Sprintax Returns FAQs

Sprintax Returns was created specifically for international students, scholars, teachers and researchers in the U.S. on F, J, M and Q visas, to make tax prep easy and ensure they are fully compliant with the IRS tax rules.

Yes. If you’re a temporary visitor to the U.S. on a H1B, H2B, L or B1 working visa, J1 Exchange visitor or foreign performing artist, athlete or entertainer on a P or O visa, Sprintax Returns can prepare your U.S. income tax return. However, you must be classified as nonresident for the entire tax year. If you’re unsure, Sprintax can review your circumstances and let you know.

A dual status alien is any individual who is treated as nonresident for part of the year and resident for the remainder of the year. It usually arises in the first or last years of residency. The Sprintax Returns online software does not support tax return preparation for dual status taxpayers.

Yes. Optional Practical Training (OPT) is not a separate visa status. It is a benefit of the F-1 status and while engaging in OPT, you still are considered to be an F-1 student.

Sprintax Returns is easy to use and works as follows:

• You create an account, or log-in if you’ve already created an account.
• You then answer some easy-to-understand questions.
• Sprintax Returns then reviews your details for all applicable allowances and deductions.
• Sprintax Returns finalizes the calculations and prepares your tax return.
• You print your tax return, sign it and mail it to IRS.

Tip: If your university has given you a link to Sprintax Returns – don’t forget to use it!

Sprintax Returns offers a range of services to assist in the preparation of tax returns, including the following:

• Federal tax preparation – 1040NR
• State tax preparation
• Form 8843
• FICA
• W7 – ITIN processing
• Other NR forms and schedules

• IRS compliance guaranteed
• Federal & State tax return guidance and preparation
• ITIN applications facilitated
• Complete tax relief review
• User-friendly system
• Optimized tax return
• Flexible service
• 24/7 Live Help

• Passport
• U.S. entry and exit dates for current and all previous visits to the U.S.
• All tax forms you’ve received (including Forms W-2, 1042-S and/or 1099, etc.)
• Visa / Immigration Status information, including Form DS-2019 (for J visa holders) or Form I-20 (for F visa holders)
• Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
• If you are using Sprintax for State Tax Return(s) preparation only, you will need a copy of the Federal Tax return you have already prepared

Tips:

• Make sure that you have all payment documents for the tax year you’re preparing your return for.
• If you do not have an ITIN, Sprintax Returns can still help you!

If you’ve never received a Social Security Number, you will need to apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to enable you to file your taxes.

An ITIN must be provided on tax returns, statements, and other tax related documents, for example you’ll need one:

• When filing your tax returns
• When claiming treaty benefits

Sprintax can organize this for you.

If you were married on the last day of the tax year, you do not have the option to file a return jointly with your spouse, if both you and your spouse are non-resident aliens. If you file Form 1040NR, your only option is to file a single tax return (married non-resident alien status is also treated as a single).

In general, nonresidents are not allowed to claim dependents on their tax returns.

However residents of Canada, South Korea, Mexico and some students or business apprentices from India may claim dependency exemptions for their family members the same way as residents of the U.S. if certain conditions are met.

You must use Form 1040NR in order to claim a dependent.

The tax filing deadline usually falls on 15 Apr of the following year for which the tax return is being prepared. If Apr 15 is a public holiday or a non-working day, it falls on the next work day.

If you need to pay additional tax to the IRS and you do not make the payment by the deadline, the IRS will impose late filing penalties and interest on the amount you owe.

If you are not able to file your federal income tax return by the due date (15 April), you may be able to get an automatic 6-month extension.

To apply for the additional time, you must file ‘Form 4868: Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return’ by the original deadline for filing your tax return (15 April).

You should note that Form 4868 is an extended deadline to file your tax return but is not an extension of time to pay any money due. If you owe any tax, you must estimate your tax liability on Form 4868 and pay any amount due at that time.

IRS permits people to make monthly payments through an installment agreement if they’re not financially able to pay their tax bill immediately.

You will be required to pay a fee for setting up this agreement. However, it’s worth noting that you will reduce or eliminate the amount of penalties and interest you pay and avoid the set-up fee if you pay your tax bill in full when it’s due.

You can check the status of your federal tax refund at any time by using the “Where’s My Refund?” tool on the IRS website. You can also call the IRS Refund Hotline on (800) 829-1954. When you call or visit the IRS website, you will need the following information:

• The first SSN (or ITIN) shown on the federal return
• Your filing status (single or married filing separately etc)
• The exact amount of the refund shown on your federal return ($ amount of the refund)

Yes! Sprintax is approved by the IRS for Federal E-Filing and many nonresidents will be able to file their 1040-NR tax return without ever having to leave the comfort of their own home!

If you underpaid your taxes, you need to pay the outstanding amount to the relevant tax office before the tax filing deadline. The annual deadline for most people to file their federal income tax return and pay any taxes they owe is 15 April.

