Lana Oconnell
International students in the US are required to file taxes. Sprintax is an online platform that helps international students, scholars, teachers, and researchers in the US with their IRS tax obligations. It is the leading online federal e-filing and state tax return self-preparation software for US nonresidents. It helps users file their IRS-compliant, US nonresident tax returns and avoid IRS penalties and fines. It also helps users maximize their tax refunds.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who is it for? | International students, scholars, teachers and researchers in the US on F, J, M and Q visas |
| What does it do? | Helps with tax filing, determines what forms need to be filed, helps avoid IRS penalties and fines, helps meet tax obligations of academic visas, helps maximize tax refunds |
| What forms can it help with? | W-7 form, ITIN application, Form 1040NR, Form 8843 |
| What is the cost? | Federal return is free, state return is standard fee |
| How does it work? | Electronically file your federal and state tax returns, e-filing available |
| When is the deadline? | April 15, 2025 |
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What You'll Learn
International students on F-1 visas
As an international student on an F-1 visa in the United States, you are classified as a 'Non-Resident Alien' for tax purposes. This means that if you earned an income during your time in the US, you will have to pay federal income tax. You may also be required to pay state tax, depending on where you live and earn your income. If you did not earn any income while in the US, you may not need to file a federal tax return, but you will still need to file a Form 8843.
Sprintax is a tax preparation software specifically designed for international students, scholars, teachers, and researchers in the US on F, J, M, and Q visas. The software helps thousands of international students determine the forms they need to file, prepare their pre-employment tax documents, and file their tax returns. Sprintax will also help you determine whether you are a non-resident or resident for tax purposes. If Sprintax determines that you are a resident alien, you won't be able to use the software and will need to seek assistance from a different tax professional.
Sprintax offers step-by-step assistance throughout the entire tax filing process, helping you to keep compliant with the IRS and avoid penalties and fines. The software can also help you to maximize your tax refund, if applicable. During tax season (January-April), ITIN processing times can take several months, so it is recommended to apply for your ITIN as early as possible.
It is important to carefully choose who assists you with your taxes. Many international students choose TurboTax, but this service is only for US residents. As an international student, you should use software designed for non-residents, such as Sprintax.
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Completing W-7 forms and securing ITINs
As an international student in the US, you will be required to pay federal income tax if you earn an income. You may also be required to pay state tax, depending on where you live and earn your income. If you did not earn any income while in the US, you may not be required to file a federal tax return, but you will still need to file a form 8843.
Sprintax is a popular resource for international students to help them navigate the complexities of US tax filing. Every year, Sprintax Forms helps thousands of international students complete their W-7 form and secure their ITIN. The W-7 form is used to apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). An ITIN is a 9-digit number issued by the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to individuals who are required for US federal tax purposes to have a US taxpayer identification number but are not eligible to get a Social Security Number (SSN).
To complete the W-7 form, you will need to provide personal information, including your name, date of birth, and foreign status, along with supporting documents to establish your identity and foreign status. A valid passport is the easiest option, as it serves as proof of both identity and foreign status. If you do not have a passport, you will need to provide two different forms of identification. These documents must be original or certified copies, and the IRS does not accept notarized copies.
Additionally, you will need to provide a valid reason for needing an ITIN and information about your US tax reporting requirements. If you are required to attach a tax return with your W-7 form, make sure to include it, as applications without the required tax return will be rejected. Finally, review your form carefully before submission to ensure all fields are accurate and complete, as many applications are rejected due to simple mistakes.
Once your form is complete, you can submit it by mail or in person at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centre. Processing times can vary, but it generally takes about six to eleven weeks, and longer if applying from outside the US. Therefore, it is recommended to apply for your ITIN as early as possible, especially during tax season (January-April).
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Federal and state tax returns
As an international student in the US, you may be required to pay federal income tax and, depending on the state you live in, state income tax. Sprintax is a software designed for non-resident alien students and scholars who earned taxable US income in the previous year. It helps international students and scholars file their IRS-compliant, US non-resident federal and state tax returns.
