Does Sprintax handle regular 1040 filing too? I'm actually a resident for tax purposes this year (passed the substantial presence test), so I need to file a regular 1040, not a 1040NR. That's why I was trying to use TurboTax.

Yes, Sprintax can handle your transition from nonresident to resident status. They have a feature specifically for people who were nonresidents in previous years but are now residents. It's called Sprintax Federal and can prepare regular 1040 returns. They're particularly good at dealing with the complications that come with that transition, like handling income from before and after your status change, properly reporting state tax refunds from nonresident years, and applying the correct treaty benefits if you're still eligible for any. Their system is designed to understand international tax situations even after you become a resident.

No, the standard deduction for nonresidents on 1040NR is not the same as itemized deductions. As a nonresident on F-1 last year, you were only eligible for a limited standard deduction (around $12,950 for 2023 if you were single). If you took the standard deduction (which most students do), then your state tax refund is NOT taxable this year. State refunds are only taxable if you itemized AND claimed state taxes as part of those itemizations in the previous year.

Oh that makes sense! I definitely took the standard deduction then because I remember the software recommending it since I didn't have enough deductions to itemize. So I can just put $0 for the taxable portion of my state refund?

16 Do you know if H&R Block offers the same feature? That's what I've been using for years and would prefer to stick with it if possible.

21 Yes, H&R Block does offer 1099 filing capabilities in their small business versions. You'd need their Premium & Business or Business & Investment packages to access those features. However, if you're only filing one 1099, it might be more cost-effective to use one of the standalone services others have mentioned, since the upgrade cost for H&R Block might be higher than just paying for a single 1099 form processing. The benefit of using your existing tax software is everything stays in one system, which makes record-keeping easier for future years.

1 Thanks for this reminder! I completely forgot about that aspect. Would this go under "Contract labor" on the Schedule C, or should I list it somewhere else? I've never had this expense before.

Thank you so much! This is exactly what I needed to know. I'll go back and look for that option. Do you remember if it asks for any specific information about the foreign contractor?

It will ask for their name and I believe their country, but not much else. You won't need their tax ID number or anything like that. Just make sure you have good records of the payments in case of an audit - invoice, proof of payment, contract, etc. The key is documenting that the work was legitimate and for your business.

Actually, it depends on the tax treaty status with the specific country. Some countries require withholding regardless of where the work is performed. India (where OP's contractor is located) has specific provisions in its tax treaty with the US.

Can you really claim those deductions without receipts though? I worked construction under the table last year and literally have zero documentation for any of my expenses.

You can estimate reasonable expenses even without perfect documentation, but you should have some supporting evidence if possible. For example, with mileage, start a log now documenting your typical work travel patterns, then use that to reasonably estimate your past travel. For tools, take photos of what you own and research purchase prices online. The IRS does allow for reasonable reconstruction of records that were lost or never kept. Just be honest and realistic - don't claim $10,000 in tool expenses for a $26,000 job. And definitely start keeping better records going forward! Even a simple notes app on your phone where you take pictures of receipts is better than nothing.

I used TurboTax to amend a return with unreported income last year. It was pretty straightforward for the basics but I found it didn't give great guidance on what documentation I should keep or how to explain the situation in the amendment. For only $9k it might be fine, but if you can afford a CPA consultation, even just a one-hour session, they might catch deductions you'd miss and give you better peace of mind.

Actually that's not entirely accurate. You can be claimed as a dependent until you're 19, or up to 24 if you're a full-time student, as long as you don't provide more than half of your own support. So depending on the OP's situation, they could potentially be claimed for several more years.