Sprintax for international students & scholars

Nonresident tax determination, treaty benefits and compliant U.S. tax filing for F-1, J-1, M-1 and Q-1 visa holders.

Get started
solution

Nonresident tax partner of TurboTax

Most F-1 and J-1 students and scholars are nonresident aliens for tax purposes, which means you’ll need to file Form 1040-NR. Even if you didn’t earn any income, you still need to file Form 8843. TurboTax is designed for U.S. residents, so filing there could mean an inaccurate return, possible penalties, and complications with future visa or Green Card applications.

Sprintax is the nonresident partner of choice for TurboTax and the only online federal and state tax preparation software for nonresidents in the U.S. We’ll determine your residency status, prepare a fully compliant 1040-NR and Form 8843, and help you claim your maximum legal tax refund.

$1,184

average federal refund

1m+

federal tax returns filed

650+

school and corporate partners

203

nationalities assisted

how we help

Nonresident taxes? Sorted!

From your first paycheck to filing day.

File your U.S. tax return

Sprintax Returns

Federal and state tax filing for international students and scholars, made easy.

  • Federal tax return e-filing (Form 1040-NR)
  • State tax returns and Form 8843
  • Tax treaty benefits and other reliefs claimed

Learn more ↗

Get your work forms right

Sprintax Forms

Starting OPT, CPT or an on-campus job? Prepare your pre-employment tax forms before your first paycheck, so your employer withholds the right amount of tax.

  • Form W-4, Form 8233 and Form W-8BEN
  • Tax treaty benefits claimed
  • FICA (Social Security and Medicare) exemptions identified

Learn more ↗

Apply for your ITIN

Sprintax Forms

Not eligible for a Social Security Number? You’ll usually need an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to file your U.S. tax return.

  • Form W-7 prepared step by step
  • Apply at the same time as your tax return
  • Apply early: the IRS usually takes about 7 weeks

Learn more ↗

Fix a return or reclaim FICA

Sprintax Returns

Filed a resident return by mistake, or had Social Security and Medicare tax withheld from your pay? We’ll help you put it right.

  • Amended returns (Form 1040-X)
  • FICA exemption checked for your visa type
  • FICA tax refund applications

Learn more ↗

why sprintax

Compliant, reliable and trusted

The nonresident tax partner international students, scholars and their schools rely on every tax season.

International student downloading her U.S. tax return documents in Sprintax Returns
COMPLIANT

The right return, every time

Sprintax applies U.S. residency rules and tax treaties to your situation. Our in-house tax experts track tax law and treaty changes and keep the software up to date, so your return stays compliant with the IRS.

  • Fast tax residency determination (substantial presence test)
  • The tax treaty benefits you’re entitled to, found for you
  • Form 1040-NR, Form 8843 and state returns prepared correctly
  • Kept current with tax law and treaty changes
Group of international students talking around a table
TRUSTED

Trusted by schools, employers and TurboTax

Universities, employers and J-1 sponsors partner with Sprintax to support their international students, scholars and staff through every tax season.

  • Official nonresident tax filing partner of TurboTax
  • Partner to 650+ schools and employers
  • Rated 4.6 out of 5 on Trustpilot
  • 25+ years of international tax expertise
International student working on her laptop at home
SECURE

Your personal data, protected

Sprintax is a secure, cloud-based platform with nothing to download or install. Your personal, visa and income details are protected at every step.

  • ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certified
  • Hosted on AWS enterprise-grade infrastructure
  • Data encrypted in transit and at rest
International student downloading her U.S. tax return documents in Sprintax Returns
SUPPORTED

Help at every step

Got a tax question? Our team and resources are here to help you get your nonresident taxes right, from your first paycheck to filing day.

  • Live chat with our support team while you prepare your forms or tax return
  • Q&A webinars on how U.S. nonresident tax works
  • Step-by-step answers in our help center
  • Plain-language tax guides on the Sprintax blog
Visit the help center
how it works

Your U.S. taxes, covered end to end

From your first paycheck to filing day, Sprintax helps you get every step of your nonresident taxes right, with one trusted partner for your forms, your tax return and your refund.

Start my tax return

Residency

Find out if you’re a nonresident for tax purposes, and which tax treaty benefits you can claim.

Work forms

Starting a job, OPT or CPT? Prepare Form W-4, Form 8233 and Form W-8BEN so the right tax is withheld.

