MICA International Taxation Resources

All international students, faculty, and staff holding F-1 or J-1 immigration status are required to complete the appropriate nonresident tax forms for each year they are physically present in the United States.

Because U.S. tax compliance requirements apply to the previous calendar year, individuals who have concluded their stay in the United States and returned to their home country are still obligated to file the necessary U.S. tax forms for the final year during which they were present in the United States.

Tax Season

The time to complete your tax forms is from February to mid-April each year. US tax compliance always refers back to the previous year. So, for 2026, the tax season begins in February and ends around mid April and covers the year January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025. The tax filing deadline is April 15, 2026.

Sprintax Tax Software

On behalf of MICA, the Office of International Education has teamed with the company Sprintax to provide MICA’s F-1 and J-1 international students (including those on OPT and STEM OPT), as well as J-1 international faculty and staff access to software to complete their tax requirements.

Sprintax discount code and guide was in the February International Student Newsletter to all currently enrolled international students. Please double check you MICA email for the newsletter, if you did not received the newsletter, please email internationaleducation@mica.edu.

When Am I No Longer a Nonresident for Tax Purposes?

When Am I No Longer a Nonresident for Tax Purposes?

Please be aware that F-1 and J-1 students are nonresidents for the first 5 years they are in the US in F-1 or J-1 status. J-1 professors or researchers are nonresidents for the first 2 years they are in the US. H-1B and O-1 workers are nonresidents only for the first 183 days they are in the H-1B or O-1 status. If you are in F-1 or J-1 status and have been in the US long enough to become a RESIDENT for tax purposes, you will no longer use the tax forms for nonresidents (IRS form 1040NR, form 8843, etc.). You would then need to complete the tax forms for US residents, such as the IRS form 1040. Also, you would no longer be eligible to use the Sprintax software. Below are some links from the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website to further explain when international students or scholars are nonresidents or residents for tax purposes:

For Students who are exempt individuals

For Teachers and Trainees who are exempt individuals

Tax residency status examples

More Complicated Tax Issues

Please understand that none of the advisors in the Office of International
Education are tax specialists. Therefore, if you feel you have a complicated tax situation and need to talk to a tax professional, please talk to an OIE advisor for a recommendation.

International Taxation Resources

In this Section

How to file a U.S. tax return

When Am I No Longer a Nonresident for Tax Purposes?

Sprintax Nonresident Tax Webinars

Sprintax Webinars

More Complicated Tax Issues

Sprintax Resources

Contact us.

Office of International Education

Location

Contact

Social Navigation

Search for anything and everything at MICA: