Can I file Form 8840 online?
Checked for the 2026 tax year · Updated October 2026
No. Form 8840 filed on its own can’t be sent online, by email or by fax. You print it, sign it in pen and mail it. Filling it out can be done online in minutes.
Why it has to be mailed
The IRS has no online system for filing Form 8840 by itself. When you file it on its own (not with a US tax return), the IRS needs a paper form with your handwritten signature, sent by mail.
If you do file a US tax return (Form 1040-NR), Form 8840 goes with that return instead. That's usually a job for a cross-border tax professional, who will handle how it's sent.
The quickest way to do it
- Fill it out on a computer. The IRS PDF is fillable, so you can type into it, or use a service like ours that fills it out from plain questions and checks your day count.
- Print it. Two pages. Single-sided is fine.
- Sign and date page 2 in pen. Typed or digital signatures don't count for a paper form.
- Mail it by June 15. To the IRS in Austin, Texas. See where to mail Form 8840 from Canada.
Can I email or fax it?
No. The IRS doesn't accept Form 8840 by email or fax. Mail is the only way when you file it on its own.
Do I get a confirmation?
No. The IRS doesn't send one for Form 8840. Keep a copy of what you mailed. If you want proof it arrived, Canada Post offers tracked options to the US.
Onward is an independent Canadian service, not the IRS. This page explains the rules in plain terms; it isn't tax or legal advice. If your situation is unusual, speak with a cross-border tax professional.