How to File Taxes in the U.S. as an F1, OPT, STEM OPT, or H1B Visa Holder

If you're an international student or worker in the U.S., filing taxes might feel like a nightmare.

You don’t know what forms to use.  

You’re not sure if you're even supposed to file.  

And no one told you what to do if you made a mistake last year.

So you freeze.
Or worse, you file the wrong form using TurboTax, think you’re done, and move on.

Until a visa interview years later pulls up your tax record… and things get messy.

Let’s avoid that.

This guide is a full walkthrough, including:

- What you’re required to file based on your visa status

- How to avoid common mistakes

- What to do if you’ve never filed or filed incorrectly

- Step-by-step demo of how to file with Sprintax

If you’re on an F1, OPT, STEM OPT, or H1B visa, read this start to finish. It might save you a lot of stress later.

► First things first: Do you have to file taxes?

Yes. Always.

Even if:

- You didn’t earn any income

- You just arrived last semester

- You’re only here for classes

There’s something called Form 8843, every non-resident (F1, J1, M1, Q) must file this to declare presence in the U.S., even with zero income.

If you earned income from on-campus work, OPT internships, CPT, or even stocks, you’ll also need to file Form 1040NR, the non-resident tax return.

 

► The 3 Most Common Scenarios (And What You Need to File)

1. You earned income in the U.S.  
   → File: Form 1040NR + Form 8843

 

2. You didn’t earn income, but you were physically present in the U.S.  
   → File: Form 8843 only

 

3. You made a mistake in a previous year (filed 1040 instead of 1040NR, or didn’t file at all)  
   → File: Amended return using Form 1040X + correct documents

 

Every one of these can be handled through Sprintax.

What is Sprintax?

TurboTax and other generic tools are built for U.S. residents. Sprintax is made specifically for non-resident international students and workers. It automatically checks if you're a resident or non-resident for tax purposes and guides you through the correct forms.

Sprintax also:

- Calculates tax treaty benefits based on your country

- Helps you claim refunds like FICA tax (if deducted wrongly)

- Offers 24/7 live support

- Lets you amend old returns or backfile missed years

In short, it takes out the guesswork.

Key Forms You Should Know

Here’s what each form does:

- Form 8843: Required for all F1/J1 visa holders, even with no income. Declares your visa status and days in the U.S.

- Form 1040NR: The main tax return for non-residents. Reports U.S. source income.

- Form W-2: Issued by your employer. Shows your wages and taxes withheld.

- Form 1042-S: Issued if you received scholarship, fellowship, or tax-exempt income.

- Form 1099: Issued if you earned through investments, contract work, or interest.

- Form 843 & 8316: Used to claim a refund on wrongly deducted FICA taxes.

- Form 1040X: Used to amend a tax return filed incorrectly in a previous year.

 

 ► What If You’re Filing for the First Time?

If it’s your first year, you’ll start by checking your residency status (non-resident vs. resident for tax purposes). Sprintax does this in Step 1 of the process by asking:

- When you first arrived in the U.S.

- Your visa type

- Time spent outside the U.S.

- Entry/exit dates

Most F1 students are non-residents for their first 5 years.

If Sprintax confirms you're a non-resident, you’ll move forward to:

- Enter your personal and visa details

- Upload W2/1099/1042-S forms

- Confirm if you qualify for any tax treaty

- Finalize your return and download the forms to send to the IRS (or e-file, if eligible)

It takes 30–45 minutes if you have your documents ready.

 

► What If You Made a Mistake Before?

This is more common than you think.

If you:

- Used TurboTax and filed a Form 1040 instead of 1040NR

- Forgot to include all income documents

- Didn’t file anything at all

You’ll need to file an amended return or backfile for missed years.

Sprintax lets you do both:

- Log in

- Select the year you missed or want to correct

- Choose: “I need to amend my tax return”

- Fill in the right info

- Submit Form 1040X + updated return

It’s fixable. But the longer you wait, the messier it gets, especially for visa interviews or green card processing.

 

► What About Investment Income?

If you bought stocks on Robinhood, Webull, or earned interest/dividends:

Yes, you need to report it.

Sprintax will ask:

- Did you receive any 1099 forms (INT, DIV, B)?

- What were your gains/losses?

Even if the amount is small, you must include it in your 1040NR.

And remember, only U.S. source income is taxable. So no need to declare gains from Indian stock market or fixed deposits.

 

► What Happens If You Skip Filing?

