U.S. tax law divides non U.S. citizens into Resident Aliens and Nonresident Aliens for tax purposes. Your Tax Residency (whether you are a Nonresident Alien or a Resident Alien for tax purposes) determines how you are taxed and which tax forms you need to fill out. Resident Aliens generally are taxed on their worldwide income, the same as U.S. citizens. Nonresident Aliens are taxed only on their income from sources within the United States and on certain income connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States.

To the majority of individuals, your income tax is deducted from each paycheck and sent to federal and state tax authorities. This is also referred to as tax withholding. Taxes are computed on a calendar-year basis (January 1 to December 31). You will need Tax Forms from UMass or other sources in order to file your taxes. If your payments during the year were not enough to cover the total income tax due, you must pay the rest to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Conversely, if you paid more than what you owe in income tax, the IRS will send back your excess payment in the form of a tax refund. You may also be required to pay tax in the state where you live or work. 

Nonresident Aliens

There is a limited number of Sprintax Tax Return licenses offered by UMass for each tax year. UMass has run out of licenses for 2024 federal tax filing.

If you had no US source income in 2024, please follow the 8843 instructions to file on paper. Form 8843 instructions (Nonresident Alien with No US Sourced Income in 2024)

If you had income in 2024 and would like to use Sprintax tax preparation system to complete your federal tax return, then you will need to pay the fee yourself. Sprintax can do your state taxes as well for an additional fee (from $44.95 per state). 

Nonresident Aliens should NOT use software designed for U.S citizens and Resident Aliens (e.g. TurboTax) to file their federal tax returns. If you are a nonresident alien but incorrectly filed a Form 1040 as a resident alien to the IRS by using software like TurboTax, then your tax form will be incorrect, and you will need to submit an amended tax return to the IRS.

Before You Start

Here is a step-by-step guide to help you complete your federal tax return in Sprintax Tax Return: Sprintax Tax Return Job Aid.pdf

Form W-2 is available through HR Direct if you are an active employee.

Form 1042-S is available through Sprintax Calculus: Accessing 1042-S Training Manual

Select a Topic of Interest:

Log In to Access Sprintax

Tax Webinars

UMass has teamed up with Sprintax to host two webinars for international students, scholars, researchers, faculty, and staff who are nonresident aliens for U.S. tax purposes. You must REGISTER for these webinars in advance - registration information below. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

UMass Session 1

Please register through the link below to watch recording for Sprintax Nonresident Tax Session - University of Massachusetts on Feb 19, 2025 12:00 PM EST:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8157962205661122907

UMass Session 2

Please register through the link below to watch recording for Sprintax Nonresident Tax Session - University of Massachusetts on Mar 5, 2025 12:00 PM EST:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2607059061136345184

Additional Sprintax Open Webinars:

Thursday, January 23rd @ 12pm EST 

Thursday, February 6th @ 11am EST

Wednesday, February 26rth @ 12pm EST

Tuesday, March 11th @ 2pm EST

Thursday, March 27th @ 1pm EST

Thursday, April 3rd @ 1pm EST

Thursday, April 10th @ 2pm EST

Monday, April 14th @ 11am EST

Access Instructions

There are multiple ways you can get into Sprintax Tax Return:

When you are hired by UMass, you may receive instructions about logging into the Sprintax Calculus, where you are asked to enter your personal information, visa type, days of presence in the U.S., etc. If you have a Sprintax Calculus record with UMass and UMass has issued a Form 1042-S to you, you will be able to access Sprintax Tax Prep via Sprintax Calculus. Once you log into Sprintax Calculus and accesses the Tax Forms section in Tax Year 2024, there will be a large green banner which encourages you to transfer your data to Sprintax returns. 

If you don't see the green banner in your Sprintax Calculus account, then you must access Sprintax Tax Prep via the link on our website (click the green “Log In to Access Sprintax” button) using your UMass email login to benefit from UMass discount. See Option 2 below. 

Before you start, please take a minute to review Common Tax Forms and Tax Records and Documents to gather the documents you may need for Sprintax. 

