Frequently asked questions

An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number is a 9-digit number the IRS issues for federal tax purposes to people who need a U.S. taxpayer ID and are not eligible for a Social Security number (SSN).

People who have a federal tax purpose, such as filing a U.S. tax return, being claimed for an allowable tax benefit, or another reason listed on Form W-7, and who cannot get an SSN. Immigration status alone does not determine whether you can get an ITIN.

No. An ITIN is for federal tax purposes only. It does not authorize work in the United States, does not qualify you for Social Security benefits or the Earned Income Tax Credit, and does not change your immigration status.

An SSN identifies a person who is eligible for one. An ITIN identifies a person for tax purposes when an SSN is not available. An EIN identifies a business or other entity, not a person. A foreign-owned U.S. LLC often has an EIN even when its owner does not have an ITIN.

No. If you have an SSN or are eligible to get one, you should not apply for an ITIN. Use your SSN for tax filing instead.

Form W-7 lists reasons such as claiming a tax treaty benefit, filing a return as a nonresident or resident alien, being a spouse or dependent claimed for an allowable tax benefit, studying or researching in the U.S., and certain other exceptions, including some business-related situations. Our application explains each one in plain language.

Not always. Many foreign-owned single-member LLCs use an EIN and file information returns such as Form 5472 without the owner having an ITIN. You may need an ITIN if you personally have a U.S. filing requirement or want to claim a treaty benefit. If you are not sure, ask a tax professional. When an ITIN is required, we can help you prepare Form W-7.

Often, when they have a federal tax purpose of their own. Most commonly that means being claimed for an allowable tax benefit on a U.S. return, or filing their own return. Since the 2018 tax-law changes, simply listing a spouse or dependent on a return is generally not enough.

Yes, as long as you still have a federal tax purpose. A renewal also uses Form W-7 with supporting identification, and usually a tax return unless an exception applies. When you start an application, say that you are renewing and include your previous ITIN in the “Anything we should know” notes.

Apply online in about five minutes and pay the assistance fee. We then email a private link so you can photograph your passport and take a live selfie. Our team reviews those photos, helps prepare your Form W-7, and tells you exactly what to do next to submit it to the IRS. Everything is handled remotely, and you receive an email confirmation.

The IRS accepts 13 types of documents. A valid passport is usually enough on its own, because it proves both identity and foreign status. Without a passport, you generally need at least two documents that together prove both. Dependents may also need proof of U.S. residency. We tell you which documents apply to your situation.

Often, yes. The IRS generally requires original identification or copies certified by the agency that issued them. Some documents can instead be verified in person, for example by a Certifying Acceptance Agent or at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center. We tell you exactly how to submit identification the IRS accepts for your file, so you do not have to guess. The IRS generally returns original documents to the mailing address on your Form W-7 within about 60 days.

Usually, yes. A Form 1040 or 1040-NR is attached to Form W-7 unless you qualify for an IRS exception. Each exception requires the specific supporting evidence the IRS lists for it.

Generally, no. The IRS wants originals or copies certified by the issuing agency, with limited exceptions. Do not email scans of your passport. After you pay, we send a private link for a live identity check instead. See Identity check.

Send a data deletion request through our contact form. Include your name, the email you applied with, and your application reference if you have one. We delete or de-identify your information once it is no longer needed for your application, unless the law requires us to keep certain records. See our privacy policy for details.

Not right away. Once your application has been filed with the IRS, we must keep the records described in IRS Publication 4520, the IRS guide to ITIN recordkeeping, in case the IRS reviews or audits the application. In short:

• What we keep: your signed Form W-7, the U.S. tax return filed with it (unless an IRS exception applied), copies of the identification and supporting documents your application relied on, our notes from your application, and IRS notices about it.
• How long the IRS requires: at least 3 calendar years after the year your application is mailed to the IRS.
• How long we keep them: 7 years from the date we file your application, to cover a possible IRS audit. Once those 7 years are up, we delete the records from our systems automatically, whether or not you have asked us to.

KYC means Know Your Customer: confirming you are the person named on the application before we prepare Form W-7. After you pay, we email a private link. You photograph the photo page of your passport and take a live selfie so we can match them. This is our review step. We are not the IRS, we are not a Certifying Acceptance Agent, and this check does not authenticate identification for the IRS.

A valid passport is usually enough on its own for the IRS because it proves both identity and foreign status. We need a clear photo of that photo page so our team can prepare your file accurately. The selfie lets us check that the person applying is the person in the passport, so we do not prepare a W-7 for the wrong file. We do not send the selfie to the IRS.

Not during the form. Apply and pay first. We then email a unique link, valid for seven days, to photograph your passport and take a selfie. Photos are taken live on that page with your phone or computer camera. Uploaded, emailed, or screenshotted photos are not accepted.

Lay the passport flat in good light, with no glare. Fit the whole photo page in the frame, including your portrait and the two lines of letters and numbers at the bottom. Do not cover any part of the page with your fingers. If the page is blurry, our system will ask you to retake it.

Face the camera in good light, with your whole face inside the oval. Remove glasses, hats, and anything covering your face. The selfie must be of you, taken live — not a photo of your passport portrait, and not someone else.

The link is unique to your application and expires. Photos are taken in the browser and stored encrypted for our team to review your file. We do not ask you to email passport scans. See our privacy policy for what we collect, why, and how long we keep it.

The IRS accepts other identification when a passport is not available, usually at least two documents that together prove identity and foreign status. Our live identity check currently uses a passport. If you cannot use a passport, contact us with your situation and we will tell you how to proceed.

You can retake a photo if the page is unreadable or the selfie does not match. After a few tries we still accept the photos and our team reviews them by hand. If the link expires or you need a new one, contact us with your application reference.

No. The identity check is for our review only. The IRS generally still requires original identification or copies certified by the issuing agency, unless you verify documents in person with a Certifying Acceptance Agent or at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center. After we review your photos, we tell you exactly how to submit identification the IRS accepts for your file.

The IRS typically notifies you about 7 weeks after it receives your application. Allow 9 to 11 weeks if it arrives during peak season (January 15 through April 30) or if you apply from outside the United States. Processing times are set by the IRS, and we do not control them. We monitor your application and keep you updated.

A CP565 notice means your ITIN was assigned. A CP566 notice means the IRS needs more information. A CP567 notice means the application was rejected and must be resubmitted. Keep your mailing address current so these notices reach you.

No. ITIN Solutions is a private assistance service operated by TaxFlow Labs, which prepares and files the applications submitted through this site. Replies to your application or messages may come from a taxflowlabs.io email address. We are not the IRS and do not issue ITINs.

The $297 (regularly $499) assistance fee covers help preparing Form W-7, staff review of your file, and remote filing support. The IRS does not charge to assign an ITIN, and our fee does not include any other government charges. Card payments are handled by a third-party payment processor, and we do not store your full card number.

Our terms have the details. If we have not begun reviewing your file, you may request a refund of an online payment through our contact form. If an application is declined because of a mistake on our side, we correct and refile it at no cost to you. Incomplete or inaccurate information you provide can delay or prevent IRS approval.

No. An ITIN can make you eligible to apply at many banks and card issuers, but each one sets its own approval rules, and we do not control their decisions.

Choose Start application or go to Apply. You will see your reference code before you pay. After you pay, we email a confirmation and a separate private link for the identity check.

Use our contact form, and include your reference code if you have already applied.

Contact us as soon as possible and include your reference code. If you already know a detail is incorrect, do not wait for the IRS to reject the application.