Dual Status return

[tamrim]

Hi!

I moved from F-1 OPT to H-1B in March, 2019. I started on F-1 in August, 2014. My understanding is that I am a non-resident alien between January and March, 2019 and resident alien after that. If I file dual status return, I cannot claim standard deductions, but FICA taxes will not be applied to January-March period. Having read several other posts on this website, it looks like I could file as a resident alien for the entire period. If I do this, would I be able to claim the standard deductions? And, where in the process do FICA taxes enter - I do not see this field applied anywhere in the Turbotax software as far as I can tell. How would I pay this?

Thank you!

[KarenJ2 · Accepted solution]

You were exempt from counting US days for 5 years or part years.  So your years of exemption were 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.  You start counting US days for the Substantial Presence Test on January 1, 2019.   So you are a full year resident and can file your return in TurboTax and claim the standard deduction.

FICA taxes are separate from your income tax and have no affect on your income taxes.

Alien Residency Examples