How to do taxes for people on J1 visa

[Retinamark]

Hi, I would really appreciate some advice. I tried to do my taxes at irs.gov and got 20 minutes into H&R Block's online free tax return when they say that this does not cover form 1040NR and that it will cost $250 to complete my return. 😱
How do other people on J1 visas do their taxes?
Thanks very much

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Kusho]

Hi, I would really appreciate some advice. I tried to do my taxes at irs.gov and got 20 minutes into H&R Block's online free tax return when they say that this does not cover form 1040NR and that it will cost $250 to complete my return. 😱
How do other people on J1 visas do their taxes?
Thanks very much

first year we did it in chicago for 100 $ at H&R Block Office, second year it was a small town -400$ at H&R Block Premium Office, other years you can file as US resident and take advantage of general deductions. Hope it helps.

 

[hemoglobin]

Hi, I would really appreciate some advice. I tried to do my taxes at irs.gov and got 20 minutes into H&R Block's online free tax return when they say that this does not cover form 1040NR and that it will cost $250 to complete my return. 😱
How do other people on J1 visas do their taxes?
Thanks very much

I just did my taxes on H&R block last week (I'm in Rochester, MN), and paid 120 dollars or so. I had a coupon that my fiancee found online and that gave me a 25 dollar discount. I was glad I had it done as I have absolutely no clue on how to do them on my own!!!

You can find the coupon here:
http://www.hrblock.com/taxes/onlineretail2005.html?retailCoupon=59426&WT.mc_id=59426

Hope this helps!

Hb

 

[deschutes]

I used Turbotax Online (www.turbotax.com) - paid $20 last week inclusive of both federal and state filing. (Yeah you have to file state taxes - didn't know that until the beginning of this month.)

And I got my state tax refund already!

 

[Retinamark]

I used Turbotax Online (www.turbotax.com) - paid $20 last week inclusive of both federal and state filing. (Yeah you have to file state taxes - didn't know that until the beginning of this month.)

And I got my state tax refund already!

Thanks. I tried Turbotax online & they told me it doesn't include the 1040NR form for non-residents. From what I have read, people in their first year in the US on a J1 visa, need to do the 1040NR form, not the standard 1040.

This is all so confusing! Thanks for your help

 

[f_w]

J1 visa or not, the first year you have to file the NR form (which makes you ineligible for the general deduction). If you file as a resident, you are most likely going to get away with it, but if they ever audited you it could get expensive.

I did it on the H+R Block online site ($35), back then it allowed filing the NR return.

Be sure to file, in your first year you are probably going to get a good amount back (also, its the law).

 

[Retinamark]

Thanks for that. 👍
I would really prefer to do it online if I could. Anyone know a website that lets you file the non-resident 1040NR form online?
thanks

 

[f_w]

http://www.hrblock.com/

Check out the 'Tax cut online premium' feature. It claims to support 'all federal forms'. This is what I used when I moved to this country and back then it allowed the NR return.

By the way. Many states have websites run by the tax department where you can file your state return electronically for free. It might not apply for a 'partial year' or nonresident return, but I found it most useful in the past (as long as you don't own property, tax returns tend to be pretty straightforward).

 

[inositide]

Why give your money away to HR Block or TurboTax or anyone else?

You folks are definitely all bright enough to file your own taxes. Just go to the irs website and download and print the appropriate forms and instruction booklet. Then even if you have to fill out by hand, it's not a big deal. Just grab a calculator and knock it out in a few hours or less. All you need is your W2 and whatever other documents apply to you. Then just mail it in.

$20 to file it online at least seems reasonable. But $400 or $120 or $200, that's ridiculous for people who have simple uncomplicated taxes to fill out.

 

[markcohen]

Hello

I am a J1 physician from Germany, with a wife on J2 and a girl.

We had to apply for ITIN and claim tax treaty etc.

After a lot of search, based on friend's advise, we went to VisaTaxes www.VisaTaxes.com

They also have a J1 specific tax forum at

http://forum.visataxes.com

They seem to be experts in visa specific tax laws. I tried a local tax shop they did not know what visa, non resident etc meant.

Hope this helps!