How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Sprintax is the best all-round pick because it e-files the federal return and handles treaty claims, starting from 54 dollars and 95 cents per federal return.
- Glacier Tax Prep costs 49 dollars and is free at schools that license it, but it prepares no state return and cannot e-file.
- TaxAct is a mainstream consumer brand that e-files Form 1040-NR, though it publishes no price for that route.
- Full services cost far more than DIY software, from 200 dollars at Taxback.com to 850 dollars at Vialto Partners, so match the service to the complexity of your return.
You file Form 1040-NR when you are a nonresident alien with income from US sources. That covers F-1 students in their first five calendar years in the United States, J-1 scholars and trainees in their first two, and H-1B workers who have not yet passed the substantial presence test. The form taxes only your US-source income, not your worldwide income.
Your visa alone does not decide your status. The IRS uses the substantial presence test, which counts the days you were physically present over three years. Days as an exempt individual, such as an F-1 or J-1 student, do not count. If you pass the test, you are a resident alien and you file Form 1040 instead.
What should nonresident aliens look for in tax software?
Start with the form itself. The tool must prepare Form 1040-NR and Form 8843, and it must handle tax treaty claims for your country. It should also help with an ITIN application on Form W-7 when you have no Social Security number. If a tool only prepares Form 1040, it is the wrong tool for you, even when the brand is familiar.
Then check the rest of the return. Many nonresident tools prepare the federal return only, so you need a separate plan for your state return. Check if the tool e-files, since paper filing adds weeks. Also check the total price, because state returns, amendments, and Form 8843 are often priced as add-ons.
Can nonresident aliens e-file their tax return?
Yes, in many cases. The IRS has allowed e-filing of Form 1040-NR since 2016. Sprintax e-files the federal return for eligible filers, and TaxAct says it e-files Form 1040-NR and Form 8843. E-filing is faster than mailing, and you get confirmation that the IRS received the return.
Some routes are still paper only. Glacier Tax Prep prepares the return for you to print, sign, and mail. State returns are usually mailed even when the federal return is e-filed. You may also need to mail the return when you apply for an ITIN at the same time, or when your documents need paper copies. Plan for extra weeks in those cases.
How much does nonresident tax software cost?
A simple DIY federal return costs little. Sprintax starts from 54 dollars and 95 cents per federal return, and Glacier Tax Prep costs 49 dollars for an individual license. Both are often free through a university code or license. State returns add about 50 dollars each, and an amended return can cost about 80 dollars, so add those fees before you compare prices.
Full services cost far more. Taxback.com starts from 200 dollars per federal return, H&R Block expat plans start from 124 dollars plus 99 dollars for Form 1040NR, and Vialto Partners starts from 850 dollars per US tax engagement. Pay for a service when your return spans more than one state, more than one year, or a treaty position that needs a professional to review.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Sprintax | F-1 and J-1 students and scholars who want to e-file | From $54.95 per federal return | Free with a university code |
 Glacier Tax Prep | Students whose university licenses it | $49 per individual license | Free with a university license |
 TaxAct | Nonresidents who want a mainstream brand that e-files | quote (no published 1040-NR price) | Free to start |
 Arctic International GLACIER | Universities and employers managing many foreign nationals | From $360 per institutional license | None |
 Sprintax Calculus | Employers and universities that issue many 1042-S forms | From $2.50 per form, plus a $250 processing fee | Free for payees invited by an institution |
 Taxback.com | Professionals with multi-year or multi-state returns who want a human agent | From $200 per federal return | Free refund estimate |
 H&R Block Expat Tax Services | Filers who want a large firm and a la carte forms | From $124 per return, plus $99 for Form 1040NR | None |
 Vialto Partners | Executives and assignees with complex cross-border tax needs | From $850 per US tax engagement | None |
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The best tax software for non resident aliens
#1Sprintax
Best for: F-1 and J-1 students and scholars who want to e-file4.7/5 on
Trustpilot (5,126 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit sprintax.com
Starting priceFrom $54.95 per federal return
Free planFree with a university code
Sprintax is the most widely used option for nonresident tax filing, and more than 750 universities recommend it to international students and scholars. The guided questions cover visa history, entry and exit dates, and income forms such as W-2 and 1042-S. Treaty benefits are checked automatically based on country and visa status. The federal return can be e-filed when the filer is eligible. The main cost trap is the add-on pricing, since each state return and an amended return carry separate fees.
