Tax filing when visa status changed from F1 to H1B

[dishantmehta01]

I entered US on Dec 26, 2016 on F1 and my H1B visa was issued on Oct 13, 2021. I have not left the country during this period. I used Sprintax while I was on F1, however, for year 2021, since my visa status changed, Sprintax website has been referring me to Turbotax website. I want to understand how to file the taxes as I was on F1 till Oct 12, 2021 after which H1B period started. 

I did go through some forum questions and got to know about Substantial Presence Test and based on the guidelines set by IRS for SPT, I satisfy all the criteria mentioned there as I never left the country from the date of entry. I wanted to know that since I did not leave US and based on above dates, do I have to file as a US resident for tax purposes ? 

[MinhT1 · Accepted solution]

As a F1 visa holder up to October 2021, you were an exempt individual (and a nonresident alien for the first five years or part-years in the US, i.e, from 2016 to 2020.

In 2021, as you pass the Substantial Presence test, you are a resident alien and can file form 1040 using TurboTax.