Fill out Form 8843 (Statement for Exempt Individuals and Individuals With a Medical Condition) online
Form 8843 is filed by certain individuals to exclude days of presence in the United States from the substantial presence test. It is primarily used by foreign students, teachers, trainees, and individuals with medical conditions that prevented them from leaving the country.
How to fill out Form 8843 (Statement for Exempt Individuals and Individuals With a Medical Condition)
Enter personal information
Provide your full legal name, U.S. taxpayer identification number (if any), foreign address, visa type, current immigration status, and passport information.
Select the applicable exemption category
Indicate whether you are claiming exemption as a teacher or trainee (Part II), a student (Part III), a professional athlete (Part IV), or an individual with a medical condition (Part V). Complete only the relevant part.
Report days of presence and academic details
Enter the dates you were present in the United States during the current year and the two preceding years. For students and teachers, provide the name of the academic institution or program sponsor and the dates of your appointment or enrollment.
Sign and file
Sign and date the form. If you have U.S.-source income, attach it to your Form 1040-NR. If you have no U.S.-source income, mail the form separately to the IRS address listed in the instructions.
About Form 8843 (Statement for Exempt Individuals and Individuals With a Medical Condition)
Who needs this form
Nonresident aliens present in the U.S. under F, J, M, or Q visa status who are exempt individuals (students, scholars, teachers, or trainees), as well as individuals unable to leave the United States due to a medical condition that arose while in the country. Even those with no U.S.-source income must file this form if they are claiming exempt-individual status.
Where to submit
File with the IRS by the deadline in the latest form instructions. If you have no U.S.-source income and are not required to file an income tax return, send Form 8843 to the IRS address in the instructions. If you are filing a tax return, attach Form 8843 to your Form 1040-NR.
Source and content freshness
- Reviewed: 2026-02-24
- Filing deadlines may shift for weekends and holidays. Verify due dates with official instructions.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Not filing the form when you have no U.S. income, mistakenly believing it is not required
- Failing to file a separate Form 8843 for each dependent (such as children on F-2 or J-2 visas)
- Not specifying the correct visa type and immigration status on the form
- Confusing exempt individual status with tax-exempt status (Form 8843 relates to the substantial presence test, not tax exemption)
Frequently asked questions
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Do I need to file Form 8843 if I have no U.S. income?
Yes. If you are an exempt individual (such as an F-1 or J-1 visa holder), you must file Form 8843 even if you had no U.S.-source income during the year. The form is not a tax return but a statement that excludes your days in the U.S. from the substantial presence test. Without it, you may be classified as a resident alien and subject to tax on your worldwide income.
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