ITIN applications
Form W-7 preparation
We fill out the W-7 itself with your information, the reason you're applying, and the tax return it's tied to. Each box has to match exactly what's on the supporting documents.
ITIN applications
ITIN applications, filed the right way.
An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number lets people who can't get a Social Security Number still file a U.S. tax return. We prepare Form W-7, organize the documentation, and file alongside the return. If you'd rather not mail your original passport, we'll walk you through verifying your identity in person at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center so you keep it.
Who this is for
Do you need an ITIN?
An ITIN is for people who need to file or be claimed on a U.S. return but can’t get a Social Security Number. If one of these is you, we can help.
A non-resident spouse
So you can file a joint U.S. return together.
That’s me→A foreign-national dependent
To claim an eligible dependent on your return.
That’s me→A foreign investor with U.S. income
To properly report income from U.S. sources.
That’s me→An international student
When you have a U.S. filing obligation but no SSN.
That’s me→A foreign business owner
With U.S. tax obligations to meet.
That’s me→What this is
A taxpayer ID for people who can't get a Social Security Number.
An ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) is a nine-digit number the IRS issues to taxpayers who aren't eligible for a Social Security Number but still need to file or be claimed on a U.S. tax return. Common situations: a non-resident spouse, a foreign-national dependent, a foreign investor receiving U.S. income, an international student, or a foreign business owner with U.S. tax obligations. The application is Form W-7, and it has to be filed with the actual tax return it relates to — not as a standalone request.
What's involved
The pieces of an ITIN application.
Form W-7 is short, but the documentation requirements are strict and the IRS rejects applications with the smallest paperwork errors.
ITIN applications
Identity + foreign-status documents
You need to prove both identity AND foreign status. A passport does both. Without a passport, you'll need two documents (one for each). We walk you through what counts.
ITIN applications
Avoiding the 'mail-your-passport' trap
The default IRS process requires you to mail original identity documents (including passports) to Austin, Texas. There are two ways to skip that: a Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA) or an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC). We're not a CAA — so we prep your W-7 and return and walk you through the in-person TAC option, where you keep your originals.
ITIN applications
Tax return preparation alongside the W-7
The W-7 must be filed with the actual return it supports. We prepare both — usually a 1040 with the ITIN applicant claimed as a spouse or dependent — so they go in together.
ITIN applications
Renewals
ITINs expire if not used on a federal return for three consecutive years. We handle renewals on the same Form W-7 process.
ITIN applications
Family applications
Often we file W-7s for multiple family members at once (spouse + kids). Each has its own form and documentation, but we package them together with the family return.
Why this matters
An ITIN unlocks the rest of your tax return.
Without an ITIN, a non-resident spouse can't be claimed on a U.S. return, foreign investors can't properly report U.S. income, and many tax credits (like the Child Tax Credit for an eligible child) can't be claimed. The application process is its own small project — typical IRS processing is 7–11 weeks for new applications, longer during tax season. Filing it correctly the first time matters because the IRS rejection rate is high for self-prepared W-7s.
Common questions
What people ask us about this.
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