As IRS Certifying Acceptance Agents, we’re trained and authorized by the IRS to assist foreign individuals who don’t qualify for a Social Security Number get their ITIN quickly. Foreign buyers and sellers of U.S. real property interests need Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TINs) to request reduced tax withholding when online custom receipt generator disposing of the property interest, and to pay any required withholding. Individuals who do not qualify for Social Security Numbers may obtain Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) to meet the requirement to supply a TIN. Click ITIN Guidance for Foreign Property Buyers/Sellers for more information.

If your ITIN expires, then your ITIN will no longer be valid under your name and will be open to being reissued to other applicants who qualify and applied for one. You should apply for ITIN number as soon as you can just so you have it done and out of the way. However, applying for an ITIN isn’t like filing your taxes. There isn’t a window in which you have to apply or a deadline you have to meet each year.

A Social Security number is only issued for citizens and qualifying resident aliens, such as green card holders. This number keeps track of the years you’ve worked in the U.S. and your lifetime earnings. Get a refund of income tax withholding from the IRS, if you qualify. IRS.COM is a non-government website designed to help taxpayers find accurate, easy-to-understand tax information, valuable tax products, and tax-related services. We strive to be the most user-friendly tax-related platform. The only time the IRS would share information with other government organizations is from a specific, hands-on process.

It cannot be used to claim social security or other benefits that are not related to federal income tax. To begin the process, you will need to complete an IRS form W-7 and include the required paperwork – documents that are used to prove your identity and foreign or alien status. Box 6d on the W-7 form, “Entry date in the U.S.,” can make some taxpayers who entered the U.S. without documentation a bit hesitant. However, the entry date is needed where the taxpayer is applying for the ITIN as a “resident” for tax purposes.

Before proceeding further with the renewal process, knowing how to apply for the ITIN number makes sense. It is possible to apply for ITIN number regardless of immigration status because both residents and non-resident aliens may have a U.S. filing or tax reporting requirements. Citizens to file taxes and open a bank account without an SSN.

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

The Form W-7 requires documentation substantiating foreign/alien status and true identity for each individual. Form W-7(SP), Solicitud de Número de Identificación Personal del Contribuyente del Servicio de Impuestos Internos is available for use by Spanish speakers. You should apply for an ITIN if you are required to file or report your tax return but you don’t have a social security number. Take a look here to understand the difference between an ITIN and an SSN. ITIN stands for the words, Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. This number is designed for use, primarily by non-resident aliens to file the taxes for their business.

• 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.
• Such investors need ITINs in order to file federal and state tax returns to report rental income.
• A certified copy requires you to go to where the original document was obtained and get them to get a copy for you.
• Box 6d on the W-7 form, “Entry date in the U.S.,” can make some taxpayers who entered the U.S. without documentation a bit hesitant.

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.

You just need to provide your supporting documents and completed Form W-7 to the IRS representative at the Center. It is also possible to apply for a new ITIN in person at an IRS-authorised Certifying Acceptance agent. If you use this method, you still need to have and show your original supporting documents. The agent will make copies of them and certify them for your application. If you want to speak to us directly you can e-mail us at And if you’re ready to sign up for the ITIN application service and would love to go ahead and click the link below to get started. You qualify for those exemption categories, but it’s not in the right format or it’s not correct.

If the applicant lives in the U.S., then no foreign address is necessary. Your Individual Tax Identification Number is a tax identification number used by the IRS. It makes it possible for someone who can’t get an SSN to still file taxes. If you are an illegal immigrant who has taxable income in the United States, you need an ITIN to file taxes. If you have not received your documents within 60 days of sending in your application, you can reach out to the IRS to inquire as to where they are or when they might be returned to you.

Can ITINs be used as proof of identification to obtain a state driver’s license?

An ITIN is used by non residents who do business in the US and must report taxes. While a number of situations may lead to applying for an ITIN, most applicants fall under one of the following classifications. You only need to apply for an ITIN if your spouse is required to have one. Otherwise, you can file taxes as married filing separately or married filing jointly and mark NRA (non-resident alien) on your return. Some advocates report problems with leaving the foreign address section blank even when they check that the taxpayer is a U.S. resident. If the taxpayer is in the United States, a U.S. address in box 2, and the name of the foreign city and country is sufficient for the foreign address.

Are ITINs valid for work purposes?

Ana Gonzalez-Ribeiro, MBA, AFC® is an Accredited Financial Counselor® and a Bilingual Personal Finance Writer and Educator dedicated to helping populations that need financial literacy and counseling. Her informative articles have been published in various news outlets and websites including Huffington Post, Fidelity, Fox Business News, MSN and Yahoo Finance. She also founded the personal financial and motivational site and translated into Spanish the book, Financial Advice for Blue Collar America by Kathryn B. Hauer, CFP.

How long does it take to renew an ITIN?

After you fill it out, you will receive a response back within the same day letting you know whether you qualify to apply for ITIN. No, you’re not legally allowed to apply for an ITIN if you have an SSN or are currently applying for an SSN. Need to know how to claim a dependent or if someone qualifies?

ITIN Renewal FAQ

Please note that we do not have ANY control whatsoever with the operation pace and processing rate of ITIN applications by the IRS ITIN Department. They process and issue the ITIN’s based on their own circumstances during COVID-19. 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.

Beginning January 1, 2011, if you are a paid tax preparer you must use a valid Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) on returns you prepare. If you do not have a PTIN, you must get one by using the new IRS sign-up system. Even if you have a PTIN but you received it prior to September 28, 2010, you must apply for a new or renewed PTIN by using the new system. If all your authentication information matches, you may be issued the same number. You must have a PTIN if you, for compensation, prepare all or substantially all of any federal tax return or claim for refund. An ITIN may be assigned to an alien dependent from Canada or Mexico if that dependent qualifies a taxpayer for a child or dependent care credit (claimed on Form 2441).

How do I claim the federal earned income tax credit or child tax credit?

If you are married and filing jointly, plan to have your spouse present to sign your tax forms before you file. The process of how to get an ITIN number is straightforward. It takes up to seven weeks for the IRS to issue a new ITIN if you apply in person.