Internal Revenue Service issues an Individual
Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN ) to
individuals who are not eligible to obtain social security number. ITIN is a tax processing number.
You may want to apply for an ITIN if one of the
following condition exists:
- you need to file income tax return with the IRS;
- you need to be claimed as a dependent on the
income tax return;
- you have been asked to fill out Form W-8 BEN;
An ITIN does not give you authority to work in the
United States or provide eligibility for Social Security Benefits or the Earned
Income Tax Credit. ITINs are solely for foreign tax reporting and are not
intended for any other purpose.
How do I Apply
for an ITIN
Normally, you apply for an ITIN at the time when
you are filing your income tax return. You
are required to fill out Form W-7 and attach to the front of the return along
with original, notarized or certified proof of identity and foreign status
documents.
If you live within the United States, notarized copy
of the passport is acceptable by the IRS.
On the other hand, if you live outside the United States, notarized copy
of the passport may not be acceptable.
For example, if you live in Canada, notarized copy of the passport is
not acceptable by the IRS. To obtain
certified copy of the passport, you can either engage services of an IRS
Certifying Acceptance Agent or visit any Canadian passport office and request
certified copies of the passport.
Canadian passport offices provide this service free of charge.
In cases where you need to apply for an ITIN
prior to filing your income tax return, you must meet one of the
exceptions. If this is the case, then
you need to submit the following:
- original, notarized or certified proof of
identity and foreign status documents;
- a letter
from the entity who is asking you to obtain ITIN number.
The entire procedure takes approximately six to
eight weeks.
We are IRS
Certifying Acceptance Agent, kindly contact us for more information.
