topic F1 Student from Canada, but US resident for tax purposes in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

F1 Student from Canada, but US resident for tax purposes

fmaro — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 16:23:45 GMT

Using Sprintax, I became aware that I am considered a US Resident for Tax purposes. How would I go about filing a tax return from scholarships refunds?

Thanks

Re: F1 Student from Canada, but US resident for tax purposes

LinaJ2020 — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 18:18:42 GMT

When did you enter the US with the F-1 visa?

As an F-1 visa holder, if you have not stayed within the US for five years by the end of 2019, you will be considered as a nonresident. You would not be able to file with the TurboTax program. Instead, you would need to use Sprintax.

If you are a non-resident, you will not be able to claim any of the education tax benefits. Please come back with more information to verify.

Re: F1 Student from Canada, but US resident for tax purposes

fmaro — Fri, 07 Feb 2020 03:32:34 GMT

After I put in all the dates for which I was in the US since 2016, Sprintax determined that by adding up all the days I was present in the US for this tax year, plus 1/3 of the preceding year, plus 1/6 of the second preceding year, I was above 183 days, which makes me a US resident for tax purposes. They even took my F1 visa in consideration.

What would be the solution?

Re: F1 Student from Canada, but US resident for tax purposes

KarenJ2 — Sun, 09 Feb 2020 20:11:31 GMT

If you are on an F1 visa and have been in the US less than 5 years or part years, you would be a nonresident. Were you previously in the US on an F1 visa?

If you arrived in the US in 2016 on an F1 visa, your exempt years would be for 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. I'm not sure how Sprintax calculated your US days on an F1 visa.

However, if you are considered a US tax resident for 2019, you can file using TurboTax.

Please see below for information on:

Why is my scholarship taxable?

If you use your scholarship to pay for any of these, it counts as income and the amount paid is taxable:

Room and board
Travel and incidental expenses
Any fees, books, and supplies or equipment that aren't required for your courses

If you're getting a degree at an eligible school, your scholarship is tax-free when used for:

Tuition and fees
Fees, books, supplies or equipment required for your courses
Any scholarship or fellowship for services received under the National Health Services Corps Scholarship Program or the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship and Financial Assistance Program

For example, if you used your scholarship to pay for tuition and room and board, you would be taxed on the room and board payment but not on tuition.

Where do I enter a scholarship, fellowship, grant, or other financial aid I received?