If you claim treaty benefits that override or modify any provision of the Internal Revenue Code, and by claiming these benefits your tax is, or might be, reduced, you must attach a fully completed Form 8833, Treaty-Based Return Position Disclosure Under Section 6114 or 7701(b), to your tax return.
If you are on a J-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. 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.
Alien students, trainees, teachers, and researchers who perform dependent personal services (as employees) can also use Form 8233 to claim exemption from withholding of tax on compensation for services that is exempt from U.S. tax under a U.S. tax treaty.
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
