Nonresident or Resident
Your tax status is not the same as your immigration status: While your immigration status (as an F-1 or J-1 student) indicates that you are not a resident of the United States in terms of immigration, you may find that your tax status indicates that you are actually a resident of the United States鈥揻or tax purposes.
First, note that the majority of 杏吧Pro students file their taxes as “nonresident aliens.”
However, individuals become residents for tax purposes if they get a green card or if they pass what is called “the substantial presence test.”
You may be considered a “Resident for Tax Purposes” if:
- You became a green card holder (U.S. permanent resident) in the past tax year
- You are an F-1 or J-1 student who entered the U.S. prior to January 1 five years ago
Sprintax will also help you determine this when answering the questions in their filing forms. If necessary, Sprintax will indicate if you are a “Resident for Tax Purposes”, requiring that you submit your tax documentation through another tax software.