ITIN frequently asked questions

Eligibility

What is an ITIN?

An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number is a nine-digit tax processing number the IRS issues to people who need a US taxpayer number but can’t get a Social Security number. It always starts with 9. More in what is an ITIN.

Should I get an ITIN or an SSN?

If you’re eligible for a Social Security number, get that; you can’t hold both. US citizens, green card holders and people admitted to work in the US qualify for an SSN. Everyone else with a federal tax reason gets an ITIN. See ITIN vs SSN.

Can I get an ITIN if I live outside the US?

Yes. You can apply by mail from your home country or through a Certifying Acceptance Agent abroad, and you don’t need to visit the US. Allow 9 to 11 weeks from overseas.

Can my spouse and children get ITINs?

Only if they’re claimed for an allowable tax benefit on your return, or file their own. Allowable benefits include filing a joint return, head of household status and the credit for other dependents. Most dependents must also prove they live in the US.

Do I need an ITIN to set up a US company or LLC?

Not for the company itself. A business entity uses its own EIN, and the IRS doesn’t issue ITINs solely for starting a business. You’d need an ITIN only for your own federal tax filings. See ITIN vs EIN.

Applying and documents

How do I apply?

Fill in Form W-7, attach the federal tax return you need the number for (or proof of an exception), add your identity documents, and send the package to the IRS by mail or in person. Every step is in how to apply for an ITIN.

Can I apply online?

No. The IRS has no online ITIN application. Form W-7 needs your original signature and reaches the IRS by mail or in person, even when an agent or service prepares it.

What documents do I need?

A valid passport on its own, or at least two of the other 12 documents the IRS accepts, such as a national ID card and a civil birth certificate. They must be current and either originals or certified copies. See the ITIN documents checklist.

Do I have to send my original passport?

No. A copy certified by the passport office that issued it works, or a Certifying Acceptance Agent or IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center can check the original and hand it back. If you apply through us, our partner Certifying Acceptance Agent can verify your passport where that route fits your application.

Are notarized copies accepted?

No. Copies must be certified by the agency that issued the document. Only spouses and dependents of US military personnel applying from overseas can use notarized copies. See certified copies of a passport.

Do I have to file a tax return with my application?

Usually. Form W-7 goes in with the federal return you need the ITIN for, unless you meet one of five exceptions. They cover cases such as passive income a US payer withholds or reports tax on, a US home mortgage, and the sale of US real estate.

Where do I mail Form W-7?

To the IRS ITIN Operation in Austin, Texas: P.O. Box 149342, Austin, TX 78714-9342 by US mail, or the separate street address for couriers listed in the Form W-7 guide. Don’t use the address in your tax return’s instructions.

Timing and status

Can I get an ITIN faster?

The IRS doesn’t publish a way to pay for faster processing, so the best thing you can do is send a complete application. One narrow case is quicker: when the buyer or seller in a US real estate sale applies for an ITIN together with a request for a withholding certificate (Form 8288-B), the IRS processes the ITIN request within 10 days.

How do I check my application status?

Wait until the processing time has passed, then call the IRS on 800-829-1040 from the US or 267-941-1000 from abroad (not toll-free). See ITIN processing time.

What does a CP565 notice mean?

It’s the letter that assigns your ITIN. Check that your name and date of birth are right, keep it somewhere safe, and use the number on your returns. See the CP565 notice.

What if the IRS asks for more information or rejects my application?

A CP566 notice means the IRS needs more information: reply by mail within 45 days, or the application is rejected. A CP567 notice means it was rejected: fix the problem and apply again with a copy of your return. See ITIN application rejected.

When will I get my documents back?

Within 60 days, at the mailing address on line 2 of your Form W-7. If they haven’t arrived by then, call the IRS.

What if I move before my ITIN arrives?

Send the IRS Form 8822 with your new address, so the ITIN letter and your documents reach you.

Renewal and expiry

How do I renew an ITIN?

File a new Form W-7, check “Renew an existing ITIN”, enter your ITIN and the name it was issued under on lines 6e and 6f, and attach the tax return you need it for with current identity documents. See ITIN renewal.

Do I need to renew an ITIN that’s only used on 1099s?

No. If your ITIN only appears on information returns that report payments to you, such as Form 1099, you don’t need to renew it until you need it on a tax return.

What happens if I file with an expired ITIN?

Your return may be delayed, and you may not be able to claim certain credits until the ITIN is renewed. That can mean a smaller refund, or penalties and interest.

I lost my ITIN letter. How do I find my number?

Contact the IRS on 800-829-1040 from the US or 267-941-1000 from abroad. The IRS asks you to get in touch if you can’t find your CP565 notice.

Using your ITIN

Can I open a US bank account with an ITIN?

Some banks accept one, but each bank sets its own rules, and you’ll still need photo ID because an ITIN isn’t identification. Federal rules let banks accept an ITIN or, for non-US customers, a passport number. In June 2026, FinCEN and federal banking regulators encouraged banks to treat an ITIN used instead of an SSN as a possible risk factor, so expect extra checks.

Can I use an ITIN for PayPal, Stripe or Amazon?

Each platform sets its own requirements. Where a US tax number is needed, for example to claim a treaty rate on Form W-8BEN without a foreign tax ID, an ITIN is the number to use. See our pages on Stripe and PayPal.

Can I e-file with an ITIN?

Yes, from the calendar year after the ITIN is assigned, for the current tax year and the two before it. The return you send with Form W-7 has to be on paper.

Can I use my ITIN as ID?

No. The IRS says an ITIN isn’t valid as identification outside the federal tax system.

Does an ITIN qualify me for Social Security or the EITC?

No. An ITIN doesn’t qualify you for Social Security benefits or the Earned Income Tax Credit, and the child tax credit needs an SSN valid for work. A dependent with an ITIN who lives in the US can qualify you for the credit for other dependents.

What happens to my ITIN if I get an SSN?

Stop using the ITIN, use the SSN on your returns and write to the IRS so it can move your records to the new number.

Cost and help

Why pay someone if applying is free?

You don’t have to. People use an agent or a service to avoid mistakes that lead to rejection, or to avoid mailing a passport. TheITINapp prepares and reviews your Form W-7 and documents and submits the application for $299; see pricing.

Where can I get free help?

IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers in the US review Form W-7 and check documents; book on 844-545-5640. Some Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites have Certifying Acceptance Agents who help for free.