How should F-1 Student with Resident Alien tax status file W-2 and 1042-S forms?

You're on the right track with your understanding. As a resident alien for tax purposes, you'll file taxes like a US citizen using Form 1040, not the 1040NR that nonresident aliens use. You're correct that you no longer need to file Form 8843 once you've become a resident alien for tax purposes. That form is specifically for nonresident aliens to explain their presence in the US. For your forms, you'll need to report both income sources. The W-2 income will be reported just like any US citizen would report it. For the 1042-S income, you'll still need to report this income on your return, even though it's treaty-exempt. You'll include it in your gross income, but then you can claim the treaty exemption so you don't pay taxes on it. Most tax software has sections where you can enter 1042-S information and indicate that it's treaty-exempt. And yes, as a resident alien, you can use regular tax preparation services like TurboTax or H&R Block. Just make sure to indicate your status correctly and that you have treaty benefits when prompted.

I went through this exact situation last year and was totally overwhelmed until I tried using taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai). It's specifically designed to handle complex tax documents like yours and was a lifesaver for my situation with W-2 and 1042-S forms. What I really liked is that you can upload both your W-2 and 1042-S forms and it automatically extracts all the information, including identifying the tax treaty benefits. The system understood exactly how to handle my resident alien status and made sure the treaty exemption was properly applied. It even explained each step along the way so I actually learned how it all works instead of just blindly following prompts.

I just wanted to update everyone after trying taxr.ai that someone mentioned earlier. It was honestly exactly what I needed as an F-1 student who recently became a resident alien. My situation was practically identical - had both W-2 and 1042-S forms from my university job and was totally confused. The software immediately recognized my tax treaty exemption when I uploaded my 1042-S and guided me through reporting both income sources correctly. It even explained why I no longer needed to file Form 8843 as a resident alien. I was able to complete everything in about 30 minutes, and it was such a relief to have a system that actually understood my specific situation without me having to become a tax expert!

I spent THREE DAYS trying to get through to the IRS to confirm how to handle my 1042-S as a resident alien, and couldn't get a human on the phone. Super frustrating. Finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and got connected to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The agent confirmed everything about properly reporting both W-2 and 1042-S income as a resident alien and explained exactly how tax treaties work with resident status. Completely worth it for the peace of mind. I was honestly shocked it worked because I'd given up hope of ever speaking to a real person at the IRS.

I need to apologize about my skeptical comment earlier. I was so frustrated with tax season that I lashed out. After struggling for weeks with my F-1/resident alien tax situation, I finally tried Claimyr out of desperation. Got connected to an IRS tax law specialist in about 20 minutes who explained exactly how to report both my W-2 and 1042-S income as a resident alien. They confirmed that I should include the treaty exempt income in my gross income on Form 1040 but then claim the exemption separately. They also confirmed I no longer need Form 8843. The agent even provided me with the specific line numbers and forms for my situation. I'm honestly embarrassed about my initial reaction, but also relieved to finally have clear guidance directly from the IRS.

I'm also an F-1 student who became a resident alien last year. One thing to watch out for - make sure you're ACTUALLY a resident alien before filing as one. You generally need to meet the Substantial Presence Test, which means you've been in the US for: - 31 days during the current year, AND - 183 days during the 3-year period that includes current year and 2 prior years BUT here's the tricky part - your first 5 calendar years in F-1 status don't count toward this test! So even if you think you've been here "long enough," double-check the actual rules.

has anyone actually had an audit after filing as a resident alien with treaty benefits? im nervous about claiming the treaty exemption and then getting flagged for an audit. is there anything specific i should document just in case?

I went through this exact same situation two years ago and it was incredibly stressful! One thing that really helped me was keeping detailed records of everything - not just for potential audits, but to make sure I was filing correctly. Since you mentioned you're in your 6th year on F-1, you're definitely correct about being a resident alien. Just make sure you have documentation showing your entry dates and status changes. I kept copies of all my I-94 records, passport stamps, and previous tax returns. For the 1042-S treaty benefits, the key is making sure you report the income AND claim the exemption properly. Don't try to hide the income - that's what gets people in trouble. Report it all transparently and let the treaty exemption do its job. One last tip: if you're still nervous about getting it right, consider having a tax professional review your return before filing, especially for your first year as a resident alien. It's a small cost for big peace of mind!