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
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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
File my taxes

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
File my taxes Check tax treaty benefit

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
File my taxes Check tax treaty benefit