Filing Taxes in the U.S. as an F/J Visa Holder

Students studying and/or working in the U.S. at any point during 2025 are required by law to file a federal tax return. ISSS staff are not tax experts and cannot advise on tax-related matters.

ISSS has purchased Sprintax, an online tax software system designed for F-1 & J-1 students to complete a tax return. Sprintax will ask for the necessary information to complete a tax return. Sprintax has a live chat feature for real-time support and questions.

Deadline for filing taxes: Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Step 1: Gather tax documents.

Step 2: Complete tax filing forms with Sprintax.

Step 3: Submit JMU’s Sprintax Code to pay for the preparation of a federal tax return.

Step 4: Complete a tax return through e-filing it or mailing it.

Documents for Completing a Tax Return:
  • A valid passport
  • I-94 (I-94/I-95 Website – View Travel History tab)
  • Income documents (as applicable)
    • W-2 
      • W-2s are sent directly to student by the company by whom they are employed.
      • If a student worked for JMU, they can retrieve a W-2 for JMU through MyMadison.
      • If a student worked for Dining Services or for Aramark, they can retrieve a W-2 through MyPay - Aramark.
    • Form 1042-S
    • Form 1099
  • Other possible tax forms (1099-INT, 1098-T, etc.)
Filing Taxes with Sprintax:

Take me to Sprintax

  • First-time users need to sign up for an account.
  • Immigration status and existing tax treaties between countries and the U.S. are taken into consideration when using Sprintax, unlike other tax services produced for U.S. residents.
  • Sprintax will save entered responses, so students can return at any time to complete the process.
  • Use the live chat feature for help.

Information for Filling Out Sprintax

Paying for Sprintax:

Sprintax is not a free service. ISSS covers the cost for completing the federal tax return form. Students can find information for a JMU-specific code here.

If a student is required to file a state tax return, the form preparation by Sprintax will be at the expense of the student.

Submitting Tax Documents:

Students can choose to e-file within the Sprintax system. If students prefer, they can mail their tax documents with the help of ISSS-CGE:

  • Review all documents and forms for accuracy.
  • Print and sign the forms provided by Sprintax after payment.
  • Mail tax returns with supporting documents as outlined in the Sprintax instructions.
    • ISSS will mail tax returns for students. To do so, students should stop by the front desk at CGE and do the following before the deadline:
      • Fill out a tax submission index card (located at the CGE front desk)
      • Drop off signed forms from Sprintax (i.e., 8843, 1040 NR, etc.)
      • Drop off all supporting documents as listed in the Sprintax instructions, such as W-2, 1042-S, forms of payment, etc.

Reminder: the deadline for filing a 2025 federal tax return is April 15, 2026.

Helpful Information for Filling Out Sprintax
  • Full Name
  • Social Security Number (SSN)
  • Income for the previous calendar year (W-2, 1042-S)
  • Address (U.S. residential and foreign address)
  • JMU address and phone number

If a student has lived in the U.S. for 5 calendar years, they may be considered a "resident" for tax purposes. Students should refer to Sprintax for information on their tax residency status to determine if they should use another tax provider designed for U.S. residents (e.g. Turbotax).

Students need to upload a W-2 form for each employer and all other income forms (e.g. 1042-S, 1099).

Name of University: James Madison University
Advisor: Jonathan Kratz
Phone: 540-568-5209
Address: 800 South Main Street – MSC 5731
City: Harrisonburg
State: Virginia
Zip Code: 22807

Students must detail when they lived in the U.S. and which states they resided in. Students must state where they were for all dates between January 1st and December 31st.

For example:

  • Jan. 1 - Jan. 15 out of the US
  • Jan. 16 - May 12 in the US (Virginia)
  • May. 13 - Aug. 19 in the US (New York)
  • Aug. 20 - Dec. 16 in the US (Virginia)
  • Dec. 17 - Dec. 31 out of the US

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Center for Global Engagement
MSC 5731
Room 2nd Floor
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807
Email Us
540/568-5209
Fax: 540/568-3310