It’s not just about penalties.

Yes, you may owe late fees or lose refunds.

But the real problem? It affects your immigration history.

Down the line, when you're applying for:

- H1B

- Green card

- Permanent residency

You might be asked for tax records. Missing filings, wrong forms, or inconsistent info could delay or jeopardize your application.

Don’t give USCIS a reason to doubt your credibility.

 

► Special Cases

FICA Tax Refunds (Social Security and Medicare)  

If your university or employer deducted these by mistake (common in the first year of CPT/OPT), you can claim a refund.

You’ll need:

- Your W2 form (to prove deduction)

- Form 843 & 8316 (to claim it)

- Optionally, Sprintax can generate these for you.

Scholarships  

If your scholarship covers only tuition, you’re safe.  

If it covers housing, meals, or travel, it’s taxable and must be reported.

 

What Documents Should You Have Ready?

Before you start, keep these handy:

- Passport

- I-20 or DS-2019

- Visa details

- W2, 1099, 1042-S forms

- Social Security Number (SSN) or ITIN

- Last year’s tax return (if applicable)

Once you’ve got everything, the full process takes less than an hour.

And yes, your progress is saved if you need to take a break mid-way.

Perfect. Here's the How-To Section (only the procedure, clear and step-by-step) that you can insert right after the line:

Once you’ve got everything, the full process takes less than an hour.

 

► How to File Taxes with Sprintax – Step-by-Step

Step 1: Create an account on Sprintax  

Go to (https://www.sprintax.com)
→ Click “Get Started” under “Returns”
→ Create an account or log in.

Step 2: Residency Check  

Sprintax will first ask about your:

- Visa type

- First entry date to the U.S.

- Number of days in the U.S.

- Any prior visits to the U.S.

This helps determine whether you’re a resident or non-resident for tax purposes.  

If you’re a resident, Sprintax will stop you. If non-resident, you’ll continue.

 

Step 3: Enter Personal and Visa Info 

Fill in:

- Name, DOB, country of residence

- Passport & visa details

- U.S. and home address

- SSN/ITIN (or request one if needed)

 

Step 4: Answer Income Questions 

You’ll be asked if you received U.S. income in 2024.

If YES: You’ll upload W2s, 1099s, or 1042-S forms.  

If NO: Sprintax will skip to Form 8843 only.

 

Step 5: Upload Income Documents  

- Upload your W2 (for campus jobs, internships)

- Upload 1042-S (for taxable scholarships)

- Upload 1099s (for investments or contract work)

 

Sprintax will auto-read them, just check the data is correct.

 

Step 6: Additional Tax Questions 

Sprintax will ask:

- If you received any other income (tips, prizes, etc.)

- If you paid estimated taxes

- If you’ve filed in previous years

- If you want to claim treaty benefits

 

Step 7: Enter University Info  

You’ll fill in:

- University name and address

- Program type and course name

- Program director’s info (from your I-20 or DS-2019)

 

Step 8: State Tax Section 

You’ll enter:

- States you lived in

- Dates of stay

- Type of accommodation

 

Sprintax will calculate if you need to file a state return in addition to the federal.

 

Step 9: Review Your Tax Summary  

Sprintax will show:

- Your federal refund (or how much you owe)

- State refund/owed amount (if applicable)

- Full summary of your return

 

Step 10: Enter Discount Code  

Use the code `YUDI` at checkout for a $5 discount on the federal return.

 

Step 11: Download or E-File  

- If eligible, Sprintax will let you e-file.

- If not, you’ll download your tax pack, print it, sign it, and mail it to the IRS and/or state department.

 

Step 12: Mail Your Forms (if needed)  

Use USPS or FedEx. The mailing address will be provided in your tax pack.

That’s it, you're done.

 

 

 Final Tips from Sprintax & Me

- Don’t use TurboTax if you’re a non-resident. It’s for U.S. citizens and residents.

- Always file something, even if you didn’t earn income.

- Check your forms carefully, especially if you worked multiple on-campus jobs.

- File early. Don’t wait till April 14.

- If you’re not sure, ask. Sprintax has live chat, and I’ve got your back through my newsletter.

 

► One Last Thing: Don’t Panic If You’re Behind

If you’ve messed up a past return, haven’t filed, or feel completely lost, it’s okay.

What matters is what you do next.

Sprintax makes it easy to get back on track.  

And you’ve got time. You just need to start today, not “someday.”