J1 visa tax returns
Everything you need to know to get your tax back.
Student Travel Romania
J1 visa tax returns
- If you received a wage from your US employer during your program (J1 Work and Travel, Internship USA or Trainee USA) then you are legally required to fill out a tax return.
- If you were in the US on a J1 visa at any time between 1 January 1 and 31 December and did not earn any income, you are required to submit Form 8843.
When is the deadline?
Tax returns are usually due by 15 April for the previous calendar year. The earlier you file your tax return, the sooner you will receive any applicable refund. Yay!
J1 visa tax returns
Where do I start?
You can start by getting organised. If you are still in the US on the program:
- Ask your US employer for your payslips now so you have them on file.
- Ask your employer to provide your W-2 form electronically.
- Share your Romanian address. If you haven’t already, make sure that your US employer has your home address in Romania. They’ll need it to send your tax documents later. Ask your employer if you can receive your W2 electronically by giving consent.
In January, your US employer will send you your tax forms (specifically your W2) in the post. This is a summary of how much you earned and what taxes you paid during your time in the USA. Without it, you can’t file your tax return, so keep an eye on the post and if you don’t receive your W2 by early February contact your employer.
If you had multiple jobs, make sure to include all the W-2 forms you received, as you are only allowed to file one tax return covering all of your income.
J1 visa tax returns
How do I file my tax return?
Once you have your tax forms, you are ready to lodge your tax return. Filling a tax return can be done in two ways:
Use an experienced non-resident tax filing assistance agency.
Many agencies offer to file for you for a fee, often taking a portion of the refund as payment, so make sure you understand the fee structure in advance. Make sure the agency has experience filing tax returns specifically for J1 visa program participants.
One such company is Sprintax. They charge a fixed price for their services, have 24/7 live chat support and offer a lot of resources on their website for all J1 programs.
Self-file it directly with the IRS.
The paperwork involved is not easy to navigate, but it’s also not impossible. Here are the links to the 1040NR form and the tax filing instructions.
Do your research when the time comes and decide what is best for you.
Good to know: TurboTax or similar software is designed ONLY for US residents and cannot be used by J1 non-residents. Misrepresenting your residency status could lead to issues with your visa status and could impact your future visa applications or entry to the US.
What forms will I need?
If you decide to go it alone and fill out your tax return independently; here’s what you’ll need:
- W2 form Mailed by your employer in January, this form summarises your total US wages and taxes withheld/paid during the previous calendar year. If you had multiple employers, each will send you a separate W2 and you will need all of your W2’s before you can file your taxes.
- 1040-NR form This form is specifically for non-resident aliens (someone who is not a US citizen and is not considered a resident for tax purposes). It can be obtained, together with instructions for filling it out, on the Internal Revenue Service website.
- State Income Tax form These forms differ from each of the 50 states in the US, and you will need to complete the form for the state(s) in which you trained. A list of the state tax sites is available at the website listed above (“State Tax Forms”).
- Local Income Tax form These taxes will only be withheld in certain cities. Check with your employer about local statutory requirements and, if relevant, where to locate the necessary forms.
