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Tax Filing Season

Tax Filing Season 2025

2025 OVIS U.S. Taxation for Foreign Nationals Session - Tuesday, February 11 @ 12:00pm EST 

Location: Cook Auditorium at Tuck School (Tuck School map)

This workshop was conducted by Arthur Kerr, international tax attorney with the firm of Vacovec, Mayotte & Singer, LLP, in Newton, Massachusetts. 

The workshop recording is available at "Tax Workshop 2024". (authentication required)

Sprintax nonresident tax preparation software

OVIS partners with Sprintax to offer nonresident tax preparation software for international students and scholars. If you are eligible to receive one or both of Forms W-2 and 1042-S, you will need them to prepare your tax statement. Information about Form 1042-S can be found on the Payroll Office's website.

Information about tax treaty eligibility can also be found on the Payroll Office's website.  The Payroll Office uses the Sprintax Calculus tax treaty benefit eligibility software. This is a separate Sprintax product from the Sprintax nonresident tax preparation software provided by OVIS.  Questions about tax treaty eligibility should be directed to Payroll.

Sprintax Nonresident Tax Webinar Schedule (General sessions suitable for majority of visa types) - Sprintax is offering free webinars to help students and scholars prepare for tax season. 

Sprintax Nonresident Tax Overview for OPT/CPT (E)

Who must file tax forms for 2025 tax season (filing in April, 2025)?

Even if you did not earn any income, if you were physically in the U.S. in F or J status anytime between January 1st to December 31st, 2024, you are obligated to file a Form 8843 with the IRS.

Meanwhile, if you earned any taxable US source income, you may need to file a federal tax return with the IRS. Depending on your individual circumstances, you may also need to file a state tax return(s).

Tax Filing Deadline:

The deadline to file federal tax returns for the 2025 tax year for residents and nonresidents who earned U.S. income is  April 15, 2025. 

Who is considered Resident or Nonresident for Federal Tax Purposes:

Generally, most international students and scholars who hold F or J status are considered nonresidents for tax purposes. International undergraduate students on J-1 and F-1 visas are automatically considered nonresident for their first five calendar years in the U.S., while J-1 Exchange Visitors in J-1 status are considered nonresidents for two out of the last six calendar years in the U.S. If you've been in the U.S. for longer than the five or two year periods, the Substantial Presence Test will determine your tax residency.

How to File:

We have teamed up with Sprintax to provide you with an easy-to-use tax preparation software designed for nonresident students and scholars in the U.S. OVIS staff are not qualified to provide individual tax advice.

If you are eligible to receive one or both of Forms W-2 and 1042-S, you will need them to prepare your tax statement. After you log in to Sprintax, you will be asked a series of questions about the time you have spent in the U.S. over recent years. Sprintax will then determine your tax status. If it determines that you are a "nonresident alien" (NRA) for federal tax purposes, you can continue to use the software and respond to a series of guided questions. Sprintax will then complete and generate the tax forms you need to send to the tax authorities.

However, if Sprintax determines that you are a resident alien for federal tax purposes, you won't be able to continue using the software.

Step by Step guide on How to File Your Nonresident Tax Forms (F and J)

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Sprintax timeline 2022
  1. Gather the documents you may need for Sprintax
 

Document

Description

✔

Passport

  

✔

Visa/Immigration information, including Form I-20 (F status) or Form DS-2019 (J status)

  

✔

Social Security or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (if you have one)

This is not needed if you had no income and the 8843 is the only form you have to file.

✔*

W-2

This form reports your wage earnings if you worked. If you had more than one employer you should get a W-2 from each employer. It is issued by the end of January for the previous year. Make sure all employers from last year have an up-to-date address for you.

✔*

1042-S

This form is used to report:

  1. stipend, scholarship, fellowship income and travel grants (not tuition reduction or exemption)
  2. income covered by a tax treaty
  3. payment for other types of services (eg by the semester as a note-taker)

If you received this type of income, the 1042-S will be mailed to you by the payer.  For Dartmouth, Dartmouth Payroll issues the Form 1042-S.

Note: Only Nonresident Aliens receive this form. If your tax status changes to a Resident Alien you will not get a 1042-S. Login to Sprintax to check your tax status if you're not sure.

✔

US entry and exit dates for current and past visits to the US

In addition to passport stamps, you can review or print your U.S. travel history here

✔*

1099

This form reports miscellaneous income. This can be interest on bank accounts, stocks, bonds, dividends, earning through freelance employment

✘

1098-T

This form is NOT needed and cannot be used for a nonresident tax return because NRAs are not eligible to claim education expense tax credits.
  1. Create a Sprintax Account:

You will receive an email from OVIS providing you with a link to Sprintax to set up your account as well as your unique code to use on Sprintax. This unique code will cover the costs of the federal tax return and 8843 at no cost to you. Open your new Sprintax account by creating a UserID and password or if you have an existing account on Sprintax you can login using your existing credentials.

  1. Follow the Sprintax instructions

If you did not earn any U.S. Income: Sprintax will generate a completed Form 8843 for you and each of your dependents (if you have any).

If you did earn U.S. Income: Sprintax will generate your "tax return documents", including either a 1040NR-EZ or a longer form 1040NR, depending on your circumstances.

  1. If required, complete your state tax return

After you finish your federal return, Sprintax will inform you if you need to complete a state tax return. If so, you will have the option to use Sprintax for an additional fee. However, it is your choice to use Sprintax or to do the state tax return on your own.

  1. Read the instructions for filing/mailing your returns

Remember to read the instructions that Sprintax provides.

You will be required to download, print and sign your federal tax return and mail it  to the IRS. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to E-file your Federal tax return. However, this will depend on certain eligibility criteria. You can learn more about eligibility in this Sprintax blog - https://blog.sprintax.com/nonresident-federal-tax-efiling-live/. If you have a state filing requirement, you must also mail this to the tax authorities.

Finally, if you only need to file Form 8843, this will also need to be mailed to the IRS.

Need Sprintax Support?

If you need help while using Sprintax, you can contact their support team using the options below

Email - hello@sprintax.com

24/7 Live Chat Help

Refer to their FAQs

Sprintax Educational Tax Videos and Blog:

You also have access to the Sprintax YouTube account where there are a number of educational videos on nonresident taxes. These will provide further clarity on nonresident tax and how to use Sprintax. Sprintax also offer a range of useful content on their blog to help you file your return.

DISCLAIMER: OVIS is not permitted to assist any student/scholar with any IRS tax form preparation or tax-related questions. The information provided is intended for your benefit. Any questions or concerns should be directed to Sprintax, a certified tax preparer or a local IRS field office.