Tax filing advice for F1 student with multiple years in US - questions about 401k, HYSA, HSA

The form you'll need depends on your tax residency status. For F1 students, you're generally considered a non-resident alien for the first 5 calendar years in the US. However, once you switch to OPT, you need to apply the Substantial Presence Test. Based on your timeline (in US since August 2019, 220-280 days each year, and on OPT since July 2023), you'll likely need to file Form 1040 as a resident alien for 2024. This is because you've likely met the substantial presence test by being physically present for: 1) at least 31 days in 2024, and 2) 183 days during the 3-year period including days from 2024 (counted as 1 day each), 2023 (1/3 of days), and 2022 (1/6 of days). For your 401k, HYSA, and HSA, you don't need special forms as a resident alien - they're reported just like any US citizen would report them. Your 401k contributions should already be reflected on your W-2. For your HSA, you'll receive Form 5498-SA showing contributions and Form 1099-SA if you took distributions.

I went through this exact same situation last year and it was so confusing trying to figure out the right forms to file! After struggling for weeks and getting inconsistent advice, I used this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that specifically helped me figure out my tax residency status as an international student. I uploaded my passport stamps and visa documents, and the AI analyzed my travel history to determine exactly which days counted toward the substantial presence test and which were exempt. It confirmed I needed to file as a resident alien and even showed me which tax benefits I was eligible for. It saved me from paying an international tax specialist $400+ for basically the same information.

I wanted to follow up about taxr.ai that I asked about earlier. I decided to try it with my complicated history (multiple trips home, semester abroad in Spain, and two CPT internships), and I'm genuinely surprised at how well it worked! The system actually showed me that I was still exempt from the substantial presence test for 2024 because my semester abroad reset my exemption period clock. I would have totally filed the wrong form without realizing it. It also found that I qualified for a treaty benefit from my home country that saved me almost $1,500 in taxes - something none of the free filing services mentioned. The document analyzer also caught an error on my 1042-S form from my university that I wouldn't have noticed. Definitely worth it for international students with complicated situations.

If you need to call the IRS with any questions about your F1 status and tax filing (which I highly recommend), good luck getting through to them! I spent DAYS trying to reach an IRS agent about a similar international student tax question last year. After 15+ attempts and hours on hold, I found this service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) that got me through to an IRS agent in less than 20 minutes. You basically put in your phone number and they call you back when they've secured a place in line with the IRS. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. I was super skeptical, but it actually worked! I was able to confirm my tax residency status and get clarity on how to report my 401k and HSA accounts as an F1 student.

I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After spending another frustrating day trying to reach the IRS about my F1 tax status and getting disconnected twice after waiting over an hour each time, I gave in and tried it. Got connected to an actual IRS tax specialist in about 15 minutes! The agent confirmed that my 401k contributions as an F1 student on OPT are indeed tax-deferred just like for US citizens, and clarified that my HSA contributions are also tax-advantaged. She also explained exactly which tax treaties applied to my situation - information I couldn't find clearly explained anywhere online. I still think it's ridiculous we have to use services like this to reach a government agency, but I can't deny it works and saved me tons of time and frustration.

Don't forget to check if your country has a tax treaty with the US! I'm from India and we have specific provisions that affected how I reported my scholarship and income. You can find the list of tax treaties on the IRS website. Form 8833 might be needed if you're claiming treaty benefits. Also, for your HYSA, you'll need to report interest income on your tax return. The bank will send you a 1099-INT form. For 401k, check if your home country recognizes US retirement accounts - some countries might still tax those contributions even if they're tax-deferred in the US.

Has anyone used any specific tax software that works well for F1 students? I tried using [popular free software] last year and it kept getting confused about my status.

I was in a very similar situation - F1 since 2018, switched to OPT in 2022. One thing that really helped me was keeping detailed records of all my entry/exit dates from the US. The CBP I-94 website has your complete travel history which is super useful for the substantial presence test calculations. For your 401k, make sure you understand the vesting schedule if your employer has matching contributions. Since you're on OPT with limited time, you might want to check if you'll be fully vested before potentially leaving the US. Also, if you do end up moving back to your home country eventually, research how 401k withdrawals are taxed there - some countries have different rules than the US. One more tip: start gathering all your tax documents early. Your employer should provide W-2, your bank will send 1099-INT for the HYSA interest, and you'll get the HSA forms mentioned earlier. Having everything organized makes the filing process much smoother, especially when dealing with the complexity of international student tax situations.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm also an F1 student (started in 2020) and dealing with similar confusion about tax residency status. One thing I wanted to add that might be useful - if you're unsure about your substantial presence test calculation, the IRS has a worksheet in Publication 519 that walks through it step by step. It's still confusing, but having the official worksheet helped me double-check my math. Also, regarding your HSA - make sure you understand the contribution limits and eligibility requirements. Since you're on a high-deductible health plan through your employer, you should be good, but the 2024 contribution limit is $4,150 for self-only coverage. The triple tax advantage (deductible contributions, tax-free growth, tax-free withdrawals for medical expenses) makes it a great account to maximize if you can. For your 401k, definitely try to contribute at least enough to get your full employer match if they offer one - that's free money you don't want to leave on the table, especially since you're now earning income on OPT. Good luck with your filing! The international student tax situation is definitely complex, but it sounds like you're asking the right questions.

Great thread! I'm in a similar boat as an F1 student transitioning to OPT. One thing I'd add that really helped me is to make sure you understand the "closer connection" exception if you're right on the border of the substantial presence test. Even if you meet the days requirement, you might still be able to file as a non-resident if you can prove you have a closer connection to your home country. Also, for anyone dealing with state taxes - don't forget that some states have different rules for international students than federal taxes. I'm in California and had to file additional forms even when I was still a non-resident for federal purposes. Regarding the 401k question - one thing to consider is whether your home country has a totalization agreement with the US. This can affect Social Security taxes on your wages and potentially impact your retirement planning if you're thinking long-term. It's worth researching even if you're not sure about staying in the US permanently. The tax software recommendations in this thread are spot on - generic software really struggles with F1/OPT situations. I learned that the hard way my first year!