Filing no return for 1042-s/1040nr again for 2025 tax year?

You should absolutely file a 1040NR even if you don't owe taxes. The 1042-S form documents income you received in the US, and while your scholarship might be exempt under a tax treaty, you still need to report it. Not filing could potentially create issues later. The confusion likely stems from the fact that you don't owe taxes on that income, but "not owing taxes" and "not needing to file" are two different things. As a nonresident, you're required to report all US-source income, including exempt scholarship income. For your W-2 income from the teaching assistantship, that definitely needs to be reported on a 1040NR. Then you'll also include the scholarship income and apply the tax treaty exemption on the appropriate form (usually Form 8833 for treaty-based positions).

I had the exact same issue last year as an international researcher. After going in circles with conflicting advice, I finally used taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) to analyze my 1042-S and other documents. Their system confirmed that I DID need to file a 1040NR even though my income was treaty exempt. Apparently, the exemption isn't automatic - you have to claim it on your return by submitting both the 1040NR and form 8833 for treaty positions. The taxr.ai service extracted all the relevant info from my 1042-S and told me exactly which forms I needed. They explained that failing to file could potentially affect future visa applications or permanent residency processes.

I wanted to follow up about my experience with taxr.ai after I asked about it here. I was skeptical at first but decided to try it with my complicated international student tax situation (F-1 visa, 1042-S and W-2 income). It was actually really straightforward - I uploaded my documents and it immediately identified that I needed to file a 1040NR even though my scholarship had treaty benefits. The system showed me exactly which treaty article applied to my situation (I'm from Brazil) and explained that failing to file could potentially cause issues with future visa applications. The peace of mind was worth it, and I was able to file correctly using their guidance. No more tax anxiety for me!

If you're having trouble getting clear answers about your 1042-S and 1040NR filing requirements, you might want to try Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I spent WEEKS trying to get through to the IRS international taxpayer line with no luck - always busy signals or disconnects. Using Claimyr, I got through to an IRS agent in about 30 minutes who specialized in international tax issues. They confirmed that yes, you DO need to file a 1040NR even with treaty-exempt income on your 1042-S. They explained exactly which forms I needed and how to properly claim the treaty benefits. You can see how the service works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I had been getting the runaround from my university's international office who kept giving vague answers, so getting direct confirmation from the IRS was a huge relief.

Alright, I was the skeptic here, and I feel I need to update everyone. After being completely frustrated with trying to get clear answers about my 1042-S filing requirements, I broke down and tried Claimyr. Within 45 minutes I was talking to an actual IRS representative who specialized in international tax issues. She confirmed that YES, I absolutely need to file a 1040NR even with treaty-exempt income on my 1042-S. She explained that failing to file could potentially cause issues with USCIS for future visa applications or adjustment of status. I've been doing this wrong for two years based on my university's advice! Now I'm filing amended returns. The IRS agent even gave me specific instructions for how to note the treaty exemption properly. So yeah, I was wrong - this service actually delivered exactly what it promised.

International student advisor here (not tax advice, just experience). The confusion stems from what's "required" vs what's "enforced." Technically, you should file a 1040NR to report ALL US-source income, even if exempt. But in practice, many students with ONLY treaty-exempt income on 1042-S don't file, and the IRS rarely follows up. However, if you have ANY other US income (like your W-2), you absolutely must file and include ALL income sources including the 1042-S amounts. The safest approach is always to file, especially if you plan to remain in the US after graduation or apply for permanent residency.

Something nobody mentioned yet - you should check Box 7a on your 1042-S form. If it has a treaty code and shows the income is exempt, you technically still need to file but the process is pretty straightforward. You'll need: 1) Form 1040NR 2) Form 8833 to claim the treaty benefits 3) Copy of your 1042-S attached My university's tax software (Glacier) handles this automatically and even told me which treaty article applies to my country. Much less stressful than trying to figure it out manually.