What we like- E-files the federal return for eligible filers
- Handles treaty claims and Form 8843
- Used at more than 750 universities
Watch out for- State returns cost extra and must be mailed
- No free federal return without a school code
Starting price$49 per individual license
Free planFree with a university license
Glacier Tax Prep is the long-running federal filing tool from Arctic International, and many large universities license it for their international students and scholars. It walks through residency status, treaty eligibility, and deductions, then prepares Form 1040-NR with Form 8843 and a W-7 for an ITIN when needed. Access is free at schools that license it. The limits are clear: it prepares no state return, and the finished return must be printed, signed, and mailed.
What we like- Reviews every income tax treaty, it says
- Prepares Form 8843 and Form W-7 for an ITIN
Watch out for- Federal only, with no state returns
- Paper filing only, with no e-file
#3
TaxAct
Best for: Nonresidents who want a mainstream brand that e-files
Visit taxact.com
Starting pricequote (no published 1040-NR price)
Free planFree to start
TaxAct is a mainstream consumer tax brand that supports Form 1040-NR, which makes it a useful option for filers who already know the TaxAct interface. Its support pages say it e-files Form 1040-NR and Form 8843, and its student tax page covers international students on F-1 and J-1 visas. The drawback is price clarity: TaxAct publishes no price for the nonresident route, so the cost only appears inside the filing flow. Confirm the fee before you submit.
What we like- E-files Form 1040-NR and Form 8843, TaxAct says
- Mainstream brand with full online filing
Watch out for- No published price for the 1040-NR route
- State coverage for nonresidents is not stated
#4
Arctic International GLACIER
Best for: Universities and employers managing many foreign nationals
Visit arcticintl.com
Starting priceFrom $360 per institutional license
Free planNone
Arctic International makes the GLACIER system, which is the institutional side of nonresident tax compliance. Universities and employers use it to collect information from foreign nationals, determine residency status, apply treaty rules, and manage the related paperwork. It works best next to Glacier Tax Prep, which handles the individual return. This is not a tool for one person filing a single return. It is a license for an institution that serves hundreds or thousands of international students, scholars, or employees.
What we like- Manages residency, treaties, and paperwork for whole populations
- Pairs with Glacier Tax Prep
Watch out for- Built for institutions, not individual filers
- License pricing rises with headcount
#5
Sprintax Calculus
Best for: Employers and universities that issue many 1042-S forms
Visit sprintax.com
Starting priceFrom $2.50 per form, plus a $250 processing fee
Free planFree for payees invited by an institution
Sprintax Calculus is the compliance tool for the payer side of nonresident tax. It determines residency status and treaty eligibility for international payees, then generates 1042-S forms in bulk and e-files Form 1042. The price calculator lists 2 dollars and 50 cents to 10 dollars per form depending on volume, plus a 250 dollar processing fee. Payees invited by an institution complete their profile free. Individual filers should use Sprintax Returns instead, since Calculus is built for payroll and finance teams.
What we like- Bulk 1042-S generation and Form 1042 e-filing
- Determines residency and treaty status
Watch out for- Priced for organizations, not individuals
- The processing fee makes small batches costly
#6
Taxback.com
Best for: Professionals with multi-year or multi-state returns who want a human agent
Visit taxback.com
Starting priceFrom $200 per federal return
Free planFree refund estimate
Taxback.com is a full service rather than do-it-yourself software, and that suits professionals on H-1B or L-1 visas with income in more than one state or more than one year to file. A tax agent prepares the return and reviews the supporting documents. Its published US fee list starts at 200 dollars for a basic federal return, with a 20 percent handling charge added. Nonresident pricing is confirmed by quote before work starts, so ask for the full figure in writing first.
