As long as you have a valid Social Security Number or ITIN, you can file a tax return. There's not other legal requirement for you to file a tax return.
Form 1042 is used by withholding agents to report tax withheld on certain income payments to foreign persons, including international students who may receive U.S. source income subject to withholding.
International students themselves usually file Form 1040-NR, not Form 1042, to report their U.S. income and claim tax treaty benefits if eligible.
As an international student filing your tax return, you typically use TurboTax's non-resident alien edition or file Form 1040-NR separately outside TurboTax, since TurboTax standard versions mainly support resident returns.
If you received Form 1042-S showing income and withholding, you would report that on Form 1040-NR.
In TurboTax, income reported on Form 1042-S for international students is generally entered as "Other Income." This is because Form 1042-S often reports U.S. source income subject to withholding for foreign persons.
To enter Form 1042-S income:
1. Go to the Federal Taxes section.
2. Select Wages & Income.
3. Scroll down to Less Common Income.
4. Find and select Start or Revisit next to Miscellaneous Income, 1099-A, 1099-C or Other income not already reported on a W-2 or 1099.
5. When asked, specify the source of other earned income. Enter details matching your Form 1042-S.
This method lets you report income and withholding from Form 1042-S accurately in TurboTax as an international student.
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