Hi, TurboTax Support Team,
Below is a summary of my situation and the specific questions.
Background:
I was employed as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University at Buffalo (UB), New York State, under the SUNY Research Foundation from December 2020 to January 2024. After leaving the U.S. in January 2024, I moved back to my country. I am currently a faculty member at a university in my country. I have consistently filed my tax returns through 2025 (for the 2024 tax year) using the W-2 provided by UB’s HR department.
Current Financial Status in the U.S. (2025):
Bank Accounts: I still maintain a bank account and a retirement account.
Investments: I do not have any active investments in the U.S.
2025 Income: I earned $1.19 in interest income from my bank account in 2025. There were no distributions or changes to my retirement account.
Others: In late 2025, I received a $200 inflation relief check from the New York State government.
Residency: I have been a non-resident for tax purposes since January 2024. Since then, my only visits to the U.S. have been for short trips (2-3 weeks each) under ESTA.
My Questions:
- Am I required to file a U.S. federal or state tax return in 2026 for the 2025 tax year?
- Since I had no employment income in the U.S. during 2025, I assume no W-2 will be issued. Could you confirm if this is correct, or if I should still contact UB HR for any documentation?
- Does TurboTax offer tax filing services for my specific case?
- Given my non-resident status since early 2024, which tax forms should be used if I am indeed required to file?
Thank you in advance for your help.