  • Simply access Sprintax Calculus at https://calculus.sprintax.com/ and enter your login email and password. 
    • Training video: Why can't I sign into Sprintax Calculus?
    • Forgotten password: If you forgot the password or have never activated your Sprintax Calculus account, then you can request a password reset link through https://calculus.sprintax.com/forgotten-password/ or click "Forgotten password" on the login page. 
    • Multi-factor authentication (MFA) code: If you have e-signed tax forms in Sprintax Calculus or have turned on the Multi-factor authentication (MFA) before, please open the Authenticator app on your phone to locate the 6-digit code.  
      • You might have used an authentication app that differs from the one typically used for your school’s authentication.
      • You may not receive a pop-up notification on the phone. Please open the app to locate the 6-digit code.
      • If you registered Sprintax Calculus account multiple times in your authenticator app, please make sure you enter the code associated with the most recent registration. Please also delete the older/invalid registration in the app to prevent future confusion. 
      • If you don't have the Authenticator app on your phone, please download it again through Google or Apple App Store. 
      • If you have multiple accounts in the authenticator app, please make sure that you login with the same account originally used for activating the authentication process. 
      • The security code is time sensitive. Please keep the authenticator app open on your phone while you are entering the code on Sprintax Calculus login screen. To reset the Time Sync, please go to Settings, Select Time correction for codes, Click Sync now.
  • Access the forms section, there will be a large green banner which encourages you to transfer your data to Sprintax returns. 
  • You may print Form 1042-S through Sprintax Calculus if you consent to receive Form 1042-S electronically. Accessing 1042-S Training Manual
  • If you have a W-2, you may access W-2 via H/R Direct if you are an active employee.
  • If you will be paid by UMass in 2025, then please make sure your 2025 Sprintax Calculus record is complete and up-to-date. 

You must access Sprintax Tax Return via the link on our website (click the green “Log In to Access Sprintax” button) using your UMass email login to benefit from UMass discount. 

When you see Sprintax Tax Return page, if you have an existing account on Sprintax you can login using your existing credentials. Once you log into Sprintax Tax Return directly with the same email used for Sprintax Calculus or prior year tax return, a pop-up will appear asking if you wish to transfer your data and income documents. Or you may open your new Sprintax account by creating a user ID and password.

Log In to Access Sprintax

If you were under UMass’ visa sponsorship in 2024 and have graduated, or departed the U.S. and no longer have access to your UMass email login, you must email your campus administrator to request a discount code to be sent to you. Sprintax website: https://www.sprintax.com/returns/

Sprintax Features

After you login to Sprintax Tax Return, it will ask you a series of questions about the time you have spent in the United States and in which immigration status, looking back over a period of years. Sprintax Tax Return will then determine your tax status. If it determines that you are a Nonresident Alien (NRA) for federal tax purposes, you can continue to use it to respond to a series of guided questions. Sprintax Tax Return will complete and generate the forms (Form 1040NR and/or Form 8843) you need to print, sign, and mail to the IRS. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to E-file your Federal tax return. However, this will depend on certain eligibility criteria. You can learn more about eligibility in this Sprintax blog - https://blog.sprintax.com/nonresident-federal-tax-efiling-live/

If you have a state filing requirement, you must also mail this to the tax authorities. Finally, if you only need to file Form 8843, this will also need to be mailed to the IRS.

If Sprintax determines you are a Resident Alien for federal tax purposes, you won't be able to continue using the software. Resident Aliens will have to find alternative ways to file your taxes.

Need Assistance with Sprintax

Before you start, please take a minute to review Common Tax Forms and Tax Records and Documents to gather the documents you may need for Sprintax. 

Sprintax provides step-by-step guide videos that may help you complete your tax return as easily as possible. These videos are also available in the following languages: 

If you have a tax question or technical issue, the best way to get help is to contact the Sprintax Support Center via 24/7 Live Chat and FAQ on any Sprintax screen. 

FAQ provides answers to the questions Sprintax support most frequently receives – making it quick and easy to find the answer in writing without having to actually ask the question.

Sprintax also has additional online resources:

Eligibility

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program will provide tax assistance to UMass students/scholars/employees. Please refer to VITA website for more information.

If you are a UMass International student/scholar, you have the option to use Sprintax sponsored by UMass. Please see Access Instructions section for more details.

International students and scholars on the above four campuses may be eligible to use Sprintax sponsored by UMass. Please see Access Instructions section for more details.

Resident Aliens

If Sprintax Calculus or Sprintax Tax Return determines that you are a resident alien, then you need to find alternative ways to prepare your federal tax return. Resident Aliens may use the IRS Free File Software Lookup Tool to find out which software you can use for free.

(Login Required) General instructions for resident aliens who are claiming treaty benefits on Form 1040.