International Student Question: How Do I Mail My 8843 Tax Forms in the US?

The process for mailing tax forms in the US is pretty straightforward, so don't worry! For Form 8843, you'll need a standard business envelope (you can buy these at any office supply store, pharmacy, or even grocery stores). You'll need to put a Forever stamp on the envelope - these cost about 66 cents each and are available at post offices, grocery stores, and many pharmacies. One Forever stamp is usually sufficient for a few pages of paper. Write the IRS mailing address on the front of the envelope (the address will be in the Form 8843 instructions, and it varies depending on your location). Write your return address in the upper left corner. If you want peace of mind, you can go directly to the USPS office. They can verify you have the correct postage and can offer tracking options. For tax documents, I recommend getting tracking/delivery confirmation, which costs a few dollars extra, but gives you proof that the IRS received your form. Regular mail is fine for Form 8843, but if the deadline is approaching, you might want to use Priority Mail for faster delivery.

Just wanted to share that after struggling with the same issue last year, I found this awesome service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that helped me figure out the whole international student tax situation. It actually analyzed all my documents and gave me step-by-step instructions for mailing everything. The coolest thing is they have this specific guide for international students that explains exactly what envelope to use, where to get stamps, and even shows pictures of how to properly address everything for the IRS. I was totally clueless about US mail before that!

Just wanted to update that I ended up trying taxr.ai like mentioned above and it was actually super helpful! Not only did it walk me through the mailing process, but it caught that I needed to file both Form 8843 AND Form 1040NR because of my campus job. I almost missed reporting some scholarship income that would have caused problems later. The step-by-step mailing instructions were perfect - told me exactly what size envelope to get, where to write everything, and even recommended getting a Certificate of Mailing from USPS for proof (only cost $1.50). Way easier than trying to figure it all out on my own!

If you're having trouble getting through to the IRS with questions about your international student tax forms (which can be a nightmare), I highly recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c As an international student last year, I spent HOURS trying to call the IRS international taxpayer line with questions about my 8843 and kept hitting dead ends. Claimyr got me through to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes who answered all my questions about mailing procedures and whether I needed any additional forms.

Ok I need to apologize because I just tried Claimyr after being super skeptical and it actually worked! I've been trying to get through to the IRS for THREE WEEKS about my international student tax situation with no luck. Used the service yesterday and got connected to an IRS representative in about 35 minutes (which is actually quick for international tax questions). The agent confirmed I'm supposed to mail my 8843 to the Austin, TX address, not the one listed in the general instructions. Apparently there's a different procedure for international students with no US income! Would have sent my forms to the wrong place without this info. Definitely worth it just for the peace of mind.

One thing to consider - make sure you make a photocopy or scan of your completed Form 8843 before mailing it! I learned this the hard way my first year. The IRS lost my form and I had no proof I sent it. Now I always make a copy, and I also get a Certificate of Mailing from USPS (it's only around $1.50) which gives you proof that you mailed something to the IRS on a specific date. This is really important because the penalties for not filing Form 8843 can be pretty severe for international students.

If this is your first time mailing anything, here's exactly what I did last year as a fellow international student: 1) Bought a box of business envelopes at Target for like $3 2) Got a book of stamps at the campus bookstore (you can get them at grocery stores too) 3) Printed my forms and made copies for my records 4) Addressed the envelope exactly as shown in the instructions 5) Put ONE forever stamp on the envelope (the forms aren't heavy) 6) Dropped it in a blue USPS mailbox on campus Super easy and it arrived fine! You don't need to overthink it or pay for priority unless you're mailing close to the deadline.

This is such a helpful thread! As another international student who was completely confused about US mail, I want to add that most university international student offices also have helpful resources. My school's ISO actually had a "Tax Filing 101" workshop that covered the basics of mailing forms, plus they keep a supply of business envelopes and stamps that students can use for free during tax season. Might be worth checking if your university has something similar! Also, if you're really nervous about mailing it yourself, many post offices have staff who can help you make sure everything is addressed correctly. Just tell them it's tax documents going to the IRS and they'll usually double-check that you have the right postage and format.