Apply for an ITIN Online With a Certified Acceptance Agent

A nine-digit number the IRS issues to people who must file US taxes but can't get a Social Security Number. You need one to file a US return, claim a treaty benefit, or be listed as a dependent or spouse on someone else's. If you can get an SSN, you don't need an ITIN and aren't eligible for one.

No. It's for federal tax reporting only. It carries no immigration status, no work authorization, and no Social Security eligibility. Anyone telling you otherwise is selling you something.

Yes. We're an IRS Certified Acceptance Agent, so we verify your identity on a video call rather than sending you to an embassy, consulate, or IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center. Form W-7 itself still goes to the IRS on paper — the IRS has no online ITIN application for anyone.

You can, and the IRS charges nothing for it. If you're comfortable with the form and willing to mail your original passport to Austin, Texas, and wait for its return, DIY is a legitimate choice, and we'll tell you so. What you're paying us for is a correctly completed W-7, a Certified Acceptance Agent who certifies your passport so you never have to mail it, and someone to fix it if the IRS sends it back. Not for the number itself.

No. Self-filers do. Because we're a CAA, we certify your documents and submit a Certificate of Accuracy in their place.

Usually, just a valid passport — it's the only document that proves identity and foreign status on its own. Without one, the IRS wants two from its approved list, such as a national ID and a foreign driver's license. You'll also need a qualifying reason to apply.

Usually, yes — the W-7 normally goes attached to a return. Exceptions exist, including treaty benefit claims, third-party withholding on passive income, and certain mortgage interest and gambling cases. We confirm which exception applies before filing, because claiming the wrong one is a common rejection reason.

6-7 weeks from IRS submission under normal conditions. January through April, it runs longer. We control how fast and how accurately the application goes in; we don't control the IRS, and neither does anyone who quotes you a guaranteed total.

$399 one-time, covering document preparation, CAA verification, IRS filing, and status tracking. The IRS charges no fee for Form W-7.

We review every W-7 before filing, which is how we hold a 99% first-pass rate across 3,200+ applications. If the IRS rejects one we filed, we correct and resubmit at no cost to you and tell you what went wrong.

They're different numbers for different things. An EIN identifies your company; an ITIN identifies you personally for tax purposes. A non-resident with a US LLC often needs both.

Yes. It lapses if it goes unused on a federal return for three consecutive years. Renewal is another Form W-7.

Some institutions accept one; many don't, and each sets its own policy. We can tell you what's realistic for your situation, but anyone guaranteeing bank approval is guaranteeing something they don't control.