Taxpayers

NRTaxReturn for International Students and Scholars

NRTaxReturn online software provides an easy, affordable and convenient way for foreign nationals with J, F, Q, and M US visas (such as students, researchers, scholars, teachers and trainees) to file their US Tax Returns.

All International Students and Scholars with J, F, Q and M US visas are required to file US Tax Returns, see US Taxation section for detailed description or US taxations for foreign nationals.

Residency status issue

Depending on the tax residency status (resident alien or nonresident alien) foreign nationals are taxed differently (see taxation of foreign nationals). It is usually more beneficial to be considered a nonresident alien for tax purposes as they are taxed only on their US source of income (bank and/or credit union interest is not considered a US source of income).

In general, all international students (F, J, M, or Q visa) and their dependents who staid in US for 5 years or less are considered a nonresidents. Researchers, teachers, scholars or faculty in F, J, M, or Q visa status for 2 years or less are also considered nonresidents.

Tax forms to file

If you didn’t have any US source of income and were considered a nonresident alien you have only file Form 8843, Statement for Exempt Individuals and Individuals with a Medical Condition. The purpose of the Form 8843 is to verify that the nonresident qualifies to exempt days of presence, and thus shields the nonresident from being taxed as a resident.

If you had an US source of income in addition to Form 8843 you will have to file US Tax Return Form 1040NR (long form) or Form 1040NR-EZ (short form)

International students who have been in for F or J status for more than 5 calendar years, and researchers, scholars, teachers and faculty who have been in J-1 status for more than 2 calendar years, or those who are in another nonimmigrant status, such as H-1B or O-1, are generally eligible to file as residents for tax purposes, and must use different forms (1040 or 1040EZ, for example).

Forms supported online

NRTaxReturn will help you file your US Tax Return (Form 1040NR-EZ), Form 8843, claim for refund of Medicare and Social Security taxes (Form 843), and apply for ITIN (Form W-7). We will also determine your residency status with our comprehensive residency status dialog.

Start filing your Tax Return today and get your Tax Refund fast.

Although the information contained on this web site has been reviewed by tax professional and should be adequate to assist most international students and scholars, it is not a substitute for advice obtained from the Internal Revenue Service or a qualified tax professional. If your visa status has changed in the past year, or you believe you have complicated tax issues, please consult the Internal Revenue Service or a qualified tax professional.