Are you looking for an ITIN?

If you are a foreign national or non-resident alien and have income that is taxable in the United States, then you need to file U.S. tax returns even if your income is below the threshold for filing requirements. You may also be required to file a return if you are self-employed or receive certain types of investment income from U.S. sources regardless of your country of residence or citizenship status.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires all individuals who meet these criteria to obtain an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). This number will allow them to report their taxes accurately and avoid potential problems with the IRS down the road.

We can help! Optimum Tax Pro offers professional assistance with obtaining an ITIN so that our clients can comply with their tax obligations without any issues arising later on down the line when they’re ready to file their returns each year. Our team has years of experience helping people just like yourself get through this process quickly and easily so that they don’t have any complications come up during filing season next year! Let us take care of everything for you today!

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What are the requirements to apply for an ITIN?

  1. You need to have a valid tax ID number from your home country, and you must be in the United States to file your taxes.
  2. Your ITIN application will require proof of your identity and foreign status, as well as proof of your tax ID number from your home country. The most common documentation that is accepted includes a passport, driver’s license, or national ID card.
  3. You will also need to provide either an original or certified copy of your tax documentation from your home country.

What documents are acceptable as proof of identity and foreign status?

IRS streamlined the number of documents the agency accepts as proof of identity and foreign status to obtain an ITIN. There are 13 acceptable documents. Each document must be current and contain an expiration date. IRS will accept documents issued within 12 months of the application if no expiration date is normally available.  Documents must also show your name and photograph and support your claim of foreign status.

Below is the list of the only acceptable documents:

  1. Passport (stand-alone document) *
  2. National identification card (must show photo, name, current address, date of birth, and expiration date)
  3. U.S. driver’s license
  4. Civil birth certificate (required for dependents under 18 years of age)
  5. Foreign driver’s license
  6. U.S. state identification card
  7. Foreign voter’s registration card
  8. U.S. military identification card
  9. Foreign military identification card
  10. Visa
  11. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) photo identification
  12. Medical records (dependents only – under 6)
  13. School records (dependents only – under 14, under 18 if a student)

*A passport is the only document that proves both identity and foreign status.  For dependents, the passport must have a date of entry to be a stand-alone document, unless the dependent is from Military Overseas. If a passport is submitted, a combination of two or more documents must be submitted to meet the document requirements.

What documents are acceptable as proof of identity and foreign status for dependents without an entry date on their passport?

The passport is no longer accepted as a stand-alone identification document for dependents if the passport does not have a date of entry unless the dependent is Military Overseas.  Applicants will be required to submit (along with the passport) either:

  • U.S. medical records for dependents under age 6, or
  • U.S. school records for dependents under age 18
  • U.S. school records for dependents age 18 and over or
  • Rental Statement listing the Applicant’s Name and U.S. Address or
  • Utility Bill listing the Applicant’s Name and U.S. Address or
  • Bank Statement with Applicant’s Name and U.S. Address

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. How much would you charge me to file an ITIN application?? Filing an ITIN application is a start to gathering resources for taxes. For 1040, the IRS requires you to attach a federal income tax return or equivalent document. To compute taxes owed and to file for an ITIN. The fees vary, but chargeable services include pre-processing (checking eligibility and adding a letter before filing) and mailing returns to IRS. This fee ranged from $400 up to $750 plus related incurred costs depending on the complexity of the forms being filed.
  2. How long does it take IRS to process an ITIN application? It typically takes about 6-8 weeks for the IRS to process an ITIN application. However, it can take longer during peak tax season (January through April). You can expedite the processing of your ITIN application by submitting a completed and signed W-7 form, along with all required documentation, to the IRS. You should also include a cover letter explaining why you need an ITIN and specifying the deadline by which you need the number. If you submit your application with all required documents and information, and if it is complete, accurate, and legible, you should receive a response from the IRS within 2-3 weeks.
  3. Do I need to renew my ITIN every year? The IRS doesn’t require you to renew your ITIN every year. However, if you plan to file a tax return that reports taxable income, you will need to renew your ITIN if it has expired or is about to expire. Your ITIN will expire if it hasn’t been used on a federal tax return at least once in the last three years. So, if you have an expiring ITIN, be sure to use it on a tax return this year.

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