This is the address the IRS will use to return your original documents and send written notification of your ITIN application status. If you’re applying for an ITIN under this category, you must provide the full name and SSN or ITIN of the U.S. citizen/resident alien. Allow 7 weeks for the IRS to notify you of your ITIN application status (9 to 11 weeks if you submit the application during peak processing periods (January 15 through April 30) or if you’re filing from overseas). If you haven’t received your ITIN or correspondence at the end of that time, you can call the IRS to find out the status of your application (see Telephone help, earlier). You can’t electronically file (e-file) a return using an ITIN in the calendar year the ITIN is assigned.

However, if they qualify for one of the five ITIN “exception” categories, then they do not have to include a tax return with their application. An ITIN application requires specific documentation that proves your identity and foreign status. In light of recent security breaches, many people are fearful of offering personal data and documentation to someone they don’t know, especially through the mail. To obtain an ITIN, you must complete IRS Form W-7, IRS Application for Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. The Form W-7 requires documentation substantiating foreign/alien status and true identity for each individual. You may either mail the documentation, along with the Form W-7, to the address shown in the Form W-7 Instructions, present it at IRS walk-in offices, or process your application through an Acceptance Agent authorized by the IRS.

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If you are not a U.S. citizen and do not have a Social Security number, learn how to get and use an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to file a federal tax return. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information. ITIN.com does not review the information submitted on your EIN application. We are not a law firm or a substitute for an attorney or law firm.

• If you meet one of the exceptions described in Exceptions Tables at the end of these instructions, you may complete and submit Form W-7 at any time.
• You are not required to provide the information requested on a form that is subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act unless the form displays a valid OMB control number.
• Ask your tax professional if a CAA is available at your H&R Block location.
• The parent or court-appointed guardian must type or print his or her name in the space provided and check the appropriate box that indicates his or her relationship to the applicant.
• The IRS wants to know why you are filling out the Form W-7 in the first place.

Outside of using original documentation, the only other option you have is to use certified copies. A certified copy requires you to go to where the original document was obtained and get them to get a copy for you. This person will review your necessary documents how to read large numbers on financial statements and forms and forward Form W-7 to the IRS. A Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA) is authorized by agreement with the IRS to review identity documents and assist taxpayers with Form W-7, Application for Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).

Instructions for Form W-7 – Notices

If a taxpayer submits their ITIN application to an acceptance agent, then the acceptance agent can send copies with the W-7 to the IRS processing center. If the taxpayer does not submit their application to an acceptance agent, then the original documents or certified copies are required to be sent. ITINs with the middle digits “70,” “71,” “72,” “78,” “79,” and “80” have expired. If your ITIN’s middle digits (the fourth and fifth positions) are “70,” “71,” “72,” “78,” “79,” or “80,” your ITIN is expired, unless you already submitted a renewal application and it was approved.

How do I get an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)?

ITINs allow taxpayers to stay in compliance with United States tax law. In some cases (such as claiming some dependent-connected tax benefits or filing jointly with a spouse), ITINs allow a taxpayer to benefit from tax rules that apply to all filers and not only to those with an SSN. GovPlus® is a private online software technology company not affiliated nor endorsed by any Government or State agency. We do not charge for any forms, however, we charge for use of our software in assisting you with completing the form.

Can I Only Apply For an ITIN With a Tax Return?

Similar to the process of getting a social security card replacement, acquiring an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a little tedious and requires specific qualifications to be met and paperwork to be filled out. Clients typically come to us when they’re looking to start their business but don’t know how to and don’t want to deal with complicated legal forms. If you want to find the quickest route, however, it is best to contact an attorney. By working with an attorney who has experience along these lines, you will not have to wait as long as you might if you try to apply for the number yourself. It is important to advise taxpayers about potential consequences.

Which ITIN’s Will Expire?

If you are applying for an ITIN on your own, then there is no official way for you to be able to check on the application’s ITIN status. As an IRS Certifying Acceptance Agent, once we receive the necessary documentations from you for your file to be deemed complete, we will file your ITIN application with the IRS. ITIN number is also needed to open a personal bank account in the US if you don’t have an SSN. Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a tax ID number individuals who are required to have a U.S. Taxpayer Identification Number but who do not have one and are not eligible to get an SSN must apply for. You will need to complete Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security CardPDF.

Civil birth certificates are considered current at all times because they don’t contain an expiration date. Use your SSN to file your tax return even if your SSN does not authorize employment or if you have been issued an SSN that authorizes employment and you lose your employment authorization. An ITIN will not be issued to you once you have been issued an SSN. If you received your SSN after previously using an ITIN, stop using your ITIN. Individuals who are not dependents and who use a Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA) can apply for an ITIN and retain their original documents (they do not have to mail their passports and other original documents to the IRS). Taxpayers filing with an ITIN cannot claim the Earned Income Tax Credit, which requires a valid SSN.