Depending on your nationality (tax residency immediately before you entered the U.S.) and other conditions, you may be able to claim a tax refund under an international ‘tax treaty’. Tax treaties are agreements between the U.S. and other countries that allow you to claim back tax you paid while working abroad.

Sprintax Returns always checks if you’re eligible for an international tax treaty when we prepare your U.S. tax return.

Your eligibility depends on factors like your nationality (tax residence), length of stay, purpose of your stay, type of income and visa.

If you have been present in the U.S. during the tax year on F, J, M or Q visa status and did not receive any income you should only file the Form 8843-Statement for Exempt Individuals, to explain the basis of your claim that you can exclude days of presence in the U.S. for purposes of the substantial presence test and to meet the obligations of your academic visa.

Form 8843 is not an income tax return. Form 8843 is merely an informational statement required by the U.S. government. Sprintax Returns will help you prepare your 8843 form quickly and easily just by answering our straight forward questionnaire!

All you need to do is:

• Create/Login to your account
• Fill in some information about your stay in the U.S.
• Finalize the process and review your form
• Print, sign, and post to the tax office

In the United States, besides federal tax, there are also state taxes and local taxes (in addition to many other types of tax such as FICA, sales, property, etc).

Whether you need to file a state tax return will depend on the tax rules of the state in which you lived and /or worked. Sprintax will prepare your federal tax return (if applicable) and if requested, we will also prepare your state tax return.

If you submit the wrong information on your tax return in Sprintax, you can simply go back through the steps, correct the information and submit your tax return once again. Sprintax Returns won’t ask you to pay again for the changed tax return.

Please note that you are allowed to change any piece of information in your account. However, to protect user’s privacy and security the user is allowed to change just one piece of unique personal information at a time and these are:

• your Name(s)
• Date of Birth
• Social Security number.

For example, if you made a mistake in your DoB and you want to correct it, you can do that, but you will be unable to change your name or SSN at the same time as those fields will be locked for editing.

If you submit incorrect information on your tax return to the IRS, you will need to correct this by completing and filing a 1040X – Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.

Sprintax Returns can help you complete your Federal amended tax return. Simply create an account or log into your existing one and tick the box next to “I want to correct my tax return I already sent to the IRS” for the relevant tax year. Next, simply click on Edit and you will be able to proceed with amending your application.

Contact the Sprintax team via our online chat system for additional information about amending your State tax return.

Simply enter the code on the ‘Review Your Order’ page to get your discount.

You must have a different access code for every tax year and each code can only be used once.

You can simply pay by credit card.

If you need to reprint or modify your tax return, simply log-in to your account and click on the “Download Returns” section on the drop down menu in the top right corner.

Exact timelines are determined by the IRS on a case by case basis. Tax return processing time for paper tax returns (including non-residents 1040NR) is estimated at 4-6 weeks from the moment when the tax return is received within the IRS.

Please, allow a further 1-2 weeks for mailing, if you requested a check before you contact IRS.

Please note the IRS allow up to 6 months for the processing of nonresident returns.

Nonresidents can apply for their tax refunds even after the tax filing deadline, but a return has to be filed no more than 3 years after the original deadline in order for the IRS to issue a refund.

You should not worry about the penalties and fines if you have no tax liability, the IRS will not penalize you if you do not file a return on time.

The deadline for filing your Form 8843 is the same as the deadline for filing your tax return.

If you owe additional tax for the year, you must file a return and pay those taxes on time to avoid late filing and payment interest and penalties. The IRS charges substantial interest and penalties on past due taxes. Where there are additional taxes due, the IRS treats each late filer individually and calculates penalties and interest based on the balance due shown on the return or adjusted by the IRS. Once the IRS processes your return, they’ll calculate the penalties and interest based on the number of days your return is late, and then send you a separate bill. For this reason, Sprintax Returns cannot calculate late filing penalties or interest.

The terms of your visa require that you stay in compliance with all laws of the United States, including the rules relating to income tax filing. If you want to apply for permanent residence in the U.S. at a later date you will be asked to prove that you have complied with all tax laws.

Your opinion of your Sprintax experience is very important to us and there are a number of different ways to provide your feedback:

• Rate us on the Trustpilot
• Tell us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram

The Sprintax team is ready to help! Simply log into your account to chat live with an agent.

If you requested a refund of tax withheld on a Form 1042-S by filing a Form 1040NR, IRS may need additional time to process the return.

Please allow up to 6 months from the original due date of the 1040NR return (15 April) or the date you actually sent your 1040NR, whichever is later to receive any refund due.

After you file your taxes, it’s possible the IRS may contact you to request some additional documents. Dealing with the tax office is not always easy, and Sprintax can support you with any additional paperwork required.

When you sign up for the Sprintax Post-Filing Service, our tax experts will deal with all the additional communication with the IRS on your behalf and will take the burden off your shoulders. With our insurance service, you can enjoy peace of mind that you are fully tax compliant in the U.S.