Sprintax ghosting me after paying for their tax filing service - no updates for 3 months!

I'm an international student from Denmark who worked part-time in the US last year, which means I needed to file both US federal and state tax returns. My university's international student office recommended Sprintax for filing, and they provided a discount code, though I still ended up paying around $65 out of pocket for their services. It's been almost 3 months now, and I've received absolutely zero updates on whether my taxes have actually been filed. I've been sending emails every single week for the past month, and nobody has bothered to respond. I finally managed to connect with their customer service through their chat feature, but the person I spoke with refused to provide any direct email contact and then just abruptly ended the chat when I kept asking for updates. I'm seriously frustrated for multiple reasons: 1) I paid good money for a service they haven't completed, 2) I legally need to file these tax returns as a non-resident who earned income in the US, and 3) I don't think they should be able to treat customers this way without consequences. Has anyone else had problems with Sprintax? Any suggestions on what I can do at this point? Should I just give up and try filing through another service instead?

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18 comments

Chloe Martin

•8M

International tax filing can be incredibly frustrating, especially when services aren't responsive. Since you've already paid Sprintax and they have your information, I wouldn't recommend starting over with another service just yet. First, try escalating through different channels. Instead of just emailing their customer service, try reaching out through their social media accounts (Twitter/LinkedIn) where complaints are more visible. Companies often respond faster when issues are aired publicly. Also, check if they have a phone number specifically for filing status updates. Sometimes direct calls work better than emails or chat. If you're concerned about the legal requirements, you should know that the IRS is generally more understanding about international filers facing legitimate barriers. Document all your attempts to contact Sprintax - screenshots of emails, chats, etc. This creates a paper trail showing you've been trying to fulfill your obligations. As a last resort, you could consider filing Form 4868 for an automatic extension while you sort this out, though at this point you may have already missed deadlines depending on your specific situation.

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Chloe Martin

•8M

Extensions are typically filed before the original deadline, so it probably won't help in your situation now. However, it's still better to file late than not at all. The IRS tends to be more lenient with penalties if you can demonstrate good faith efforts to comply. If you decide to use another service, you would need to start the process over, but your tax documents (W-2, 1099, etc.) would be the same. The main difference is you'd likely need to indicate that you attempted to file previously. Each service has their own system, so unfortunately, you can't just transfer your information from Sprintax to another provider.

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Diego Rojas

•8M

I had a similar issue with tax filing software last year and discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which was a lifesaver for my international tax situation. I was working remotely for a US company while living in Australia, and the complexity was driving me crazy until I uploaded all my documents there. What impressed me most was how quickly they processed everything and explained exactly what forms I needed as a non-resident with US-source income. Their system actually spotted that I was eligible for a tax treaty benefit I had no idea about, which saved me hundreds. For international filers especially, they seem to have specialized expertise that general tax software often lacks. Might be worth checking out since you're still trying to get this resolved.

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Diego Rojas

•8M

They absolutely handle state returns - I needed to file in California where my employer was based, and the system walked me through the specific non-resident state form requirements. They actually explained which state forms were necessary based on my specific situation. Regarding paying twice, I understand the concern - but from my experience, the peace of mind was worth it. Unlike traditional services, they don't just take your info and disappear. You get real-time updates on your filing status and can actually track when your returns have been submitted. I was able to see exactly when my returns were received by the IRS through their tracking system, which eliminated the ghosting issue the original poster mentioned.

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Sean O'Donnell

•8M

After reading about taxr.ai on this thread, I decided to give them a try since I was in a similar situation with unresponsive tax preparers. I just needed to confirm my return was actually filed! Just wanted to update that I uploaded my documents yesterday, and within hours I received confirmation about which forms had been properly submitted and which ones were still outstanding. They identified that my previous preparer had actually missed filing my Form 8843 (Statement for Exempt Individuals), which could have caused major problems for maintaining my visa status. The immediate feedback and tracking was exactly what I needed after weeks of silence from my previous service. They even provided documentation showing exactly when my returns had been received by the IRS, which was a huge relief. Definitely a better experience for international tax filing!

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Zara Ahmed

•8M

If you're still struggling with Sprintax's unresponsiveness, you might want to try Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was in a similar situation last year where a tax service filed my returns incorrectly and then went silent. I needed to speak directly with the IRS to sort it out, but kept hitting the "all our agents are busy" message for weeks. Claimyr basically holds your place in the IRS phone queue and calls you when an actual agent is on the line. Saved me literally hours of hold time. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c In my case, I was able to confirm with the IRS directly whether my returns had been received and what issues needed to be addressed. Sometimes going straight to the source is the only way to get clear answers, especially when dealing with international filing issues.

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Zara Ahmed

•8M

It uses an automated system that navigates the IRS phone menu and holds your place in line. It's basically like having someone wait on hold for you. When a real person finally answers, you get a call connecting you directly to that agent. It doesn't just redial - that wouldn't work well with the IRS system. Instead, it stays connected in the queue the entire time, which is why it's effective. The system knows how to respond to the automated prompts and can even detect when a human finally answers. I was skeptical too! I'd spent over 4 hours across multiple days trying to get through. The wait time was still long (about 90 minutes), but the difference was I didn't have to actively sit there listening to hold music. I received a text when my place in line was getting close, then got the call when an agent was actually on the line.

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Luca Esposito

•8M

Ok I need to follow up here. I was definitely the skeptic about Claimyr on this thread earlier, but I decided to try it because I was desperate to reach the IRS about my international filing situation. It actually worked! I got a text about an hour after signing up saying I was getting close in the queue, and then my phone rang with an IRS agent on the line. I was honestly shocked because I had tried calling at least 20 times over the past two weeks without getting through. The agent was able to confirm that my returns had NOT been processed despite what my tax preparer claimed. They helped me understand exactly what forms I needed to submit and gave me a direct fax number to send the corrected documents. Would have never gotten this resolved without actually speaking to someone. For anyone dealing with unresponsive tax services like Sprintax, going direct to the IRS saved me weeks of frustration. Worth every penny not to spend hours on hold!

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Nia Thompson

•8M

Screenshots of emails, chat transcripts, and dates/times of attempted communications would be perfect documentation. Most credit card companies have a fairly straightforward dispute process - you'll typically need to fill out a form explaining that you paid for services that weren't delivered despite multiple attempts to resolve the issue. The key is demonstrating that you made reasonable efforts to work with the merchant first. Include specific details like "Sent emails on March 5, 12, and 19 with no response" and "Initiated customer service chat on March 25 which was terminated by representative without resolution." Credit card companies generally side with customers in cases where services weren't provided, especially when you have documentation showing the company was unresponsive.

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