Tax Software for Non-Residents and Expats
Critical: most consumer software cannot file Form 1040-NR
TurboTax, H&R Block, FreeTaxUSA, and Cash App Taxes are all Form 1040 products. If you are a non-resident alien on an F-1, J-1, OPT, H-1B, or other non-immigrant visa, you must file Form 1040-NR — not Form 1040. Do not attempt your return on consumer software.
The two consumer-level tools for 1040-NR filers are Sprintax ($59.95+ federal, $49.95 per state) and Glacier Tax Prep (pricing varies). Sprintax is the de-facto market leader with 60,500 monthly searches — it is partnered with hundreds of university international student offices.
Tax laws change annually. Treaty exemptions, FICA exemptions, and residency rules are complex for non-residents — verify all information with your international student office or a tax professional experienced in non-resident returns. This is not tax advice.