First year filing tax return - non-resident or dual status?
 

Moved to the US on an L1A visa at the start of October of this year. From what I’ve read on the IRS website I can either file for my 2018 US taxes as either a a non-resident alien or as dual status.

Is there a way I can calculate what the most tax efficient filing method would be without consulting a professional? Could i do this through Taxact? Neither Turbotax nor Sprintax look like they support the dual status component.

I have property back in the UK that I’ve rented out for the past 3 months since moving here. That’s the only other item that should add any complication to figuring out the return for 2018. I cashed out all of my ISAs while I was still in the UK.

Re: First year filing tax return - non-resident or dual status?
 

Have you researched which deductions, if any, you might be able to claim? That might have bearing. (Also look into the Standard Deduction).

Obviously we don't know your income and benefits, that's ok, but will determine how much you'd owe but if it's only for three months of the year it might not be a big deal.
Could your employer help you out with a tax pro? In any case it might be worth it to engage with one. They're not that expensive.

In future I can recommend TurboTax for doing it yourself. Also if you can contribute to a 401k or IRA that will save a chunk of taxes.

Welcome!

Re: First year filing tax return - non-resident or dual status?
 

Not looked at the itemised deductions I could claim for. I was trying to figure out if self-researching this was possible, or whether I'd just have to run two dummy filings through Taxact (assuming it will allow me to do that).

From what I had read the standard deduction isn't applicable to those filing as a non-resident or dual status.

Re: First year filing tax return - non-resident or dual status?
 

Once you have calculated the rental loss, you will probably find that dual status is the optimum result.