International student more than 5 years

[paranhanle]

Hello,

I am currently working through OPT program after I graduated from university in May 2017. So I am now trying to file tax for 2017 (Aug 21-Dec 31). However, I am not sure that I should use either Turbotax or Sprintax.

I first came to the United States in 2007 with starting as Junior year. So I graduated from high school in 2009 and got into a community college. In 2011, I went back to my country and came back in 2015. Since then, I have not left the United States until now.

My total years stayed in the United States is..

Aug. 2007-June 2011 (little less than 4 years)

Aug. 2015-Feb. 2018 (2.5 years)

more than 6 YEARS altogether.

So should I use Turbotax? or Sprintax?

One more thing, my FICA taxes(Social Security and Medical) have been withheld from my salary in 2017. Can I get a full refund for that?

Thank you very much for your help.

[TaxGuyBill · Accepted solution]

You became a "Resident Alien" in 2016, and are still a Resident Alien.

That means you can use TurboTax to file your tax return.

That also means that you are subject to FICA taxes, so you can't get a refund for those.  A possible exception is if you are ALSO paying Social Security taxes on that income to your home country, and that country has a Totalization Agreement with the US.

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/totalization-agreements