ITIN Application
Your US tax ID — handled in-house, ready in 48 h.
Why entrust your ITIN to Altixia
IRS-certified Acceptance Agent (CAA)
We certify your passport directly. No need to mail your original to IRS Austin, no need to obtain a notarized copy from a consulate.
No documents leave our offices
Your passport and file are handled by our own team, on-site. Zero offshore subcontracting, guaranteed.
Support in English
We guide you in English at every step — from the W-7 form to the final IRS letter.
Your gateway to US credit
Without an ITIN, no access to US credit cards (Amex, Chase, Capital One...). It's the first step to building your US credit history and much more.
The ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) is your personal tax identification number in the United States. Essential for accessing US credit, opening certain bank accounts, and fulfilling your IRS tax obligations. Altixia handles the entire procedure for you — in-house, no outsourcing.
- Complete IRS file prepared by our team in 24 to 48 hours
- Direct CAA certification — your passport stays with you
- Tracking until the IRS letter is delivered
- Support in English at every step
- Access to US credit cards once your ITIN is granted
- IRS processing: about 7 weeks, 9-11 weeks from abroad or between January 15 and April 30
ITIN
ITIN Application
Your US tax ID — handled in-house, ready in 48 h.
The ITIN, your “US TIN”
Bank and tax forms sometimes ask for your US “TIN”. TIN (Taxpayer Identification Number) is the umbrella term for any tax identification number issued in the United States. For someone who is not eligible for a Social Security number (SSN), that number is the ITIN: 9 digits, issued by the IRS for federal tax purposes only.
An ITIN gives you no visa, no residency status, no right to work in the United States and no eligibility for US Social Security benefits. It is not an identity document outside the tax system either.
ITIN, SSN, EIN: which number identifies whom?
Your LLC has its EIN. You, its owner, may need an ITIN. One does not replace the other.
| Number | Identifies | For whom |
|---|---|---|
| SSN | An individual | US citizens and residents authorized to work |
| ITIN | An individual | People with a US tax need who are not eligible for an SSN |
| EIN | A business | Companies, including your LLC (see EIN Express) |
Who needs an ITIN?
The IRS issues an ITIN to anyone who has a federal tax need and is not eligible for an SSN, regardless of immigration status. This includes:
- a nonresident who must file a federal return (Form 1040-NR);
- a nonresident claiming a tax treaty benefit;
- the spouse or dependent of a US citizen, a resident, or a nonresident visa holder;
- a nonresident student, professor or researcher who files a return or claims an exception.
For the foreign owner of a US LLC, it depends on the business and its filing obligations: an ITIN is not automatic, and we review your situation before preparing the application. You do not need one if you are a US citizen, a green card holder, or eligible for an SSN.
What goes into the application
- Form W-7, the ITIN application itself;
- a federal tax return (1040 or 1040-NR) attached to the W-7, unless you qualify for one of the exceptions set by the IRS;
- proof of identity and foreign status: your passport, the only document that proves both on its own.
By mail, the application must include your original passport or a copy certified by the agency that issued it, which means parting with it for several weeks. The CAA procedure avoids this: as an IRS-authorized Certifying Acceptance Agent, Altixia authenticates your passport, and it never leaves your hands. The step-by-step process is in our guide ITIN without traveling.
How the application works with Altixia
- Review of your situation: actual tax need, reason for applying, any exception that applies.
- Preparation of the W-7 and, if needed, the federal return, within 24 to 48 hours.
- Authentication of your passport by our Certifying Acceptance Agent.
- Filing of the complete application with the IRS in Austin, Texas, and follow-up until the letter assigning your number arrives.
Processing times
The IRS says it responds within 7 weeks. Allow 9 to 11 weeks if you apply from abroad or during peak tax season, between January 15 and April 30. The IRS then enters your number on the return attached to the application and confirms it by mail.
An ITIN can expire
An ITIN that is not used on any federal tax return for three consecutive tax years expires on December 31 of the third year. You then renew it with the same Form W-7 before using it on a new return. If it only appears on information returns, such as Form 1099, you do not need to renew it.
What delays an application
- applying without a tax need: a return that shows only zeros does not justify an application;
- forgetting to attach the federal return to the W-7 when no exception applies;
- a name spelled differently from your passport;
- a passport that has expired when you apply.
Once you have your ITIN, you will use it for your returns and, where relevant, for your LLC's accounting.