How should an international student with residence status to file my taxes?

[BakaTakasugi]

I am a full-time foreign international student studying in the US, but I have stayed in the US for more than 183 days in the last fiscal year, and I must file a US residency tax return. However, I do not have a Social Security Number or an ITIN. What should I do?

[MarilynG1 · Accepted solution]

If you are an international student with an F1 visa, you don't file as a Resident until your sixth year in the US. 

As a F-1 visa holder, you are considered as "exempt" meaning not counting days for five years starting from the date of your first arrival in the United States.  

After the five years period, you will start counting days by using the Substantial Presence Test  to see if you qualify to be treated as a US resident for tax purposes.

You can use Sprintax to file a tax return.

Click this link for Tax Tips for Resident and Non-Resident Aliens. 

[BakaTakasugi]

Unfortunately this is my sixth year in the United States, and I can no longer use Sprintax because of that. What should I do next?

[LinaJ2020]

You will be considered as a US resident for tax purposes.  You can use TurboTax to file.  If you do not have a SS#, you would need to file a Form W-7 to apply for an ITIN.  Here are the steps:

• In the program, as you enter the information, leave the SSN space blank
• After entering all your information, print out returns and required forms ( write APPLIED in the dependent's space) 
• As TurboTax does not support the Form W-7, fill out the forms by following
•  https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/General-ITIN-Information and attach to other required  documentation
• Submit both the Form W-7 and your tax forms to IRS Austin location in Texas.  ( see Form W-7 instructions)

You won't be able to e-file.  Instead, you have to paper-file.

@BakaTakasugi