Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) from the Inland Revenue Service (IRS).

Obtain an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) from the IRS

An Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) is issued by the United States (U.S.) tax authority called the Inland Revenue Service (IRS). An ITIN is a 9-digit number. ITIN is for foreigners that need a tax identifications number and may be used for other forms of I.D. too.

ITIN or SSN is the question that is frequently asked from expats moving to the U.S. An ITIN is not an SSN, and an SSN is not an ITIN. They are unique reference numbers, and only one is obtained.

American citizens and green-card holders may have a Social Security Number (SSN) tax identification number. It is unlikely that a British, Spanish or Hong Kong person or any other foreign person will obtain an SSN. It is most likely that someone moving or investing in the United States of America will need to get an ITIN to be identified for tax purposes.

In the United Kingdom, you may have a Unique Tax Reference (UTR) number issued by HMRC for U.K. tax purposes. The ITIN number is the American equivalent. Obtaining an ITIN number allows non-American citizens and green card holders to file a 1040 tax return to the IRS by using their ITIN number.

Please note that the ITIN number obtained by foreigners that live in the United States does not entitle them to financial benefits, nor does it change your VISA immigration status in any way. Who issues ITIN numbers? This is a common question that needs to be answered. The IRS in the United States provides ITIN numbers to Brits, Spanish, and Hong Kongers moving to America.

Did you know that foreigners moving to the U.S. are called aliens? Foreigners or aliens that live in the United States are referred to as resident aliens. For foreigners or aliens that do not live in the United States are called non-resident aliens.

Some of the other benefits of having an ITIN are as follows

Mortgage

Get a mortgage on a real estate property that you live in or as an investment

Bank accounts

Open a bank account and use the ITIN to identify yourself with the bank manager

Credit cards

Credit cards may be obtained by resident aliens that live in the United States

Tax credits

ITIN holders will also benefit from child tax credits that help you reduce IRS tax liabilities when completing your 1040 tax return.

US Driver's licence

Driver's licence applications require the ITIN to identify yourself. Please note that only U.S. residents can apply for a U.S. driver's licence.

ITIN eligibility

Anyone required by the United States of America to file a 1040 tax return to the IRS but does not have an SSN number can obtain an ITIN.

ITIN application instructions

There are different ways in which you can obtain an ITIN:

In-person by visiting designated IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs). Please note the American spelling rather than the British spelling of Centres. ITIN appointments are possible by contacting the IRS branch that you wish to meet.

Ways to obtain an ITIN number from the IRS

W-7 complete & send to the IRS

By completing the ITIN form w-7 and submitting it with all relevant original documents to the address below

Meet with the IRS in a local branch

In-person by visiting designated IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs). Please note the American spelling rather than the British spelling of Centres. ITIN appointments are possible by contacting the IRS branch that you wish to meet.

Use a professional

Use an Acceptance Agents (AA)* or Certified Acceptance Agents (CAA)** through using the online forms provided by Optimise Accountants

Who are Acceptance Agents (AA) and Certifying Acceptance Agents (CAA)

*Acceptance Agent (AA). An Acceptance Agent (AA) can help you complete and file Form W-7. To get a list of agents, visit IRS.gov and enter the “acceptance agent program” in the search box. An A.A. will need to submit original documentation or certified copies of the documentation from the issuing agency to the IRS for all applicants.

**Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA). A Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA) can verify original documentation and certified copies of the documentation from the issuing agency for primary and secondary applicants and their dependents, except for foreign military identification cards. For dependents, CAAs can only verify passports and birth certificates. The CAA will return the documentation immediately after reviewing its authenticity. Taxpayers residing outside the United States can apply for an ITIN through a CAA.

Completing the W-7 to obtain an ITIN from the IRS

Anyone looking to obtain an ITIN number for U.S. tax purposes to file 1040 tax returns to the IRS will need to complete an ITIN form w-7. The W-7 form may also be used for ITIN number renewals if the ITIN expiration dates has been reached.

An ITIN will reach its expiration date if it has not been used to file a 1040 tax return to the IRS within three tax years. Do not worry, as you can use the ITIN form w-7 to renew the expiration number.

It is possible to complete the W-7 ITIN form yourself and send it to the below address with the documentation outlined above. The issue is whether the form has been done correctly. Any errors will result in unnecessary delays that may impact your travel plans or tax return submissions.

Internal Revenue Service

ITIN Operation

P.O. Box 149342

Austin, TX 78714-9342

By private delivery services. If you use a personal delivery service, submit your Form W-7, your tax return (if applicable) or other documents required by an exception, and the documentation described under Supporting Documentation Requirements earlier to:

Internal Revenue Service

ITIN Operation

Mail Stop 6090-AUSC

3651 S. Interregional, Hwy 35

Austin, TX 78741-0000

Please note that it can take between 6 and 12 weeks to process and receive your ITIN number provided that the forms are completed correctly.

To obtain an ITIN number, you will need to submit supporting documentation as listed below:

Passport

Passport from a foreign country that is used for identification purposes and to demonstrate your foreign status

US VISA

You have obtained U.S. VISAs through the U.S. department of state and your immigration attorney.

Driving licence

Driving licence, whether that is U.S. or foreign, originals are required even if it is US or foreign

Identity card

National Identification card that includes your details and address.

Birth Certicate

Needs to be an original birth certificate

Why use Optimise Accountants Certified Acceptance Agents (CAA)

There are good reasons for using our Certified Acceptance Agents (CAA) to help you complete the W-7 ITIN form

Benefits of using a CAA from Optimise Accountants

Expertise:

We are experts in completing and submitting the W-7 ITIN forms. Our experience and knowledge of building these forms equip us to identify common mistakes that could delay your ITIN application.

Security:

For many people requiring an ITIN number may not want to send original documents to America in case they do not see them again. This is not to say that the IRS purposefully lose documentation as it may not even get there through losses in the postal force. It is a significant risk, and you will need to request new originals that will cost you emotional pain, time and money.

Travel:

We can save you the travel time and costs of going to America just to get an ITIN form from the IRS.

ITIN services near me

We have offices in Nottingham, but for an extra £500 we will visit you at your place of work or business so that we can be an ITIN specialist in London, Manchester, Birmingham etc

ITIN numbers for your Expat tax return

We can help British people moving or investing in the United States complete their 1040 tax returns to the IRS. Obtaining an ITIN number through Optimise Accountants will be the first step taken to ensure that you file a 1040 tax return to the IRS that may be examined carefully by our international expat tax experts.

We will review the U.K. tax returns you submit to HMRC alongside the 1040 tax return submitted to the IRS to ensure tax efficiency across the Atlantic.