You will be considered a United States resident for tax purposes if you meet the substantial presence test for the calendar year. To meet this test, you must be physically present in the United States (U.S.) on at least:
- 31 days during the current year, and
- 183 days during the 3-year period that includes the current year and the 2 years immediately before that, counting:
- All the days you were present in the current year, and
- 1/3 of the days you were present in the first year before the current year, and
- 1/6 of the days you were present in the second year before the current year.
Example:
You were physically present in the U.S. on 120 days in each of the years 2019, 2020 and 2021. To determine if you meet the substantial presence test for 2021, count the full 120 days of presence in 2021, 40 days in 2020 (1/3 of 120), and 20 days in 2019 (1/6 of 120). Since the total for the 3-year period is 180 days, you are not considered a resident under the substantial presence test: for 2021.
Days of Presence in the United States
You are treated as present in the U.S. on any day you are physically present in the country, at any time during the day. However, there are exceptions to this rule. Do not count the following as days of presence in the U.S. for the substantial presence test:
- Days you commute to work in the U.S. from a residence in Canada or Mexico if you regularly commute from Canada or Mexico.
- Days you are in the U.S. for less than 24 hours, when you are in transit between two places outside the United States.
- Days you are in the U.S. as a crew member of a foreign vessel.
- Days you are unable to leave the U.S. because of a medical condition that develops while you are in the United States.
- Days you are an exempt individual (see below).
The term United States (U.S.) includes the following areas:
- All 50 states and the District of Columbia.
- The territorial waters of the United States.
- The seabed and subsoil of those submarine areas that are adjacent to U.S. territorial waters and over which the United States has exclusive rights under international law to explore and exploit natural resources.
Exempt Individual
Do not count days for which you are an exempt individual. The term “exempt individual” does not refer to someone exempt from U.S. tax, but to anyone in the following categories:
- An individual temporarily present in the U.S. as a foreign government-related individual under an “A” or “G” visa, other than individuals holding “A-3” or “G-5” class visas.
- A teacher or trainee temporarily present in the U.S. under a “J” or “Q” visa, who substantially complies with the requirements of the visa.
- A student temporarily present in the U.S. under an “F,” “J,” “M,” or “Q” visa, who substantially complies with the requirements of the visa.
- A professional athlete temporarily in the U.S. to compete in a charitable sports event.
Closer Connection Exception to the Substantial Presence Test
Even if you met the substantial presence test you can still be treated as a nonresident of the United States for U.S. tax purposes if you qualify for one of the following exceptions:
- The closer connection exception. Please refer to Closer Connection Exception to the Substantial Presence Test.
- The closer connection exception available only to students.
Determining an Individual’s Tax Residency Status
If you are not a U.S. citizen, you are considered a nonresident of the United States for U.S. tax purposes unless you meet one of two tests. You are a resident of the United States for tax purposes if you meet either the green card test or the substantial presence test for the calendar year (January 1 – December 31).
In some cases, you are allowed to make elections which override the green card test and the substantial presence test, as follows:
- First-Year Choice To Be Treated as a Resident
- Nonresident Spouse Treated as a Resident
- Closer Connection To a Foreign Country
- Tax Treaties
You can be both a nonresident and a resident for U.S. tax purposes during the same tax year. This usually occurs in the year you arrive or depart from the United States. If so, you need to file a dual-status income tax return.
