topic How do I file taxes as non-working International Student in Deductions & credits

How do I file taxes as non-working International Student

aymen-m-taleb-gm — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:59:02 GMT

Re: How do I file taxes as non-working International Student

Anonymous_ — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 01:46:32 GMT

Perhaps @pk can help you out.

Re: How do I file taxes as non-working International Student

Critter-3 — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 16:25:49 GMT

If you have no INCOME you have no need to file an INCOME tax return ... so why do you think you need to file one ?

Re: How do I file taxes as non-working International Student

xmasbaby0 — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 17:22:31 GMT

Do you have some other income that you think you need to enter on a tax return? And....are you a non-resident alien? (....internatioal student...") If so, you cannot use TurboTax.

NON RESIDENT ALIEN

If you are a non-resident alien, your return must be filed on Form 1040NR, which cannot be prepared using TurboTax. You can use TT’s partner, sprintax:

https://www.sprintax.com/non-resident-alien-tax-1040nr-turbotax.html

Re: How do I file taxes as non-working International Student

pk — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 23:01:41 GMT

@aymen-m-taleb-gm , having gone through your post and the responses of my colleagues @xmasbaby0 and @Critter-3 , my questions are as follows :

(a) which country are you from / citizenship ?

(b) when did you enter the USA and with what visa ?
(c) did you receive any scholarship / grant / etc/ from USA or from any foreign entity?

(d) are you single / married ( and if married , then to whom -- US citizen / Resident / or ? )

(e) why do you think you have file a US return ( because you are a resident for tax purposes or ? )?

(f) do you have a tax-id ( SSN / ITIN ? ) ?

Once I hear from you I will circle back and help.

Re: How do I file taxes as non-working International Student

aymen-m-taleb-gm — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 18:30:55 GMT

Hi.

Im from Algeria

I entered the US on July 20th . On a F1 visa

I Did not receive any scholarship or whatsover

Im Single never married

I dont have any tax id or ssn

I read that i need to file even if i made nothing and i wanted to clarify that .

Re: How do I file taxes as non-working International Student

MayaD — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 18:59:33 GMT

You don't need to file a US tax return if you don't have any US income source.

However, you need to file Form 8843 to explain the basis of your claim that you can exclude days present in the United States for purposes of the substantial presence test because you:

Were an exempt individual.
Were unable to leave the United States because of a medical condition or medical problem.

Foreign Students, Scholars, Teachers, Researchers and Exchange Visitors

Re: How do I file taxes as non-working International Student

pk — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 00:32:08 GMT

@aymen-m-taleb-gm , having read through your response to my questions and the comments thereto by @MayaD , and generally agreeing with, just wanted to add that

1. As a Non-Resident Alien, you are taxed ONLY on US sourced income

2. Non-Resident Aliens use form 1040-NR which is not supported by Turbo Tax ( SprinTax is their partner in this or your school may have facilities for this )

3. You still need a Tax ID -- TIN ( SSN or ITIN ) to file.

My question in all this is -- why or whom told you that you have to file a return if as a Non-Resident Alien and with zero US sourced income. ?

However, as @MayaD , pointed out , even with zero income and having no requirement to file a 1040-NR, you are still required to file form 8843 ( just download this from www.irs.gov ), fill it out by hand and mail it in shown in the instructions for the form -- here is the info from IRS--->https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8843.pdf

Is there more I can do for you ?