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The price to get help with your ITIN is not too high and is definitely worth it if you need one. Getting an SSN is easy if you are an US citizen, have a green card, or have a US visa that allows you to work. However, if you don’t live in the US, and you are not a citizen, or if you live in the US and have some specific type of visa that doesn’t allow you to have an SSN, it will be very complicated to get one. This guide will teach you how to get an ITIN and EIN even if you are not an US resident and do not have a green card. If you’re interested in starting your business, take the first step by clicking the “START MY BUSINESS” button on this page. Now, if you were present on those days with a B1 or B2 visa, then that rule wouldn’t apply.
- You must also include original documentation or certified copies from the issuing agency to prove identity and foreign status.
- These unique numbers are reserved for U.S. taxpayers who are unable to obtain a traditional Social Security number.
- Instead of mailing your ITIN Application to the Texas address above, you can also file your application in person at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC).
- So those days don’t count towards a substantial presence test, which could skew it towards being a US resident or non-resident.
- Do you have a Social Security number, or do you qualify to get one?
When applying for an ITIN in advance of your tax return, you will need to provide certain documents as proof of your identity. 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. To obtain an ITIN, you must complete IRS Form W-7, IRS Application for Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.
How to complete Form W-7 (Application for ITIN)
Even though the basic process for obtaining an ITIN is fairly straightforward, IRS forms are notoriously confusing for citizens and foreign nationals alike. Moreover, the steps for obtaining an ITIN become slightly more complex when reporting U.S. taxes while living abroad. An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is also known as a federal tax identification number, and is used to identify a business entity. It is also used by estates and trusts which have income which is required to be reported on Form 1041, U.S.
For a summary of those rules, please see the new Form W-7 and its instructions. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Section 203 of the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act, enacted on December 18, 2015, included provisions that affect the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) application process.
You might also use your ITIN to get tax treaty benefits that can lower your tax bill based on agreements between the U.S. and other countries. State taxes are one of the most misunderstood aspects of expat tax. Prior year transcripts – who to call, which forms to fill out, etc. Firstly, you will need to complete and sign Form W-7 as part of the ITIN application. The information contained in this web site is not a substitute for advice obtained from the Internal Revenue Service or a qualified tax professional. To learn about our professional expat tax preparation services, schedule a free consultation with us today.
You will receive a letter from the IRS assigning your tax identification number usually within seven weeks if you qualify for an ITIN and your application is complete. Most foreign students and scholars in F-1, J-1, M-1, and Q-1 nonimmigrant status are eligible to be employed in the United States and are, therefore, eligible to apply for an SSN if they are actually employed in the United States. Per our license requirements, your ID documents will need to be mailed in before the call. To renew an ITIN, you will resubmit Form W-7 (along with the required documentation) and you will check off “Renew an Existing ITIN” in the upper right of the form.
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Along with the completed Form W-7, you’ll submit identity documents and either a federal tax return or other documentation to show the federal tax purpose for which you need the ITIN. Most people applying for an ITIN can only do so if they are also filing their U.S. federal income tax return. However, if you meet one of the IRS Exceptions, then you can apply for the ITIN at any time and you do not have to include a U.S. tax return with your ITIN application. You generally make this choice when you file your joint return. If you make the choice with an amended return, you and your spouse must also amend any returns that you may have filed after the year for which you made the choice.
Why do I Need an ITIN?
These unique numbers are reserved for U.S. taxpayers who are unable to obtain a traditional Social Security number. Note, however, that having an ITIN doesn’t necessarily qualify one to work or reside in the United States. Applicants can also submit their W-7 by scheduling an appointment at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center while in the United States, or through a Certifying Acceptance Agent either in the United States or abroad. All Form 1040 tax returns from 2018 to 2025 will require a married filing jointly US tax return be attached to the ITIN application. Due to changes in US tax law (courtesy of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 2018), you can only obtain an ITIN for your non resident spouse, if they elect to file jointly with you and declare their worldwide income on your tax return (Form 1040).
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Non-resident aliens who do not qualify for an SSN need to apply for an ITIN number. Spouses and dependents of US citizens, and green card holders are also eligible for the identification number. You must file Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification NumberPDF to apply for an ITIN and to show that you have a federal tax purpose for seeking the ITIN.
We recommend making a copy of your Form W-7 (along with all supporting documentation) before submitting your paperwork to the IRS. If the address in #3 will be the same as a foreign address you listed in #2, then enter “SAME” on both lines in #3. Clients typically come to us when they’re looking to start their business but don’t know how to and don’t want to deal with complicated legal forms. For a lot of you non-resident aliens out there and US resident aliens, I hope it cleared up some confusion between the two. The first part is how to figure out if you’re a non-resident alien or a US resident alien.
How to obtain an ITIN for Non-Residents
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. Getting an ITIN is a relatively straight forward process that does not require your physical presence in the US. You will need to fill a number of forms and provide identification documents to get it. You will need to send those to the US and receive an answer after a few weeks by mail. An Acceptance Agent (AA) can help you complete and file Form W-7.
Do not shorten or abbreviate the country name (enter the full country name). If you have citizenship in two countries (dual citizenship), then enter both countries with a “/” in between the country names. If you permanently moved to the U.S. and you no longer have a foreign address, enter only the country where you last lived. 3.) If you entered a U.S. address in #2, then enter the foreign (non-U.S.) quickbooks for small business address in the country where you permanently or normally live. The IRS will use this address to send your ITIN Approval Letter as well as return any original documents (if necessary). We strongly recommend working with an accountant (specifically one that is listed as an IRS Acceptance Agent), since it is very easy to mess up Form W-7 and doing so will cause the IRS to reject your ITIN Application.