Money & Cost

Tax Refund Estimator for F-1 Students

Most F-1 students overpay — here's the rough amount you might get back (or owe).

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W-2 wages, Box 1 (USD)

Total federal income tax withheld, Box 2 (USD)

Total state income tax withheld (USD)

FICA withheld (SS + Medicare) If on-campus and under 20 hr/wk, often 0.

Treaty country (lowers tax on scholarships)

Taxable scholarship / stipend

Years physically present in US (calendar years)

On-campus under 20 hr/wk? May qualify for FICA exemption.

Idle

How to use this calculator well

Pull your W-2 from your employer (W-2 Box 1 = wages, Box 2 = federal income tax withheld, Box 6 = FICA).
If you worked on-campus for fewer than 20 hours per week, you may have been wrongly subject to FICA. Tick the FICA exemption box to estimate the refund you'd request via Form 843.
If your home country has an active tax treaty with the US, check the list — some (notably India, China, Germany) exempt qualifying scholarships.
Years in the US controls whether you file 1040 or 1040-NR. The 'substantial presence test' is what matters.

Frequently asked questions

Will this tool file my taxes?

No. This is an estimator. For non-trivial situations (treaty positions, dual filings, state returns), use Sprintax, Glacier, or a CPA familiar with F-1 tax.

Do I need to file at all?

If you earned over $5,000 in wages, almost certainly yes. The IRS treats any earned income from US sources as taxable for nonresidents.

What's a 'substantial presence test'?

It's the IRS formula that determines if you're a 'resident alien' or 'non-resident alien'. Generally: 31 days in current year + (days in current prior year / 3) + (days in second prior year / 6) ≥ 183.

Where this estimate falls short

Only federal tax is estimated here; state tax differs significantly (CA, NY, OH add 4-9% income tax).
Capital gains, self-employment, and 1099-INT/DIV income aren't included.
Treaty calculations cover only the most common scenarios. Always check the specific article of the treaty.

Tax Refund Estimator for F-1 Students

Try it

How to use this calculator well

Frequently asked questions

Where this estimate falls short

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