Who this is for
A tax number for people without a Social Security number.
An ITIN lets someone file a federal tax return when they are not eligible for a Social Security number. It is a tax processing number and nothing more — it does not affect immigration status, it does not create work authorisation, and it is not a benefit application.
Most applications are submitted attached to a tax return, which is why it makes sense to handle both in one appointment rather than two.
- Filers who need to file a federal return without a Social Security number
- Spouses and dependants being claimed on someone else's return
- Holders of an ITIN that has expired through three years of disuse
- Anyone whose ITIN has a middle digit range the IRS has retired
- People who had a return rejected because of an ITIN problem
- Families applying for several numbers at once
Prepared quickly — then IRS processing time
What to expect
- W‑7 prepared With your return
- Documents checked Before submission
- Submitted to the IRS As one package
- IRS processing Several weeks, typically
Processing time is set by the IRS and is longer during tax season.
What the work covers
What the ITIN work covers.
Form W‑7 prepared
Completed correctly, with the right reason code — the most common cause of rejection is the wrong box ticked here.
Filed with the return
The application and the tax return submitted together as a single package, which is what the IRS expects in most cases.
Documents reviewed first
We check what you have before anything is sent, so a package is not rejected over a document problem.
Renewals handled
An ITIN unused for three consecutive years expires. Renewal is a simpler process than a first application.
Dependants included
Multiple family members applied for in the same appointment where they belong on the same return.
Explained in plain terms
What the number does, what it does not do, and what arrives in the post when it is approved.
Before your appointment
What to bring for an ITIN application.
Document requirements are strict here and rejections are usually document problems, so bring more than you think you need.
Identity documents
- Valid passport, if you have one — this is the strongest single document
- Otherwise, two documents from the IRS accepted list
- National identity card, birth certificate or visa, as applicable
- For dependants: birth certificate and any school or medical records
For the return
- All income documents for the tax year being filed
- The Social Security number of the person claiming you, if applicable
- Any previous ITIN assignment or renewal letters
- Any IRS letter that prompted the renewal
Missing something? Come in anyway. Reconstructing a missing document is ordinary work for us, and it is faster to sort out across a desk than over email.
Common questions
ITINs, answered.
Does applying for an ITIN affect immigration status?
No. An ITIN is a tax processing number issued so that people not eligible for a Social Security number can meet a filing obligation. It confers no immigration status and no work authorisation, and it is not a benefit application.
Do I have to send my original passport to the IRS?
Not always. Original documents can be required, but certified copies from the issuing agency are accepted, and some applicants can verify documents in person through an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centre. We work out which route fits your case before anything is posted.
How long does it take?
The IRS controls the timeline and it runs longer during filing season. Several weeks is typical, sometimes more. We will tell you the current expectation when you apply.
My ITIN stopped working. What happened?
An ITIN not used on a federal return for three consecutive years expires automatically, and the IRS has also retired certain middle-digit ranges. Both are fixed by renewal, which is more straightforward than a first application.
One appointment for the number and the return.
Bring your documents in and we will check them, prepare the W‑7, and file it with your return together.