I am an international student and mistakenly filed my tax return using Turbo Tax and received a refund . What should I do now?

[vk4534]

I am an international student and mistakenly filed my tax return using Turbo Tax and received a return . What should I do now?

[rjs]

If you filed Form 1040 and you should have filed Form 1040-NR instead, you have to file an amended return, Form 1040-X, with the correct Form 1040-NR attached. You cannot do this with TurboTax. Download Form 1040-X and its instructions from the following links on the IRS web site. You can easily complete the Form 1040-X by hand.

Form 1040-X

Instructions for Form 1040-X

Here is what the IRS instructions for Form 1040-X say to do if you filed Form 1040 and you should have filed Form 1040-NR instead.

• Enter your name, current address, and social security number (SSN) or individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) on the front of Form 1040-X.

• Don't enter any other information on page 1. Also, don't complete Parts I or II on page 2 of Form 1040-X.

• Enter in Part III the reason why you are filing Form 1040-X.

• Complete a new Form 1040-NR return (see below).

• Across the top of the new return, write "Amended."

• Attach the new Form 1040-NR return to the back of Form 1040-X.

Since you are a student, you should be able to use Sprintax to prepare your Form 1040-NR return. TurboTax has a partnership with Sprintax to prepare a 1040-NR federal tax return and corresponding state tax return for certain categories of nonresident aliens. Go to the following link for details and to get started.

Sprintax

Your amended return cannot be e-filed. You have to print it and file it by mail. It normally takes the IRS up to 16 weeks to process an amended return. However, the IRS is currently severely backlogged, so it will take much longer than usual for your amended return to be processed.

[vk4534]

@rjs Thanks for the answer. Just to follow up. I got my refund via direct deposit. Should I return my refund as well along with the amended return? Appreciate your help and immediate reply.

[rjs]

No, don't return your refund. If your 1040-NR shows a smaller refund that what you received, pay the difference with the amended return. If your 1040-NR shows a larger refund, the IRS should send you the additional refund.