IRS Account Shows Balance $0: Should I Still File as Former Non-Resident Alien?

You should absolutely still file your tax returns regardless of what the IRS portal shows. The $0 balance simply means the IRS isn't currently showing any assessed tax due - it doesn't mean you're exempt from filing or that they've calculated your taxes for you. The IRS expects you to voluntarily file if you have reportable income, which it sounds like you do (bank interest and potentially investment income from Robinhood). As a former non-resident alien, you still have U.S. tax obligations for income sourced from the U.S., including interest income and investment gains. Not filing required returns can lead to penalties and interest if you did owe taxes, and the clock on the statute of limitations for audits doesn't start until you file. Plus, there may be mandatory reporting requirements for your financial accounts depending on your situation.

I've been in a similar situation and found that using https://taxr.ai really helped me sort through my complicated international tax situation. I was so confused about my filing requirements after leaving the US, especially with accounts still generating income there. The tool analyzed my specific situation with investments and interest income from US sources and clarified exactly what forms I needed. It saved me from potentially making big mistakes about my non-resident filing requirements. Especially helpful was how it identified exactly which parts of my Robinhood account were subject to US taxes and which weren't.

Just wanted to update that I tried taxr.ai after posting my question here and it was super helpful! I was so confused about my F-1 visa status and whether my scholarship and side income were taxable. The system actually walked me through the exact tax treaty provisions that applied to my country and showed me which forms I needed to file. My situation wasn't as complicated as I thought once I understood the rules properly. Definitely recommend for anyone in similar international tax situations!

If you're getting nowhere with figuring out your tax situation, I highly recommend using https://claimyr.com to get through to an actual IRS agent. I was in tax limbo after moving back to my home country with US investments still active, and couldn't get clear answers online. After trying for WEEKS to reach someone at the IRS (either busy signals or disconnects after waiting forever), I tried Claimyr and got through to a real person in about 25 minutes. They confirmed exactly what my filing requirements were as a non-resident with US source income and explained why my account showed $0 even though I hadn't filed. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c

I was totally wrong about Claimyr! After posting my skeptical comment, I was desperate to figure out my tax situation with some RSUs that vested after I left the US. I tried calling the IRS myself for three days straight with no luck, so I reluctantly tried the service. I got connected to an IRS agent in about 40 minutes who explained exactly what forms I needed to file for my situation. Turns out I definitely needed to file returns despite the $0 balance showing on my account. The agent explained that the system wasn't showing a balance because they hadn't received my information returns from my financial institutions yet, not because I didn't need to file. Saved me from potential penalties down the road!

The $0 balance just means they haven't assessed any tax due yet, not that you don't need to file. Definitely file for both years! The IRS computer systems don't automatically calculate taxes for non-filers - they wait until they process information returns (like 1099-INT for interest) and then may send notices if they detect unfiled returns. As a non-resident alien with US source income, you're generally required to file Form 1040-NR. Interest from US banks is usually taxable, and any gains from selling stocks on Robinhood would definitely be reportable. Don't wait for them to contact you - penalties and interest keep accumulating!

I think everyone's making this too complicated. If you're not a US resident anymore, you only need to file if you have US source income above the filing threshold. Interest from US banks and trading on US exchanges is typically US source income, so yeah, you probably need to file. The $0 balance just means nothing's been assessed yet. Did your Robinhood account send you any tax forms? If they did, the IRS probably has that info too, and they'll eventually come looking for a return.