can i get an ITIN for my wife?

[VisaDonnie 54]

On 4/30/2021 at 1:25 PM, Wuozopo said:

 

You need a Taxpayer Assistance Center that will verify her ID document (passport) in person at your appointment. She must be present with you. Then she does not have to send her passport off. A verified copy will be sent along with the tax return and her W7 application for ITIN. They don’t do that in Durham according to the IRS list. 
 

Get an appointment from one of the offices listed here https://www.irs.gov/help/tac-locations-where-in-person-document-verification-is-provided

What’s written by the last person is totally correct. We just did it for my wife in Atlanta for my 2020 taxes. I highly suggest going to a tax assistance center vs mailing in your wife’s passport and it possibly getting lost. You must bring in your current tax paperwork with the W-7 form. They will file your taxes (federal only no state taxes). However it’s taking up to 3 months to get the ITIN number approved. We filed March 8th and still waiting.

[VisaDonnie 54]

On 3/9/2021 at 12:20 AM, seekingthetruth said:

Basically, it works like this.  Contact an agent for more local details before starting anything.

 

1.  Prepare and print your joint tax return and write in your wife's legal name that you expect to use permanently for U.S. tax purposes.  It should match her passport and other IDs she uses for this purpose, and what will be put on the W7.  My wife's passport was still in her maiden name and that has caused us some hassle in the long run, but we had to go with it at the time.  Avoid that.

2.  Make an appointment with the agent.  Bring them your tax return, your wife, and IDs for both of you.  And anything else they tell you to bring.

3.  The agent does not get the ITIN.  The acceptance agent acts as a certified agent of the IRS to verify all your original documents, like the passport, and then you don't have to mail those original documents.  The agent then mails your tax return with the W7 attached to the IRS.

4.  The IRS issues the ITIN as part of processing your tax return.  The IRS will send you a letter with the ITIN info and they will put the new ITIN on your tax return.  Then you are good for 2020!

 

There are some fees to pay, but well worth the peace of mind.  Nobody likes mailing their passport.

 

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/itin-updated-procedures-frequently-asked-questions

 

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/acceptance-agent-program

There are no fees to pay for filing the W-7

[seekingthetruth 1,246]

2 minutes ago, VisaDonnie said:

There are no fees to pay for filing the W-7

Not if you do it yourself at an IRS office or by mail.

 

If you use an acceptance agent, they have fees.  In the Philippines, the acceptance agent is at the RAO in Angeles City and the fee was cheap.  In the U.S., they are usually CPA firms and can be very expensive. I saw one advertising $350.  Best to file at an IRS office. 

[Just Paul 4,595]

We used an acceptance agent in Hong Kong.  It was a large accounting firm. SInce I used them for business as well there was no fee from them.     I would call around and see what the best rate you can find is.

 

Also you can always file MFS amend your return later. 

[top_secret 2,421]

For the Philippines you can also have her go into any DFA office (have to get an appointment by e-mail these days due to COVID) pay 100 pesos and request a DFA Certified Copy of her Passport.  They give a nice fancy looking DFA Certified document for that.  You could get one from DFA ASEAN in a few days but for a provincial DFA office it will take a month or so.  A copy of the passport, certified by the issuing agency (DFA) should work as another option for IRS without having to actually send in the passport.  I'm sure similar options exist in other countries as well but only have first hand with Philippines DFA certified passport copy.