - https://blog.sprintax.com/nonresident-federal-tax-efiling-live/
If you have a state filing requirement, you must also mail this to the tax authorities.
Finally, if you only need to file Form 8843, this will also need to be mailed to the IRS.
If you need help while using Sprintax, you can contact their support team using the options below:
- 24/7 Live Chat Help
- Refer to their FAQs
- Send an email to hello@sprintax.com
You also have access to the Sprintax YouTube account where there are a number of educational videos on nonresident taxes. These will provide further clarity on nonresident tax and how to use Sprintax.
Sprintax also offers a range of useful content on their blog to help you file your return.
We recommend checking the following blog posts to get you started:
- Nonresident Taxes Explained
- US Tax Season Survival Guide for International Students on F-1 Visas
- OPT and Taxes (for F-1 students on 12-month OPT or OPT STEM Extension)
Please review the FAQ section with more information on webinars hosted by Sprintax and other general information here.
DISCLAIMER: International Student & Scholar Services and the school are NOT permitted to assist any student/scholar with any IRS tax form preparation or tax related questions. The information provided is intended for your benefit. Any questions or concerns should be directed to Sprintax, a certified tax preparer, or a local IRS field office.