If you qualify for our assistance, which is always free, we will do everything possible to help you. A current passport would meet all these requirements and is the only document you can submit on its own. 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.
- Form W-7(SP), Solicitud de Número de Identificación Personal del Contribuyente del Servicio de Impuestos Internos is available for use by Spanish speakers.
- ITINs do not serve any purpose other than federal tax reporting.
- For instance, ITIN holders do not qualify for certain tax advantages, like the Earned Income Tax Credit.
- If you do not want to apply for a PTIN online, use Form W-12, IRS Paid Preparer Tax Identification Number Application.
- Hence, if you’re eligible for an SSN, it’s suggested that you apply for that rather than an ITIN.
Taxpayer identification numbers (TIN)
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. They don’t entitle the taxpayer to Social Security benefits, stimulus payments, or other benefits. If you are submitting proof of your foreign status, it could be your foreign passport or national identification card with a photo, name, and foreign address. If you’re required to file a tax return and aren’t eligible for a Social Security number, you need to apply for an ITIN (See the What should I do? section, above).
Where to apply?
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. This allows you to avoid mailing your original documents, or certified copies, to 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.
Is the ITIN a way for the government to track undocumented immigrants?
The advantage to using CAAs is that for primary and secondary applicants (like a spouse), the CAA can certify that your documents are original and make copies to send to the IRS. That way, you won’t have to mail your originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. 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. Certifying Acceptance Agents and many Taxpayer Assistance Centers, discussed below, may also certify certain documents. An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is also known as a federal tax identification number, and is used to identify a business entity.
Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. For a summary of those rules, please see the new Form W-7 and its instructions.
Furthermore, local communities may also have resources such as workshops or assistance programs provided by community organizations, tax preparers, or legal aid organizations. These can offer tailored, in-person assistance, making the process less intimidating. Also, remember that the use of ITINs does come with certain restrictions. For instance, ITIN holders do not qualify for certain tax advantages, like the Earned Income Tax Credit. Yet, there are other tax credits, such as the Child Tax Credit, for which they might qualify, provided they satisfy all the required conditions.
The IRS requires certain documentation to verify your identity and foreign status. You’ll need to submit originals or certified copies of the documents required for the process. You can apply for an ITIN any time during the year when you have a filing or reporting requirement. At a minimum, you should complete Form W-7 when you are ready to file your federal income tax return by the return’s prescribed due date. 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. 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.
This unique number is assigned by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to individuals who are obliged depreciation definition to have a U.S. taxpayer identification number but cannot get a Social Security Number (SSN). 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. A Social Security number (SSN) is issued by the SSA whereas all other TINs are issued by the IRS. The IRS website is a valuable resource for ITIN-related information.