USA.gov is the new centralized place for finding government benefits for health care, housing, food, unemployment, and more. 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. Your financial support will help make citizenship more affordable for millions of future Americans.

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. 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.

Individual taxpayer identification number

If you are not a U.S. citizen and do not have a Social Security number, learn how to get and use an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to file a federal tax return. It enables them to file taxes, which can be helpful in establishing a credit history, qualifying for loans, and other financial activities. Additionally, an ITIN can also be used to open a bank account and access financial services that require identification, such as mortgages or credit cards. If you qualify for an exception, then file Form W-7 with your proof of identity and foreign status documents and supporting documentation for the exception. Generally, ITIN filers are not eligible to get SSNs because a prerequisite for receiving an ITIN is inability to obtain an SSN. However, an ITIN holder can become eligible to receive an SSN after receiving an ITIN.

1. 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.
2. Later on, showing how responsible you were in filing and paying your taxes with your ITIN can help as supporting evidence of Good Moral Character for the citizenship application.
3. 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?

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. A current passport would meet all these requirements and is the only document you can submit on its own. If you must send original documents, you can send the IRS a prepaid express envelope with your application to have them returned faster.

How to apply for an ITIN

See IRS.gov – ITIN Updated Procedures Frequently Asked Questions. For more information see Allowable Tax Benefits in the Instructions for Form W-7 PDF. Proposed regulations permitting the IRS to shorten third-party notice requirements in certain circum… Acceptance Agents (AAs) and Certifying Acceptance Agents (CAAs) can help you complete applications.

This will prevent you from having to mail your proof of identity and foreign status documents. 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. They don’t entitle the taxpayer to Social Security benefits, stimulus payments, or other benefits.

However, if you apply in person, you can get your ITIN the same free accounting courses day. The ITIN is used solely for tax purposes, and it is not intended to serve any other purpose. ITINs do not authorize individuals to work in the United States or provide eligibility for Social Security benefits. 2 Generally, immigrants with work authorization can obtain SSNs.