How to File Your Taxes
How you file a tax return depends on multiple factors, including the following:
- Whether you are a non-resident alien or resident alien in the United States
- If you have or have not received income in the past year
- If your country has or does not have a tax treaty with the United States
Instructions on filing your taxes are organized by the following:
Non-Resident with US Income
- Have been in the U.S. as an F-1 or J-1 Student for less than 5 calendar years (arrive in the US in the year 2019 or later)
- Have been in the U.S. as a J-1 non-student (Research Scholar/ Professor) for less than 2 calendar years (arrived in the year 2022 or later)
- Have been in H-1B status for less than 183 days during the past year
- Did not obtain Permanent Residency status (Green Card) at any time in the past year
- Did not obtain US Citizenship at any time in the past year
Non-Resident with No US Income
- Have been in the US as an F-1/F-2 or J-1/J-2 Student for less than 5 calendar years (arrive in the US in the year 2019 or later)
- Have been in the US as a J-1/J-2 non-student for less than 2 calendar years (arrived in the year 2022 or later)
- Have been in H-1B status for less than 183 days during the past year
- Did not obtain Permanent Residency status (Green Card) at any time in the past year
- Did not obtain US Citizenship at any time in the past year
Residents with No Tax Treaty Benefit
- Have been in the U.S. as an F-1 or J-1 Student for more than 5 calendar years (arrived in the US in the year 2018 or earlier)
- Have been in the U.S. as a J-1 non-student (Research Scholar/Professor) for more than 2 calendar years (arrived in the year 2021 or earlier)
- Have been in H-1B status for 183 days or more during 2020.
- Obtained Permanent Residency status (Green Card) at any time in the past year
- Obtained US Citizenship at any time in the past year
Residents with a Tax Treaty Benefit
- Have been in the U.S. as an F-1 or J-1 student for more than 5 calendar years (arrived in the US in the year 2018 or earlier)
- Have been in the U.S. as a J-1 non-student for more than 2 calendar years (arrived in the year 2022 or earlier)
- Have been in H-1B status for 183 days or more during the past year.
- Obtained Permanent Residency status (Green Card) at any time in the past year
- Obtained US Citizenship at any time in the past year