I am an international graduate student and my university dint send me 1098T form. I said no for whether u received 1098T and will file tax. So will I get the benefit?

[rrrohan1]

I have paid 30,000$ fees in 2016 and my university didn't send me 1098T form. I am filing tax through turbo tax and in the section did you receive 1098T form, I have answered NO and will file the tax. For this I have received 1000$ benefit under my federal tax section. So will I receive that benefit without taking the 1098T form? As the deadline is over to receive 1098T, is there any other way to get that benefit?

[LinaJ2018]

As a F-1 visa student, when did you first enter US ?

[rrrohan1]

September 9th 2015. I dint work in 2015. I started working with SSN from January 2016.

[LinaJ2018]

See answer below.

[rrrohan1]

Thankyou very much for your detailed answer.

[LinaJ2018 · Accepted solution]

You are considered as a nonresident for the tax year of 2016 and will not qualify for any educational credits or deduction, unfortunately.  And that's why your school did not issue a Form 1098-T.   As TurboTax does not support the Form 1040-NR, you are advised to use our partner, Sprintax to complete your filing.

Here is why: 

As a F-1 visa holder, you are considered as "exempt" meaning not counting days for five years starting from the date of your first arrival in the United States.  After the five years period, you will start counting days by using the Substantial Presence Test  to see if you qualify to be treated as a US resident for tax purposes.

In your situation, you are considered as a nonresident from 2015-2019 filing a Form 1040-NR.  Starting from 01/01/2020, you will start counting your days.  If you meet the Substantial Presence Test in 2020, you will be considered a US resident for tax purposes and file a Form 1040 for your tax year of 2020.

For more examples, see :https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/alien-residency-examples

[sophiecoy13]

I have a similar situation to this, although I have been here since August 2012, so I meet the substantial presence test. My school told me they don't file for international students.