Tax filing

File your federal and state tax returns, including Form 1040-NR and Form 8843, before the deadline.

Refunds

Claim the tax refund you’re entitled to, and recover any FICA tax withheld by mistake.

testimonials

Trusted by international student advisers

Sprintax Returns has completely transformed tax season for DePauw undergraduates. More students submit their returns, and on time, than ever before! This is credit to the Sprintax software but also to the amazing Sprintax team, who are a constant source of support, always quick to reply and help troubleshoot any questions that come up. I can’t recommend Sprintax enough. It’s a wonderful solution for making sure that international students fulfil their tax obligations, simplifying a notoriously challenging process and making it almost easy!

Elizabeth Haymaker

Director of International Student Affairs

Depauw_univ_textlogo

The partnership we have with Sprintax has been one of the best decisions for our students and office. Feedback and working with them personally has shown us the Sprintax team is very knowledgeable, courteous, and always willing to lend a helping hand. We saw an increase in the number of students filing both their federal and state tax returns, which is in large part due to Sprintax’s efforts in providing us with useful resources as well as hosting webinars for our students. I cannot imagine a better tax preparer for our international community.

Tyria Newman

Programs Assistant

learn more

Tax tips for international students

tax return international students

U.S. tax season guide for F-1 visa students
OPT_CPT_TAX

The ultimate tax guide for international students on OPT

What is Form 8233 and how do you file it?
Blog US

FICA tax explained for nonresident aliens

I accidentally filed Form 1040 instead of 1040-NR. How do I fix it?

1098-T form for international students: everything you need to know
F.A.Q.

International student tax FAQs

Yes. If you earn income as an international student or scholar in the U.S., you will usually have to pay federal income tax. You may also have to pay state tax, depending on where you live and earn income.

No. TurboTax is designed for U.S. citizens and residents for tax purposes. Most international students and scholars are nonresidents, so they need to file Form 1040-NR, which TurboTax doesn’t support.

Sprintax is the official nonresident tax filing partner of TurboTax, so you can file your nonresident tax return easily online with Sprintax Returns.

It depends on your visa type and how long you’ve been in the U.S. Students on F-1, J-1, M-1 and Q-1 visas are usually nonresidents for their first five calendar years. J-1 researchers, professors and teachers are usually nonresidents for their first two calendar years. After that, the substantial presence test decides your status.

Sprintax works out your residency status for you when you start your tax return.

If you’re a nonresident and filed a resident tax return (Form 1040) by mistake, you’ll need to correct it by filing an amended return. Sprintax Returns can help you prepare your amended return (Form 1040-X) so you stay compliant with the IRS.

International students may have to pay state tax, depending on the state where they live and earn income. Each state has different tax laws. Nine states (Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming) don’t tax wage income.

Nonresident students and scholars on F-1, J-1, M-1, Q-1 or Q-2 visas are usually exempt from Social Security and Medicare (FICA) tax on wages from work allowed under their visa, such as on-campus jobs, OPT and CPT. The exemption ends once you become a resident for tax purposes.

If FICA tax was withheld from your pay by mistake, Sprintax can help you apply for a refund.

If you are a nonresident alien, you typically cannot claim education tax credits. However, many international students in the U.S. are still entitled to a tax refund. You can claim your refund by filing a tax return.

If you did not earn any income while in the U.S. as an international student, you may not need to file a federal tax return. However, at a minimum you will need to file Form 8843. Sprintax will help you work out which forms you need to file.

If you earned U.S. wages, the federal deadline is usually April 15. If you had no wages subject to U.S. income tax withholding, it’s usually June 15. If you only need to file Form 8843, it’s due by June 15. State deadlines can vary.

Yes. Every year, Sprintax helps thousands of international students and scholars e-file their taxes. Filing online means the IRS can process your tax return faster than a paper return. To check if you’re eligible to e-file, create your Sprintax account today.

The IRS usually takes about 7 weeks to process an ITIN application. During peak season (January 15 to April 30), or if you apply from outside the U.S., allow 9 to 11 weeks. Apply for your ITIN early so you have everything you need before the filing deadline.

Ready to get started?

File your nonresident tax return with Sprintax, the nonresident tax partner trusted by 650+ schools and employers.

Start my tax return