U.S. Tax Benefit Explorer

🎧 Listen to more in-depth episodes on Spotify!

Interactive U.S. Tax Benefit Explorer

Answer a few questions to understand your potential tax benefits.

Step 1: Your U.S. Tax Residency Status

Your tax residency status is the most important first step. It determines what income is taxed and what benefits you can claim. It's different from your immigration status.

Do you have a U.S. Green Card (Lawful Permanent Resident)?

Yes No

Substantial Presence Test (SPT) Calculator

Since you don't have a Green Card, let's check if you meet the SPT. Enter the number of days you were physically present in the U.S. for each year.

Current Year (2024)

Last Year (2023)

Two Years Ago (2022)

I am an "Exempt Individual" (e.g., student, teacher/researcher on certain visas). Check this if you are a student (F, J, M, Q visa) in your first 5 calendar years, or a teacher/researcher (J, Q visa) for any 2 of the last 6 years. This makes your days of presence NOT count for the SPT.

Step 2: Your Personal Situation

Your marital status and dependents are key to determining your filing status and eligibility for major tax credits.

What is your marital status as of Dec 31?

Unmarried / Single / Divorced Married

Did your spouse live with you during the last 6 months of the year?

Yes No

Do you have dependents?

A dependent is a qualifying child or relative you support.

Step 3: Your Personalized Tax Dashboard

Based on your answers, here is an overview of your potential tax situation. Explore the sections below to compare options and see which credits you might be able to claim.

Filing Status Comparison

Your filing status determines your standard deduction and tax rates. Here are the options available to you.

Warning: Filing Separately makes you ineligible for many valuable credits (like education credits and EITC) and has other restrictions.

Your Tax Profile Summary

Residency Status:

Eligible Filing Statuses:

Number of Dependents:

Potential Tax Credits Overview

Click on a credit to see details and eligibility requirements. Eligibility is estimated based on your inputs.