Amend 2019 tax returns

[ajay0705]

Hi,

In 2019 my status had changed from F1 to H1B in October. I filed my tax return using Turbotax but I guess I filed it as a resident and received less amount as tax return. I wanted to amend my tax return for that year. What would be the process to do that?

Thank you,

Ajay

[LoganathanB]

Yes, you can file an amended return for 2019. The refund will not be less if you filed as a resident. 

It will be less if you filed as a nonresident as standard deduction is not available for nonresidents  except for students from India who is eligible for the standard deduction.

Click on the link for more information

Amendment

[ajay0705]

Oh sorry I guess I got confused. So from January to October I was a student on F1 visa. That would mean that I'm exempt from paying taxes for those months right?

[LoganathanB]

Unfortunately no, you are not exempt from federal income tax when you are on F1 student visa.

You are exempt from paying social security and medicare taxes when you are on F1 visa.

[ajay0705]

Oh so would that mean I get back the medicare and social security amount in my tax returns and no portion of the amount in Box 2?

[LoganathanB]

You are eligible to get back Social security and medicare taxes if it was taken out of your salary when you were F1 visa.

Please check your W2 boxes 4 and 6 when you were on an F1 visa. 

If the employer has by mistake withheld social security and medicare taxes when you were on an F1 visa then

1. Ask your employer to refund the erroneously withheld FICA taxes and if a W-2 was already issued, to give you a corrected Form W-2c for that year.
2. If your employer refuses to refund the taxes, you can file Form 843  and the IRS will refund the money to you.

[ajay0705]

Oh okay. Then it makes sense. I got back around the same amount as the social security and medicare tax in returns. Thank you for your help.

[LoganathanB]

Thank you