Is that true for all visa types though? I thought F-1 students always have to file even if they have no income, just to submit the 8843 form?

You're absolutely right about the 8843 form. I should have been more specific in my comment. All F-1 students must file Form 8843 regardless of whether they earned any income. This is just an informational form that establishes your status as a nonresident alien for tax purposes. However, if your only income was reported on a 1042-S with the correct treaty withholding (Box 7 marked), you might not need to file an actual tax return (1040NR) in addition to the 8843. But the 8843 is still required every year you're in the US on a student visa.

I've used both! Sprintax is more comprehensive and handles more complex situations better, especially if you have income from multiple states or need to file state returns. GlacierTax is simpler but doesn't handle some of the more unusual situations. For 1042-S forms specifically, I found Sprintax did a better job explaining what to do with them and which parts were taxable vs. non-taxable. But both will generate the final forms you need to mail in.

Thanks for sharing your experience! I think I'll go with Sprintax then since I do have income from two different states (had an internship in a different state last summer). Good to know it handles the 1042-S forms well - that's been the most confusing part for me.

Thanks for that breakdown! My friend definitely meets all those requirements. They're 28, made about $12k, have valid SSN, are a citizen, and have zero investment income. They aren't claimed as a dependent either. Do you know approximately how much EITC they might qualify for with that income level? Just trying to see if it's worth the effort for them to amend.

With an income of around $12k and no qualifying children, your friend would likely qualify for an EITC of approximately $500-600 for tax year 2024 (filing in 2025). The exact amount depends on their precise income and filing status. This is absolutely worth amending for! The amendment process isn't extremely difficult, and getting several hundred dollars back for filling out a form is a pretty good return on your time. Plus, if they qualify this year, they should make sure to claim it in future years too.

Did you file the amended return yourself or use tax software? I'm trying to figure out the easiest way to help my mom with a similar issue from last year.

1 That's a great idea! I just searched my email and found a confirmation from when I first set it up. It shows the last four digits of the account (ended in 4832). Now I know it's coming out of my checking account, not my savings. Thanks for the suggestion - such a simple solution I hadn't thought of!

2 I did this for my own 1099 payments and it worked perfectly. Just had to log into both bank accounts online and search for "TurboTax" in the transaction history.

Do you know if they also handle things like the Earned Income Credit automatically? I never know if I qualify for that one and am always afraid of missing it.

Yes, all Free File software options will check if you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit automatically. They'll ask questions about your income, filing status, and dependents, then determine eligibility based on your answers. The software does the calculations for you - that's true for both expensive paid versions and Free File options. The EITC has specific income thresholds that change yearly, and the software stays updated with current limits. Just make sure you accurately enter information about your dependents including their SSNs, relationship to you, and how long they lived with you during the tax year, as this impacts both the childcare credit and EITC calculations.

VITA is awesome! I volunteered with them for two tax seasons. Just be aware they book up FAST so you need to make appointments early, usually starting in February. Also, some locations have limited capacity for handling certain tax situations, though W-2s and child care credits are definitely within their scope.

Thanks for this info! Is there any chance I could get in trouble just for consulting with this preparer, even though I haven't filed with them yet? I didn't sign anything but I'm freaked out that my name might be associated with them now.

You're completely fine if you haven't signed or filed anything with them. Just consulting with a preparer doesn't create any liability for you. You only become responsible once you sign the return (either physically or by authorizing e-filing). I'd recommend keeping a record of your interaction with this preparer though - save any emails or documents they gave you, just in case you need them later. And definitely file that Form 14157 to report them. You're probably not the only person they're trying to scam, and many people don't realize it's fraud until the IRS comes after them years later.

How much were the penalties? I'm just curious how bad it gets if something like this happens accidentally.