You can mail the W-7 and documentation to the address in the Form W-7 stockholders equity Instructions. Bring it to your local IRS office, or use an acceptance agent (colleges, financial institutions, or accounting firms that are authorized by the IRS to assist applicants in obtaining ITINs). They’ll review the W-7 and documentation before sending it to the IRS. You will only file a tax return to the address above once, when you file Form W-7 to get an ITIN. In subsequent years, when you have an ITIN, you will file your tax return as directed in the form instructions.

What are taxes?

The extended due dates apply to most federal tax returns and payments, including those for income taxes (including estimated tax payments), payroll taxes, and excise taxes. If you’re impacted by a natural disaster, check our IRS Disaster Relief page to see if you qualify for an automatic tax filing or payment extension. The Individual Tax Identification Number, or ITIN, allows taxpayers who don’t have a Social Security Number (SSN) to file income tax returns.

IRS issues ITINs to help individuals comply with the U.S. tax laws, and to provide a means to efficiently process and account for tax returns and payments for those not eligible for Social Security numbers. They are issued regardless of immigration status, because both decision making framework resident and nonresident aliens may have a U.S. filing or reporting requirement under the Internal Revenue Code. ITINs do not serve any purpose other than federal tax reporting.

1. If they can’t get an SSN, the IRS says spouses or dependents of nonresident or resident aliens also typically need ITINs.
2. And now that you know more about how ITINs work and who may need one, you might be curious to learn more about what taxes are, how to file taxes and what happens if you don’t pay your taxes.
3. And in some states, ITINs can be used to get a driver’s license.
4. If you do not have a PTIN, you must get one by using the new IRS sign-up system.
5. Having an ITIN number won’t make you eligible for benefits, such as Social Security or earned income credits that provide refunds to some low-income filers.
6. Or, get unlimited help and advice from tax experts while you do your taxes with TurboTax Live Assisted.

What Is a Taxpayer Identification Number and How Do I Get One?

All Form W-7 applications, including renewals, must include a U.S. federal tax return unless you meet an exception to the filing requirement. If you qualify for an exception, then file Form W-7 with your proof of identity and foreign status documents and supporting documentation for the exception. Apply for an ITIN in-person using the services of an IRS-authorized Certifying Acceptance Agent. This will prevent you from having to mail your proof of identity and foreign status documents. You may also need to send or present proof of identity and foreign status documents along with your W-7 form. To apply for an ITIN, complete IRS Form W-7, IRS Application for Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.

Get an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to file your tax return

No matter which way you file, we guarantee 100% accuracy cash sweep program and your maximum refund. You should expect to hear back from the IRS about your approval status after no more than seven weeks — look for a letter in the mail with your ITIN when your application is approved. If you do not want to apply for a PTIN online, use Form W-12, IRS Paid Preparer Tax Identification Number Application. If your ITIN has expired—which can happen if it hasn’t been used on a tax return in the past three years—you’ll have to renew it. ITINs can also sometimes be used for other purposes, like applying for a credit card or opening a bank account.

If you are not a U.S. citizen and do not have a Social Security number, learn how to get and use an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to file a federal tax return. Applicants who meet one of the exceptions to the requirement to file a tax return (see the Instructions for Form W-7) must provide documentation to support the exception. ITINs can be renewed using the same W-7 form you used to apply for the number in the first place.

If someone doesn’t meet the criteria of these two tests or has an option to override them, they’re generally considered a nonresident alien by the IRS. It’s also important to note that nonresident aliens claiming tax treaty benefits may also need an ITIN. They don’t entitle the taxpayer to Social Security benefits, stimulus payments, or other benefits.