State Tax Return for J-1 Workers

Your federal return isn’t always the whole story. If the state you worked in collects income tax, you may also need to file a state tax return — separate from the federal Form 1040-NR most J-1 workers file with the IRS.

Do you need to file a state return?

It depends on where you worked. A handful of states (Florida, Texas, and a few others) don’t collect personal income tax at all, so there’s nothing to file. Most states do, and each one sets its own filing threshold, forms, and deadline — they don’t simply mirror the federal rules.

What’s different from the federal return

  • Your state return uses numbers from your federal return, but has its own form and often its own definition of taxable income
  • If you worked in more than one state during the year, you may need to file more than one state return
  • State refunds and state withholding shown on your W-2 (Boxes 15-17) are what determine whether you get money back or owe

How we help

We check your W-2 for state withholding, confirm whether your state requires a return, and prepare it alongside your federal filing so both are consistent and filed on time.

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