Requirement to File Form 8843

Complying with U.S. tax law is part of maintaining F-1, F-2, J-1, or J-2 nonimmigrant status. Non-compliance can affect the receipt of future U.S. visas, immigration benefits, or granting of legal permanent resident status.
  • The primary source for income tax assistance for all Clemson International Employees is International Employment, located in Clemson's Office of Human Resources. This office provides yearly guidance on how international employees can meet both their federal and state tax filing responsibilities and where there are opportunities for assistance. Their helpful guidance can be found here. 

  • International Services is providing guidance on the required Form 8843 only. 

  • All international students, scholars, and their dependents, including spouses and children present in the U.S. under F-1, F-2, J-1, or J-2 nonimmigrant status regardless of an individual's age, who are nonresidents for tax purposes, must complete and file Form 8843. This form must be completed and mailed to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) even if no income was received in the previous year. 

  • If you are new to the U.S., in F-1, F-2, J-1, or J-2 nonimmigrant status and entered the U.S. on or after January 1, 2024, you DO NOT need to file Form 8843 in 2024. You will complete Form 8843 in 2025 to document the time spent in the U.S. in 2024.

  • PLEASE DO NOT PANIC! If you have not filed Form 8843 in the past, it can be filed retroactively. It is important to file Forms 8843 and for previous years as soon as possible. Previous years' forms can be found here.
  • If you are a Resident for Tax Purposes, you DO NOT need to file Form 8843. 

To assist our F-1, F-2, J-1, or J-2 visa holders with Form 8843, International Services prepared Guidance on Completing Form 8843 that provides step-by-step guidance on completing Form 8843.

Form 8843 for 2023 must be completed and mailed to the IRS by April 15, 2024.

Form 8843 cannot be filed electronically; it must be filed by mailing the completed paper form via USPS to the address listed below. Also, each individual Form 8843 must be mailed in separate envelopes, even those for dependents, to the following address: 

U.S. Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service Center
Austin, TX 73301-0215

How can I get assistance with meeting my tax filing requirements?
 
  • International Employment in Clemson University’s Office of Human Resources provides yearly guidance for Clemson’s international employees to meet federal and state tax filing responsibilities. Their helpful guidance can be found here. 

  • International Services can answer general questions on completing Form 8843 only.

  • The United Way offers free Clemson-Area Tax Prep through the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA). Information on VITA assistance in the Clemson-Area can be found here. 

  • The IRS VITA program is offered in many locations around the U.S. If you are at one of our innovation campuses across South Carolina or employed on OPT or STEM OPT in South Carolina or around the country, other VITA locations in your specific area can be found here.

  • Two software companies offer assistance specifically for international students and scholars. Sprintax and Glacier Tax Prep are available to assist, for a fee, in preparing the tax forms needed to submit to the IRS. 
    • If you are a nonresident tax filer with U.S. source income and are using Sprintax to file your tax return, your Form 8843 will be included in the forms that Sprintax generates for filing.
    • If you are filing your 1040NR form yourself, you must also include a Form 8843.
  • Sprintax has offered Clemson students and scholars a limited number of $5 coupons redeemable by entering the discount code 5CLEM100F23 in the box on the "Review your order" page. 
Avoid Tax Scams

Please be aware of tax scams, especially if you receive a telephone call from someone who says they are with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). There is an increase in aggressive phone scams during tax season. The IRS provides important guidance on Tax Scams and Consumer Alerts for ways to identify a tax scam and helpful tips for keeping yourself safe.

Additional Resources