I'm an International student, do I need to get a W-2 for the 2016 year so can I use my payslip to help me do taxes?

[DS30]

What is your visa type and how long have you been in the USA?

[tomchesterman1]

I have a F-1 and I have been in the states for 4 years

[DS30 · Accepted solution]

Since you are on a F-1 visa, you will be exempt from the Substantial Presence Test for the first 2 (if non-student) or 5 (if student) calendar years that you are in the US. This means that you are considered a non-resident aliens for US tax purposes.

You will need to file a Form 1040NR to report your US source income. If you are on exempt status, you may not get a W-2 related to your US earnings but a Form 1042. In either case, you should want until you receive your year-end tax documents (W-2 or 1042) before filing your tax return.

TurboTax does not support Form 1040NR. You may want to try https://www.sprintax.com/ which is specifically designed to help international student nonresident aliens with their US tax returns.

Here is a link to the IRS website for Form 1040NR, U.S. Nonresident Alien Income Tax Return

Click this link for more information from the IRS on US Tax Guide for Aliens