12 That's interesting! What country are you from? I'm wondering if this would apply to me too.

23 I'm from India, which has a comprehensive tax treaty with the US. Many countries have specific provisions for students and researchers in their tax treaties. The treaty provisions can sometimes override the general tax rules and provide more favorable treatment. You should definitely check if your country has a tax treaty with the US. If it does, read the specific articles that deal with students, teachers, and researchers. Form 8833 is used to disclose when you're taking a position on your tax return that's based on a tax treaty rather than regular tax law.

10 That's not completely accurate. For F-1 students, the exemption is for 5 calendar years, so days in the US don't count toward the substantial presence test for the first 5 calendar years. After that, F-1 days DO count. But for J-1 visa holders, it's only 2 years.

Wait seriously??? I have Fidelity and had no idea they offered this. How do you access this feature?

That's really helpful! So if I made $80k last year and paid $12k in taxes, as long as I pay $3k per quarter this year ($12k/4), I won't get hit with penalties even if I end up making more? That makes planning so much easier.

Exactly right! For your situation with $80k income and $12k tax last year, paying $3k per quarter will definitely keep you safe from underpayment penalties, even if your income jumps to $100k or more this year. It's one of the few tax rules that actually makes life easier for freelancers and contractors. Just remember if your income does increase dramatically, you'll still owe the additional tax when you file your return - you just won't have the extra penalty on top of it.

Thank you for this suggestion! Does the international student office usually help with determining which tax forms to use? I'm really confused about which specific forms I need beyond the 1040NR.

Yes, most international student offices help identify which forms you need. For F-1 students, that typically includes Form 1040NR, Form 8843, and potentially others depending on your specific situation. Many offices also provide workshops during tax season specifically addressing common concerns like how to handle your 1098-T and scholarship reporting. Some even offer one-on-one sessions with trained volunteers through programs like VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance).

India does have a tax treaty with the US, but it doesn't provide the same education benefits that some other countries get. I learned this the hard way last year.

I had the exact same experience with eBay! Got a 1099-K for 2021 with around $7k in sales but nothing for 2022 with about $8k. I asked their support chat and they just sent me a link to a help article that didn't actually answer the question. Did you figure out what to do? I'm just reporting all income anyway but worried about inconsistencies triggering an audit.

I never got a satisfactory answer from Etsy, but I did some research and found that some states like Massachusetts, Vermont, and a few others had already implemented lower thresholds ($600) before the federal change was proposed. My guess is that either you or I moved states between 2021 and 2022, or the platforms changed how they determine which state's rules apply. I'm doing the same thing - reporting all income regardless of whether I got a form. My accountant confirmed that's the right approach and said inconsistencies in receiving forms shouldn't trigger an audit as long as you're properly reporting all your income.

That's correct. For 2022 tax filing (what you're filing now in 2023), the threshold remained at $20k AND 200 transactions for federal purposes. Some states have lower thresholds, which is why some people might receive a 1099-K even if they don't meet the federal threshold. For 2023 tax year (what you'll file in 2024), the threshold was originally supposed to drop to $600 with no transaction minimum. However, the IRS has actually announced ANOTHER delay for this implementation. So for 2023, the threshold will remain at $20k AND 200 transactions at the federal level. The $600 threshold is now scheduled to take effect for tax year 2024 (filing in 2025), but there's always the possibility of additional delays. Some tax software may not have been updated with the most recent delay announcement.

Do they handle complex returns though? I have rental properties, investments, and self-employment income. TurboTax handles all that pretty well even though it's expensive.

Yes, they handle all those tax situations! I have a rental property and some side gig income, and it worked great for me. The interface isn't quite as polished as TurboTax, but all the same forms and schedules are available. The big difference is they charge one flat fee for the Deluxe version instead of making you pay more for each "type" of income like TurboTax does. So whether you have investments, rental income, or self-employment, it's all included in that same ~$25 price.

Really? I've been using them since 2007 and this is the first time I've ever not been able to access an older return. Maybe they just started enforcing it more strictly? Either way, definitely downloading everything from now on.