ITIN application support
Check whether you may need
an ITIN for a federal tax purpose.
An ITIN is an individual federal tax number, not a general business or banking ID. If you cannot obtain an SSN and have a qualifying federal tax reason, we can assess whether our application service fits. Eligible applications are forwarded to an IRS-authorized Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA) for document review; the available document route depends on the applicant and documents.
- Eligibility assessed before document collection
- Eligible applications forwarded to an IRS-authorized CAA
- IRS status notice: generally 7 weeks; 9–11 in peak season or overseas
- Renewal requests assessed under the same federal-purpose rules
ITIN Acquisition
$349
Flat fee · one-time · no subscription
Start ITIN applicationNeed an EIN instead? →- Individual federal tax-purpose review
- CAA referral for eligible requests
- Document route confirmed for your case
- Form W-7 package preparation
- IRS decision remains outside our control
How does the ITIN service work?
You confirm the ITIN need, submit documents, complete CAA certification, send the W-7 package, and confirm the IRS notice.
Before you start
- Estimated time
- About 20 minutes
- What you need
- Federal tax reason or IRS exception evidence, Identity and foreign-status documents
- Tools
- Form W-7, IRS-authorized Certifying Acceptance Agent review
- Cost
- $349 flat fee
Step 1
Confirm you need an ITIN
Confirm that you need an ITIN before collecting documents. An ITIN is a nine-digit tax ID issued by the IRS to individuals who must file or be identified on a US tax return but are not eligible for a Social Security Number. Many foreign-owned US LLC owners operate with just the LLC's EIN and never need one, so we check eligibility first and email you a short document checklist within 1 business day.
Step 2
Submit your documents
Send the identity documents on the checklist through the secure upload. Your passport is the key document: it is the one item that proves both identity and foreign status on its own. You keep the original — nothing is mailed to the IRS, because a CAA-certified copy is accepted in place of the original, and that certification happens in the next step.
Step 3
Complete the CAA certification
We forward your application to an IRS-authorized Certifying Acceptance Agent, who verifies your identity documents by video call or secure upload and certifies them. The IRS accepts that certification in place of your original passport, which stays with you throughout. Once the certification is complete, we prepare your Form W-7 with the certification attached, ready for submission.
Step 4
Send the W-7 package
We submit the Form W-7 package to the IRS ITIN Unit with the certification attached. The IRS says to allow about 7 weeks for a status notice, or 9–11 weeks when applying from overseas or between January 15 and April 30. These are IRS processing estimates and are outside our control, so plan any filing that depends on the ITIN around them.
Step 5
Confirm the IRS notice
Completion is the IRS notice assigning your ITIN, sent to the mailing address on Form W-7. Keep it with your records and use the number wherever a US tax filing asks for it. If the IRS writes to request more information instead, respond by the deadline in the notice; the application stays open until you do, so treat silence as pending, not as approval.
What is an ITIN?
An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a tax processing number issued by the IRS to individuals who need a US taxpayer ID but are not eligible for a Social Security Number. ITINs are for tax purposes only — they don't authorize work in the US or provide eligibility for Social Security benefits.
Common reasons non-residents need an ITIN:
- Filing a US non-resident tax return (Form 1040-NR)
- Filing a US federal return that requires the individual's tax ID
- Being an eligible spouse or dependent on a US return
- Using one of the narrowly documented IRS exceptions to the return requirement
Most applicants submit Form W-7 with a federal return; an exception needs its own evidence. The IRS says to allow 7 weeks for a status notice, or 9–11 weeks in peak season or when applying from overseas. It may request more information or reject an incomplete application.
Certifying Acceptance Agent
How do you choose the document route for your case?
Direct mail generally requires original documents or copies certified by the issuing agency. The IRS says it will return mailed supporting documents to the Form W-7 mailing address within 60 days. An IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center, participating VITA site, or an eligible CAA route can authenticate certain documents and return them at the appointment or review.
A CAA can authenticate most permitted supporting documents, but IRS rules limit what a CAA can authenticate, especially for some dependent and foreign military-ID cases. Document authentication is not an ITIN approval, and it does not replace the tax return or exception evidence.
We forward eligible requests to an IRS-authorized CAA for review. The application opens paid checkout before team review. If you are unsure about eligibility, documents, or whether related return preparation is included, contact us before purchasing.
Direct mail
- Originals or issuing-agency-certified copies
- IRS returns mailed documents within 60 days
- Self-prepared package or separate adviser
- IRS reviews the application
CAA or in-person route
- Authentication of most eligible documents
- Document limits still apply
- CAA services may be available abroad
- Same IRS processing decision
What ITIN questions do non-residents ask?
What is an ITIN?
An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a 9-digit tax ID issued by the IRS to individuals who need to file or be identified on a US tax return but are not eligible for a Social Security Number. It's in the format 9XX-XX-XXXX.
Who needs an ITIN?
An ITIN is for an individual who has a federal tax reason to be identified on a US return or meets a documented IRS exception, and who cannot obtain an SSN. A bank request, Form W-8BEN, or LLC ownership alone does not automatically establish eligibility.
Do I need an ITIN to run my US LLC?
Not always. Many foreign-owned US LLC owners use the LLC's EIN and do not need an ITIN personally. An ITIN application needs the owner's separate federal tax reason and supporting package; business ownership by itself is not one.
What is a Certifying Acceptance Agent and why does it matter?
A CAA is an IRS-authorized person or firm that can authenticate most permitted ITIN supporting documents. We forward eligible applications to an IRS-authorized CAA for review. The CAA determines the document route; some documents and situations may still require originals or issuing-agency-certified copies.
What documents do I need?
The package normally includes Form W-7, current identity and foreign-status evidence, and either a US federal return or the documents for a specific IRS exception. A valid passport is usually the only stand-alone document, but the required evidence depends on the reason for applying.
How long does the ITIN take?
The IRS says to allow 7 weeks for an ITIN status notice, or 9–11 weeks if you apply during January 15–April 30 or from overseas. Those are IRS timeframes, not a guaranteed issuance date, and incomplete packages can require more information.
What is the difference between an EIN and an ITIN?
An EIN is assigned to a business entity (your LLC). An ITIN is assigned to an individual. Your LLC has an EIN; you as a person would have an ITIN (or SSN). Most foreign-owned single-member LLC owners need an EIN for the LLC but may or may not need an ITIN for themselves.
| Question | EIN | ITIN |
|---|---|---|
| Who it identifies | Business entity (your LLC) | Individual |
| Who issues it | IRS | IRS |
| Needed for Form 5472? | Required for Form 5472 | Not always |
| How you apply through us | We prepare Form SS-4 | Form W-7 package preparation |
| Typical timing | 1–5 business days | 7 weeks; 9–11 weeks peak/overseas |
Can I apply for an ITIN and EIN at the same time?
An EIN and an ITIN identify different taxpayers: the LLC and the individual. Start only the application that has a real federal purpose; an ITIN should not be ordered merely because the LLC needs an EIN.
My ITIN expired. Can you renew it?
An ITIN generally expires after three consecutive years of nonuse on a US federal return. Renew only when it will be used on a return or another IRS rule requires it; the renewal still needs a qualifying reason and supporting documentation.
Get help with your ITIN application
You need an individual federal tax purpose and a suitable document route. Application submission leads to paid checkout before team review. Contact us first if unsure; IRS assignment is never guaranteed.
Start ITIN applicationAlso need an EIN for your LLC? See our EIN service →