Bluewings Tax guide · Updated September 29, 2026
No. Your federal tax residency must be assessed for the year. H-1B days generally count toward the substantial presence test. Arrival dates, earlier visa status and applicable exceptions can change the result.
Start with residency before choosing a return
Resident aliens generally report worldwide income; nonresident aliens generally report US-source income and income effectively connected with a US trade or business, subject to specific rules. A year of arrival or departure may require a dual-status analysis. See the IRS guidance for H-1B taxpayers.
For a first-year consultation, bring your US travel history for the current and preceding two calendar years, visa changes and prior returns. Someone moving from F-1 status to H-1B should provide both periods; do not count or exclude the whole year based only on the visa held at year-end.
Income and documents to discuss
Prepare an inventory before your appointment. The treatment of each item depends on residency, source, timing and the relevant tax rules.
- Forms W-2 from each employer and available Forms 1099.
- Stock compensation, vesting, purchase and sale records, including employer and brokerage statements.
- US and foreign bank interest, dividends, investments and rental-property records.
- Foreign tax returns and proof of tax paid or accrued.
- Moves between states, work locations and periods spent working outside the US.
- Spouse and dependent circumstances, previous filings and tax notices.
Use the client portal for filing documents. An initial enquiry can describe your situation without including account numbers or identity documents.
Foreign accounts and cross-border questions
Income reporting and foreign-account reporting are separate checks. FBAR and Form 8938 have different coverage, thresholds and filing processes. One filing does not automatically satisfy the other. Use the IRS comparison of FBAR and Form 8938 when preparing questions about your accounts.
If you have income or assets in India, our US–India cross-border tax service explains the information needed for a scope review. For Canadian connections, see US–Canada tax services. Treaty treatment and foreign tax credits require an individual assessment; a visa alone does not establish eligibility.
Common H-1B filing questions
Does a new green card automatically mean a dual-status return?
No. You may already have been a US tax resident under the substantial presence test. Review the full residency timeline rather than treating the green-card date as the only relevant date.
Can I file jointly with a spouse living abroad?
Some couples may qualify for a resident-spouse election. This can affect worldwide-income reporting and later years, so compare the full consequences before choosing it. It is not automatically the same as a first-year residency choice. Consult IRS Publication 519.
Does an extension let me pay later?
A federal filing extension generally provides additional time to file, not additional time to pay. Check the deadline that applies to your return and circumstances, including any applicable relief, and address expected tax by the payment deadline. See IRS filing-extension guidance. State requirements must be checked separately.
Request a filing quote
Basic US federal preparation starts at US$79; basic state preparation starts at US$89. Your quote depends on the forms, documents and complexity. These starting prices are not a complete cross-border package. FBAR and FATCA services are excluded from discounts.
Discuss your H-1B filing · View pricing
General information, not an individual tax determination. The applicable tax year, facts and current official guidance should be checked before filing.