Tax Filing Requirements and Resources
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.
