Sarah is an Enrolled Agent with the IRS and a former staff writer at Keeper. In 2022, she was named one of CPA Practice Advisor’s 20 Under 40 Top Influencers in the field of accounting. Her work has been featured in Business Insider, Money Under 30, Best Life, GOBankingRates, and Shopify.
After seven to 11 weeks
You will usually file an ITIN application, Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, with your first tax return, which you must file as a paper return, not electronically. All the exceptions are listed in the ITIN application instructions. Once the package is assembled, attach the Form W-7 to the front of your first-ever US federal income tax return, along with the supporting documents. Be sure to take a selfie for sentimental purposes (optional step). You can leave all the tax ID numbers on your 1040 tax return blank.
Sending important documents makes most people feel uneasy. Things get lost or damaged in the mail all the time, and replacing something like a passport is no small task. A taxpayer whose ITIN has been deactivated and needs to file a U.S. return can reapply using Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification online video maker, video editor and video hosting 2020 Number. As an independent organization within the IRS, the Taxpayer Advocate Service helps taxpayers resolve problems and recommends changes that will prevent problems. A current passport would meet all these requirements and is the only document you can submit on its own.
If your application your application was rejected
If you must send original documents, you can send the IRS a prepaid express envelope with your application to have them returned faster. At Keeper, we’re on a mission to help people overcome the complexity of taxes. We’ve provided this information for educational purposes, and it does not constitute tax, legal, comparative statement or accounting advice. If you would like a tax expert to clarify it for you, feel free to sign up for Keeper. The best option is to file your tax return as early in the tax filing season as possible.
Tax return requirement
Many applicants have reported that IRS lost their passports or other valuable and hard-to-replace identification documents. Consider getting certified copies or using one of the application methods listed below, rather than mailing original identification documents to the IRS. Apply for an ITIN in-person using the services of an IRS-authorized Certifying Acceptance Agent. This will prevent you from having to mail your proof of identity and foreign status documents. Certain offices can verify passports and national identification cards and return them immediately. A list of these in-person Document Review Taxpayer Assistance Centers is available on IRS.gov.
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- If you miss the 45-day window, your application will be automatically rejected.
- You can apply for an ITIN by bringing your completed forms (Including the completed Form W-7) and documentation to any IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center office.
- A certified copy is one that the original issuing agency provides, and certifies as an exact copy of the original, and contains an official stamped seal from the agency.
- As a rule, you can’t submit your W-7 package without attaching it to a tax return.
- No matter which way you file, we guarantee 100% accuracy and your maximum refund.
The identity documents must verify both your identity and your foreign status. Nonresident aliens claiming tax treaty benefits must submit original documents or copies certified by the issuing agency. Dependents of U.S. military personnel are required to submit original documents or certified copies unless the required documents to prove foreign status and identity are notarized by an agent of the Department of Defense. A copy of a U.S. military ID is required if the documents are notarized. An exclusive list of documents that are acceptable for this purpose is included in the Instructions for Form W-7.
Only a Social Security Number qualifies you to receive Social Security and other government benefits. For citizens (and some eligible residents standardizing financial statements or foreign nationals), that number is their Social Security Number — often assigned at birth. See how much you can save when a TurboTax expert does your taxes, start to finish.
Processing your ITIN application takes several weeks, so expect longer than normal delays for your tax return to be processed. If you decide to work with a CAA, they can verify your original documents and send certified copies to the IRS for you. The same rule of thumb goes for your dependents and your spouse. If you aren’t claiming them on your tax return, there’s no reason for them to get an ITIN number. The above article is intended to provide generalized financial information designed to educate a broad segment of the public; it does not give personalized tax, investment, legal, or other business and professional advice. ITIN holders must verify their identity through the video chat process and will need a valid email address, proof of ITIN, one primary document and one secondary document.