Form 1040-NR, US Nonresident Alien Income Tax Return is the tax form is the nonresidents’ federal income tax return. On how to file Form 1040-NR online for the 2023 taxes, we’ll explain it all in this article.
If you’re a permanent resident holding a Greencard, you aren’t going to file a 1040-NR, instead, file 2024 Form 1040. Form 1040-NR is for nonresidents who are obligated to file a federal income tax return. This applies to those who earn income that is subject to federal income taxes but isn’t living in the United States. Think of investors that have businesses in the United States. Those who fit the description need to file Form 1040-NR.
The same as filing Form 1040 online, 1040-NR can be filed online through a tax preparation service. Think of tax preparation services like TurboTax and H&R Block. You can file your return and pay the IRS if necessary. You might also want to check out Forms W-8BEN which is how most nonresident aliens pay taxes – through federal income tax withholdings by a withholding agent or the payer.
Check out Free File to see if you might qualify for filing taxes electronically for free.
How long does it take to file Form 1040-NR?
If you have the necessary tax forms to file your 1040-NR, it should take you less than a few hours to file it. Because the tax forms already report the amounts that need to be put on the 1040-NR, all you would need to do is some basic math. If you don’t have all the tax forms ready though, a tax preparer with a PTIN can help you with this though. It costs anywhere between $200 and $500 to file 1040-NR with a tax preparer.
Will I get a refund from my nonresident income tax return?
Nonresidents can get tax refunds from the IRS the same as residents and citizens do. When the total tax payments including the estimated tax payments and the withholdings are more than the tax owed, the IRS will issue the nonresident with a tax refund. That said, watch out for your total tax payments and liability to see the refund amount.
How to pay nonresident taxes online?
There is no difference between paying taxes as a resident/citizen or nonresident. The tax payments are made through the same channels. You can pay taxes online directly to the IRS or through payment processors with debit/credit cards.