Form 8843
(For Tax Year 2008)
As many students know, ALL F-1 and J-1s, and their dependents, must file form 8843 even if they earned no income in the U.S.
We encourage you to use CINTAX to complete form 8843 for yourself and any dependents, especially if you had U.S. income during calendar year 2008. CINTAX will do both your income tax forms and form 8843 simultaneously.
But, some students who had no U.S. income during calendar year 2008 ask if they can fill out form 8843 without using CINTAX. You can, but if you were in a different visa category in the United States prior to becoming F-1 or J-1, we urge you to use CINTAX.
If your only non-immigrant status in the United States has been F-1 or J-1, and you had no U.S. income during 2008, and wish to file form 8843 without using CINTAX, you may access Form 8843 at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8843.pdf You are urged to view the income tax webinar about form 8843, so that you will fully understand how to complete and mail it correctly. The webinar may be viewed at: http://isss.binghamton.edu/taxes/webworkshp.htm
If you were in F-1 or J-1 student status during 2008 and had no U.S. income, complete the top of the form, and Parts I and III. J-1 Scholars and Visiting Faculty should complete Parts I and II. F-2 and J-2 dependents complete Part I. Sign the form on the back, and mail it to the Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service Center, Austin, Texas 73301-0215.
If you have 8843 forms for your spouse and/or dependents, each form 8843 must be mailed separately in its own envelope.
If you earned income in the U.S., then use CINTAX to complete both the 8843 and the 1040NR EZ or 1040NR. The 8843 should be attached to your form 1040NR EZ or 1040NR. Otherwise, it should be sent by itself.
Many people ask about questions 9 & 10 on Part III, which ask you to give the name, address and telephone number of your academic institution and the name, address and telephone number of the director of your academic program. Actually, it is not as complicated as it looks. If you were a student at Binghamton University during 2008, here is what you would write for question 9:
Binghamton University (SUNY)
Box 6000
Binghamton, N.Y. 13902-6000
607-777-2000
For question 10, you would write:
(Your Department's Name)
Binghamton University (SUNY)
Box 6000, Binghamton, N.Y. 13902-6000
607-777- department's main extension.
The same would be true for J-1 scholars and faculty completing questions 5 and 6.
International Student and Scholar Services staff are neither qualified nor permitted to give individual tax advice. Tax information is available only at tax seminars.