Using Sprintax to Prepare Tax Returns for International Students and Scholars

Sprintax is a Web-based tax preparation system designed primarily for nonresident alien students and scholars to aid in preparing their 2023 Federal and State income tax returns and Form 8843

This is required even if you have no U.S. income

You are a nonresident alien for tax purposes if the following applies to you :

• Student (J-1/F-1) who arrived in 2019 or later
• Non-Student (J-1) who arrived in 2022 or later
• H1-B visitor here less than 183 days in 2023

If you are a nonresident alien you can get the access code by using your UBITName and password.

You can use Sprintax Tax Preparation software to help you file both your federal and state income tax returns and Form 8843

• Federal Tax: The federal return will be free with the access code that you fill in at the end of your Sprintax session, this includes Form 8843 if you have no income.
• State Tax: There will be a small fee for the NY state return that you will pay prior to completing the state form. If you worked or lived in another state, you may need to file a return in that state also. 

1.      Use your UBITName and password to request the access code for Sprintax.

2.      Create a Sprintax  account.

3.      Gather applicable tax documents that should be sent to you by mail which may include:
            ° Form W-2
            ° Form 1042-S (Mailed out in the middle of March)
            ° Form 1099-T

• If you had no income you will not receive any of the above            

4.      Gather your visa/immigration status documents:
            ° Passport
            ° Arrival/Departure History (www.cbp.gov/I-94)
            ° I-20 or DS 2019
            ° EAD card or I-797 Approval Notices if applicable

5.      Have a copy of last year’s tax return if available.

6.      Plan on spending up to 60 minutes to complete your Federal tax return on Sprintax.

7.       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.8.  You should keep copies of all forms you submit.