Sprintax will first determine your tax status. If you are a non-resident alien, you can continue using the software and respond to a series of guided questions. After you have answered questions about your time spent in the US, Sprintax will generate the tax forms you need to send to the IRS. However, if you are a resident alien for federal tax purposes, you will need to seek assistance from a different tax professional.
Most F-1 students are considered non-resident aliens by the IRS. As a non-resident alien, you will need to file Form 1040-NR (federal tax return) to assess your federal income and taxes. Even if you did not earn money during your time in the US, you will still need to file Form 8843 with the IRS by the deadline. You may also be required to file a state tax return, depending on the state.
Nine states, including Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming, do not apply state income tax to earnings. Non-resident international students on F-1, J-1, M-1, Q-1, or Q-2 visas are exempt from social security tax.
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Non-resident alien students
Sprintax is a tax preparation software designed for international students, scholars, their dependents, and alumni. It helps prepare the required Form 8843 and nonresident federal tax return. It is important to note that if your tax status changed to a Resident Alien due to having spent more than 5 years in the US, you may not be able to use Sprintax.
Sprintax helps determine your federal tax residency status ("nonresident alien" (NRA) or "resident alien"). If it determines that you are a resident alien, you cannot continue to use Sprintax and should refer to other resources for filing a resident tax return.
Sprintax is specifically designed for non-resident alien students and scholars who earned taxable U.S. income in the previous year. It helps international students navigate the complexities of US tax filing. It offers step-by-step assistance throughout the entire process, ensuring compliance with the IRS.
As an international student in the US, you will have to pay tax on various types of income, such as wages, interest on bank accounts, stocks, bonds, dividends, and freelance or independent contractor employment. Sprintax can help you determine the forms you are required to file, such as Form 8843, which is mandatory even if you did not earn any income in the US.
Additionally, Sprintax can assist with filing for tax refunds. If you are owed a refund, there is no penalty for filing late. However, if you owe money, you must file for an extension by April 15th and make the payment by October 15th.
Sprintax is a valuable resource for non-resident alien students, simplifying the challenging process of US tax filing and ensuring compliance with tax obligations.
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Tax refunds
As an international student in the US, you will be required to pay federal income tax if you earn an income. You may also be required to pay state tax, depending on where you live and earn your income. If you did not earn any income while in the US as an international student, you may not need to file a federal tax return, but you will still need to file a Form 8843.
Sprintax is a tax preparation software specifically designed for international students, scholars, teachers, and researchers in the US on F, J, M, and Q visas. It helps thousands of international students complete their W-7 form and secure their ITIN. The software will help you determine what forms you need to file, avoid IRS penalties and fines, and, where relevant, maximise your tax refund. It will also help you determine whether you are a non-resident or resident for tax purposes. If you are a resident, you will need to seek assistance from a different tax professional.
Sprintax offers step-by-step assistance throughout the entire process of filing your tax return. With e-filing, there is no need to print your return and mail it to the IRS. Instead, you can log into Sprintax, complete the questionnaire, and select "Proceed with E-file" as your filing option.
It is important to carefully choose who assists you with your taxes. TurboTax, for example, is a service for US residents and cannot be used by international students.
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Frequently asked questions
Sprintax is an online federal e-filing and state tax return self-preparation software for US nonresidents. It helps international students, scholars, teachers, and researchers in the US on F, J, M, and Q visas to prepare their taxes online.
Sprintax is an easy-to-use, step-by-step tool that helps you prepare your taxes online. It helps users determine what they need to file, avoid IRS penalties and fines, and meet the tax obligations of their academic visas. It also helps maximize tax refunds.
The cost of Sprintax depends on the services offered and individual circumstances. Universities can purchase a license to Sprintax, and some big-name schools offer Sprintax to their international students and scholars.
