How an immigrant can get an ITIN
If you're not eligible for an SSN, the ITIN is the number that actually matters for your personal tax compliance and for opening a business bank account.
What it is and who it's for
The ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) is issued by the IRS exclusively for tax filing and compliance purposes, for people who are not eligible for an SSN. Unlike the SSN, it requires no work visa and no Green Card. For a foreign LLC founder, the ITIN makes it possible to open a business bank account and meet personal tax obligations with the IRS.
Who needs to apply
- A foreign owner of a U.S. LLC or C-Corp — a non-resident who owns a U.S. company and needs to report profits to the IRS (the case most relevant to our customers).
- Dependents or spouses of U.S. citizens or tax residents who are not eligible for an SSN.
- Foreign investors with U.S. real estate income, dividends, or capital gains.
Documents needed
- IRS Form W-7 (Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number), completed with the reason for the request.
- A federal tax return (Form 1040-NR) — the W-7 generally must be attached to a valid tax return, unless you qualify for a specific exception.
- A valid original passport — the only document accepted on its own — or a certified copy issued directly by your country's passport authority, or certification by an IRS-authorized agent.
How to apply — three possible paths
Path 1 — through an IRS-authorized Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA)
A CAA inspects your original passport in person or by authorized video call, certifies your W-7, and submits it to the IRS — without you ever giving up physical possession of your passport. This is the only path fully compatible with a remote process.
Path 2 — direct mail to the IRS
You mail the W-7, your tax return, and your original passport to the IRS processing center in Austin, Texas. Real risk: the IRS holds your original passport for up to 12 weeks before returning it by international mail, with a real risk of loss.
Path 3 — in person at a Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC)
Only viable if you are already physically in the U.S. An agent inspects your passport on the spot, returns it immediately, and submits the W-7 for processing.
Path 1 is the only one where you never lose possession of your passport — the model any remote-compatible ITIN service should follow, avoiding Path 2's real risk of a held original passport.
Cost and timeline
- Official government (IRS) cost: $0 — the IRS charges no fee to issue an ITIN.
- Intermediary cost (certifying agents or services): typically $150-$400 for passport review, certification, and filing — a real paid-service market, not a government fee.
- Processing time: 7-11 weeks normally, up to 14 weeks during tax season (January-April).
The ITIN's timeline (7-14 weeks) is meaningfully longer than the EIN's. Your company and its EIN can be fully ready long before your personal ITIN arrives — they are two different numbers, on two independent timelines.