What we like- Human tax agents handle complex cases
- Multi-year filing and 24/7 support
Watch out for- Published US fee list covers resident returns, so nonresident pricing needs a quote
- A 20 percent handling charge applies on top of the fee
#7
H&R Block Expat Tax Services
Best for: Filers who want a large firm and a la carte forms
Visit hrblock.com
Starting priceFrom $124 per return, plus $99 for Form 1040NR
Free planNone
H&R Block runs a separate expat tax service with DIY plans and advisor help. Its DIY expat plans start at 124 dollars, and Form 1040NR is sold as an extra form at 99 dollars, with each state return also priced separately. That a la carte model works when you need only one extra form. The trap is the regular H&R Block online product, which lists Form 1040-NR among the forms it cannot complete. Nonresidents must use the expat service, not the standard online product.
What we like- Large brand with advisor support
- Form 1040NR sold as an add-on form
Watch out for- The regular online product cannot prepare Form 1040-NR
- Add-on fees stack up fast
Starting priceFrom $850 per US tax engagement
Free planNone
Vialto Partners is a global mobility firm, and its VialtoDirect service sells fixed-price tax help directly to individuals. The published starting price for a US tax engagement is 850 dollars, with prices listed for the UK, Canada, Australia, and Switzerland. That buys professional preparation and cross-border planning, including social security support. Its network covers more than 150 territories, so it can coordinate filings across the countries an assignee touches. Students and simple filers should look elsewhere. Vialto fits executives, assignees, and anyone whose move spans more than one tax system.
What we like- Global mobility specialists in more than 150 territories
- Fixed starting prices published by region
Watch out for- Priced far above DIY software
- Built for employers and high value cases, not students
Frequently asked questions
Can I use TurboTax as a nonresident alien?
No. Intuit says TurboTax does not support Form 1040-NR and sends nonresidents to Sprintax, its partner for that return. TurboTax prepares Form 1040, the return for US citizens and resident aliens. Filing Form 1040 as a nonresident usually claims the standard deduction, which most nonresidents cannot take, so the tax comes out wrong. Use a tool that prepares Form 1040-NR instead.
What is the difference between Form 1040-NR and Form 1040?
Form 1040-NR is the return for nonresident aliens, and it taxes only US-source income. Form 1040 is the return for US citizens and resident aliens, and it taxes worldwide income. Most nonresidents cannot claim the standard deduction, with students and business apprentices from India as the main exception under the US-India treaty. The two forms also use different schedules and filing rules.
Do I need to file Form 8843 if I had no income?
Yes, in most cases. Exempt individuals such as F-1 and J-1 students must file Form 8843 each year to report the days they were present in the United States, even with no income. The form tells the IRS to leave those days out of the substantial presence test. Sprintax, Glacier Tax Prep, and TaxAct all prepare it, and TaxAct can e-file it with Form 1040-NR.
Can I e-file Form 1040-NR?
Yes, for some filers. The IRS has allowed e-filing of Form 1040-NR since 2016. Sprintax e-files the federal return for eligible filers, and TaxAct says it e-files Form 1040-NR too. Glacier Tax Prep does not e-file, so its users print, sign, and mail the return. State returns are usually mailed even when the federal return is e-filed, so check the rules for your state.
What documents do I need before I start?
Gather your passport and visa, your entry and exit dates, your W-2 or 1042-S forms, and any 1099 forms for US-source income. You also need your SSN or ITIN, and records of any treaty claim you plan to make. Students should check with their school first, since many universities give out free Sprintax codes or Glacier Tax Prep access. A missing 1042-S is the most common delay.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://www.sprintax.com/returns/
- https://www.arcticintl.com/gtp.asp
- https://www.taxact.com/taxes-online/file-student-taxes
- https://www.arcticintl.com/gtp.asp
- https://www.sprintax.com/calculus/1042s/
- https://www.taxback.com/en/usa/tax-services-fees/
- https://www.hrblock.com/expat-tax-preparation/au-pair/
- https://vialtopartners.com/platform/vialtodirect
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.