Individuals must have a filing requirement and file a valid federal income tax return to receive an ITIN unless they meet an exception. Original documents will be returned to the address on record after processing your application. The IRS is currently processing Form W-7s within 11 weeks after receipt. We are taking every action to minimize delays, and we are processing requests in the order they were received.
- You can do this with an SSN or an ITIN, but some banks will also accept other forms of ID.
- If the tax return you attach to Form W-7 is filed after the return’s due date, you may owe interest and/or penalties.
- An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is also known as a federal tax identification number, and is used to identify a business entity.
- The purpose of an ITIN is to ensure those who work in the U.S. have a method of paying taxes, even if they don’t qualify for a Social Security number (SSN) from the Social Security Administration.
We also suggest you send the application and documents by certified mail so you’ll have evidence of when you filed the application and where you sent it. An adoption taxpayer identification number, or ATIN, is a temporary, nine-digit tax ID number the IRS gives to people who are in the process of adopting a child. The IRS provides the number if the adopting parents cannot get a Social Security number for the child in time to file their tax return. The number identifies the child, not the parent, and is needed for the parent to claim the child as a dependent. 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.
How to file your federal tax return using an ITIN
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. Before proceeding further with the renewal process, knowing how to apply for the ITIN number makes sense. You can mail the W-7 and documentation to the address in the Form W-7 Instructions. Bring it to your local IRS office, or use an acceptance agent (colleges, financial institutions, or accounting firms that are authorized by the IRS to assist applicants in obtaining ITINs). They’ll review the W-7 and documentation before sending it to the IRS. Many applicants have reported the IRS lost their passports or other valuable and hard-to-replace identification documents.
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- To prevent delays, make sure you’ve provided the correct information and sent all the required supporting documentation.
- 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.
- Candice now lives in New Orleans where she admits she spends more than she should on restaurants because the food is as good as you’ve heard.
- An ITIN is valid so long as the taxpayer continues to use the ITIN number to file their taxes every year and to comply with tax reporting requirements.
- These documents must be the original document or certified copies.
All expired ITINs must be renewed before being used on a U.S. tax return. No action is needed by ITIN holders who don’t need to file a tax return next year. IRS issues ITIN to individuals who are required to have a U.S. taxpayer identification number but who do not have, and are not eligible to obtain a Social Security Number (SSN). The IRS no longer issues cards with your new ITIN number when they accept your ITIN number application. They will now send you an official IRS ITIN Letter in the mail to you or both you and your agent if you are using one. ITIN is often given to individuals who have to pay U.S. taxes but are not eligible for a social security number.
The application must be attached to a valid federal income tax return unless the individual qualifies for an exception. 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. It is used by the IRS to identify taxpayers who do not have a social security number. The only people who need to have an ITIN are people who are required to file federal tax returns but do not have a social security number.
The IRS wants to know why you are filling out the Form W-7 in the first place. Even if this is just a dependent filing for their ITIN, this is something the IRS needs to know. The IRS does have a process in place to make sure your original documents are returned to you. To receive your Individual Tax Identification Number, you need to apply for it. Once your ITIN application is approved, the IRS will issue your ITIN by mail.
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If this happens, you’ll need to resubmit all your materials – along with your most recently completed U.S. federal tax return. The standard processing time is still seven weeks, although the IRS points out that delays can last up to 11 weeks if the renewal paperwork is received during peak tax time (January 15 to April 30). An acceptance agent is a business or individual who has a written agreement with the IRS to assist individuals who don’t qualify for a social security number but need an ITIN to file taxes.
What Does ITIN Stand For
Have your form checked before submitting it by a competent business attorney. 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 general and administrative expense alien) on your return. Dependents who are not from Canada or Mexico, and not dependent on military members overseas WILL require a stamped date of entry into the US on their valid passports. ITIN is only used as a label by the federal government for filing taxes.
How Do I Retrieve My ITIN If I Lost It?
Completing the W-7 application and meeting their requirements is very complicated. 2) Supporting Documentation – based on the reason why you’re applying for an ITIN, I will instruct you further on how to obtain this after you sign up and I review your file. You can ONLY find your ITIN number on your official IRS ITIN Card/Letter that was issued to you from the IRS when you initially applied for an ITIN. IRS processes return showing SSNs or ITINs in the blanks where tax forms request SSNs.
If you do not want to apply for a PTIN online, use Form W-12, IRS Paid Preparer Tax Identification Number Application. For more information see Allowable Tax Benefits in the Instructions for Form W-7PDF. With the whole COVID situation, we can turn in ITIN applications to the IRS, but their processing is indefinitely delayed. Outside of tax season, doing it on your own (if done correctly), through a tax assistance center, or with a CPA, it takes at least 8 to 9 weeks. Moving outside of the tax season, applying through a CAA under normal circumstances, it takes between 3 to 4 weeks.
How to Apply for an ITIN
Once you apply for an ITIN, you can expect to hear from the IRS about the status of your application within seven weeks. If you have or are eligible to obtain a social security number, you are not eligible for an ITIN. A Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) is an identification number used by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the administration of tax laws. It is issued either by the Social Security Administration (SSA) or by the IRS.
How to Get an ITIN Number for Non-Resident Aliens
Form W-7(SP), Solicitud de Número de Identificación Personal del Contribuyente del Servicio de Impuestos Internos is available for use by Spanish speakers. 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). The Form 2441 must be attached to Form W-7 along with the U.S. federal tax return. Assuming you qualify for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (and you follow the W-7 form instructions correctly), you should receive an ITIN within seven weeks. But due to potential processing delays, it’s advisable that you add some extra wiggle room. This is especially true if you’re mailing your ITIN application to the U.S. from overseas as an expat or non-resident.
Certifying Acceptance Agents and many Taxpayer Assistance Centers, discussed below, may also certify certain documents. An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a tax processing number issued by the Internal Revenue Service. You will receive a letter from the IRS assigning your tax identification number usually within seven weeks if you qualify for an ITIN and your application is complete. It is important to note that a passport is the only documentation that can be used to prove both identity and foreign status. 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.
If you must send original documents, you can send the IRS a prepaid express envelope with your application to have them returned faster. We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. The IRS clarifies that you need either an ITIN or an SSN to get the Child Tax Credit. Of course, you’ll only receive that credit if meet the other reporting requirements for it.