Mailing Passport to USA

[PIRuby 9]

What is the safest and cost to mail my passport to the states?  It is to apply for a tax ID.  Thanks

[Marieke H 2,457]

Don't mail your actual passport, but a certified copy.

[Allovertheworld 355]

3 minutes ago, Marieke H said:

Don't mail your actual passport, but a certified copy.

Exactly they don't have to have a actual Passport, I know tons of people who got ITIN numbers and they don't have a passport.

 

[PIRuby 9]

How do I get a certified copy? The only other thing I have is my tax ID which is not on the list of acceptable ID.  I also can not go to Manila to get it certified.

[payxibka 10,045]

1 hour ago, PIRuby said:

What is the safest and cost to mail my passport to the states?  It is to apply for a tax ID.  Thanks

Have you looked at going to an acceptance agent in Philippines?

 

Might be better to wait until you can travel 

Edited June 17, 2020 by payxibka

[Allovertheworld 355]

1 hour ago, PIRuby said:

What is the safest and cost to mail my passport to the states?  It is to apply for a tax ID.  Thanks

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/taxpayer-identification-numbers-tin#itin

[PIRuby 9]

Back to my original question, if I decide to mail my Passport or ID, WHO is best to use and a cost estimate.

[Just Paul 4,595]

1 hour ago, PIRuby said:

Back to my original question, if I decide to mail my Passport or ID, WHO is best to use and a cost estimate.

We have used a DHL envelope many times for sensitive documents being sent back and forth. A couple thousand pesos as I recall.  As an aside we did Mary's ITIN by getting a certified copy of the BIO page at the DFA / Consulate when we were in Hong Kong.  All of the Acceptance Agents we talked to wanted way too much to do the deed.

[PIRuby 9]

Just now, Paul & Mary said:

We have used a DHL envelope many times for sensitive documents being sent back and forth. A couple thousand pesos as I recall.  As an aside we did Mary's ITIN by getting a certified copy of the BIO page at the DFA / Consulate when we were in Hong Kong.  All of the Acceptance Agents we talked to wanted way too much to do the deed.

Exactly on the Acceptance agent being too much. For the Embassy I would have to go to Manila, too far, and he needs to mail it with his amended 1040x.  So better to send it and he or sister will walk it into IRS office.

[Just Paul 4,595]

1 minute ago, PIRuby said:

So better to send it and he or sister will walk it into IRS office.

Your asawa will mail it to the special IRS address with the form and tax return.  So there is a risk of loss there too.

[RO_AH 1,656]

On 6/17/2020 at 7:32 AM, PIRuby said:

Exactly on the Acceptance agent being too much. For the Embassy I would have to go to Manila, too far, and he needs to mail it with his amended 1040x.  So better to send it and he or sister will walk it into IRS office.

If you tell the shipper that it is a passport they will not accept it. We tried this trough DHL. My friend had a fiance that lived about 45 minutes away from my wife so on his next visit I had him meet her for lunch. She gave him her passport and he brought it to the USA and sent it to me with USPS.

[RO_AH 1,656]

One more thing. The name on the passport must match the 1040. My wife's passport was in her maiden name. She had to get a new passport in her married name and we had to do the whole thing a second time.

[payxibka 10,045]

4 minutes ago, RO_AH said:

One more thing. The name on the passport must match the 1040. My wife's passport was in her maiden name. She had to get a new passport in her married name and we had to do the whole thing a second time.

Or change the 1040 name to match the passport maiden name.  

[RO_AH 1,656]

2 minutes ago, payxibka said:

Or change the 1040 name to match the passport maiden name.  

I did not feel comfortable doing that since that was not her legal name at the time of filing. I sent the passport along with our marriage certificate. They did not accept that. Too late to change at that point because they sent it back without an ITN and removed her as a dependent on my taxes which shrunk my refund. I had to do an amended form after filing the next year with new passport and receiving an ITN.

[payxibka 10,045]

5 minutes ago, RO_AH said:

I did not feel comfortable doing that since that was not her legal name at the time of filing. I sent the passport along with our marriage certificate. They did not accept that. Too late to change at that point because they sent it back without an ITN and removed her as a dependent on my taxes which shrunk my refund. I had to do an amended form after filing the next year with new passport and receiving an ITN.

You may not have felt comfortable but it is actually an option provided in the IRS instructions