Expiring ITINs: Is Your Time up?

An Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN) is a processing number issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the United States to non-residents in lieu of a social security number. A valid ITIN is needed to file a tax return in the United States. Any spouse or dependent(s) claimed on the tax return also require an ITIN even if they do not file a separate tax return.

Which ITIN will expire and who needs to renew?

Expiring ITINs are those who:

• Have not been used at least once on a tax return for the tax years 2015, 2016, and 2017;
• Whose middle digits include 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 81, or 82 (e.g. 9NN-73-NNNN)

ITINs who meet these criteria expire December 31, 2018. The IRS will issue a CP-48 Notice to notify taxpayers with expiring ITINs. You must renew your ITIN if you will be filing a tax return or claiming a refund for the 2018 tax year. You do not need to renew if you have or are qualified to get a social security number (SSN). A tax return filed with an expired ITIN will be processed but may incur penalties and delay the return. Tax credits and claimed exemptions will be disallowed and no refund will be paid.

Renewing an ITIN

To renew your ITIN, you must complete and submit a W-7 application (“Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number”) along with any required documentation. Only original identification documents or certified copies of the documents from the issuing agency will be accepted. You may choose to renew your family member’s ITIN even if it is not expiring. All family members who were issued an ITIN may submit a Form W-7 at the same time.

Identification documentations

If you do not want to submit original documents, you may be eligible to use an IRS authorized Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA) or make an appointment with a designated IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC) to authenticate the documents.