IRS office guide
IRS ITIN document review at TAC offices
How to apply for or renew an ITIN in person at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center: Form W-7, which documents are authenticated on site, who must attend, and processing times.
What an ITIN is, and who needs one
An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, or ITIN, is a nine-digit number the IRS gives people who have to file a U.S. tax return but cannot get a Social Security number. You apply with Form W-7, and you can prove who you are by mail, through an approved agent, or in person at a Taxpayer Assistance Center. The in-person route is the reason people search for ITIN document review, because it lets you keep your original documents instead of mailing them.
Three ways to apply for or renew an ITIN
| Method | How it works |
|---|---|
| In person at a TAC | Free, by appointment at selected offices. Staff authenticate most documents on site and hand your originals back the same day. |
| Certifying Acceptance Agent | A private agent, often fee-based, who reviews Form W-7 and verifies your documents so you do not mail originals. |
| By mail to Austin | Send Form W-7, your tax return, and original or certified documents to the IRS in Austin, Texas. Originals are returned within about 60 days. |
What ITIN document review at a TAC means
Only selected Taxpayer Assistance Centers offer ITIN document review, and it is by appointment. At the visit, staff check your Form W-7, look at your original identity and foreign status documents, confirm they are genuine, and give them straight back to you. They then send your application on for processing. The big advantage is that your passport never leaves your hands and never goes in the mail.
Everyone applying has to attend in person, including a spouse or a dependent child on the application. Because not every office does this, check the IRS list of offices with ITIN services, then call 844-545-5640 to book.
What to bring
- A completed Form W-7 for each applicant.
- Your federal tax return, unless you meet one of the IRS exceptions to filing.
- Original documents that prove identity and foreign status. A valid passport works on its own; otherwise you need two documents from the IRS list.
- For a dependent, documents that also show U.S. residency, such as a school or medical record for a child.
How long it takes, and what you get back
The IRS says to allow about 7 weeks to get your ITIN, or 9 to 11 weeks if you apply between January 15 and April 30 or from outside the United States. You will get a letter with the result: a CP565 notice if you are approved, a CP566 if the IRS needs more information, or a CP567 if the application is turned down.
Renewing an expired ITIN
ITINs expire if they go unused on a tax return for three years in a row. To renew, fill in the renewal section of Form W-7 and submit it the same way as a new application, in person, through an agent, or by mail. You do not have to attach a tax return to a renewal in every case, so check the current Form W-7 instructions for your situation.
After you get a Social Security number
If you later qualify for a Social Security number, stop using the ITIN. Write to the IRS to ask that your ITIN be rescinded and your tax records merged under the new Social Security number, so your past filings stay connected to you. From then on, use only the Social Security number on your returns.
Find an office to book
Look up a Taxpayer Assistance Center near you, then confirm it offers ITIN review before you call.
Find your local IRS office first
Closure notes, limited hours, and the exact services differ from one office to the next. Look up your Taxpayer Assistance Center on the list of IRS offices by state before you call, so you confirm the details for the location you actually plan to visit. The directory covers 329 active offices.
Official IRS sources
Common questions
- Can every IRS office review ITIN documents?
- No. Only selected Taxpayer Assistance Centers review ITIN documents, and it is by appointment. Check the IRS list of TACs with ITIN services and call 844-545-5640 first.
- Does each ITIN applicant need to attend in person?
- Yes. Each person applying for an ITIN, including a spouse or dependent, must attend the appointment in person.
- How long does an ITIN take to process?
- The IRS says about 7 weeks, or 9 to 11 weeks if you apply between January 15 and April 30 or from outside the United States.
- What happens to my original documents?
- At a Taxpayer Assistance Center, staff authenticate most documents on site and hand your originals back the same day, so you do not mail your passport to the IRS.