Fondaco

ITIN application for non-residents

We prepare your Form W-7, have your passport verified by an IRS Certifying Acceptance Agent so the original stays with you, and file the application with the IRS. You get the tax ID a US tax return needs, that PayPal and US card issuers ask for, and that lets you apply for an EIN online.

  • Your original passport stays with you
  • Apply from anywhere, without posting documents to the IRS
  • Usually 2–6 weeks, with our express service
  • Start building a US credit score in your name

$348

What's included

  • Form W-7 prepared for you
  • Your passport verified by an IRS Certifying Acceptance Agent
  • The application sent to the IRS
  • Our express service, to get your ITIN as fast as the IRS allows
  • Your ITIN letter, delivered online

How it works

  1. Step 1

    Send your details

    Your passport and the details Form W-7 asks for, and why you need the ITIN.

  2. Step 2

    Sign the W-7

    We prepare the application and send it to you to sign.

  3. Step 3

    Your passport is verified

    An IRS Certifying Acceptance Agent checks your passport and certifies the copy that goes with the application. The original never leaves you.

  4. Step 4

    We file with the IRS

    We send the application to the IRS through our express service. When the ITIN is issued, you get the IRS letter online.

Requirements

  • A valid passport
  • Your details for Form W-7: name, date and place of birth, address abroad and citizenship
  • Why you need the ITIN, such as a US company or income from the US
  • Your signature on the W-7

Timeline

ITIN issued, usually
2–6 weeks
The exact time
Depends on the IRS

Good to know

  • For tax only. An ITIN does not give you the right to work in the US, change your immigration status or qualify you for Social Security. The IRS issues it for federal tax purposes.
  • It expires if unused. An ITIN not used on a US federal tax return for 3 consecutive tax years expires on 31 December after the third year. It can be renewed with a new Form W-7.
  • Platforms and banks decide. An ITIN lets you apply where a Social Security number is asked for. Whether PayPal, a bank, a card issuer or a marketplace accepts you is their decision.

Price

$348

Plus tax, shown at checkout.

  • Since 2022
  • 94 jurisdictions
  • 100+ partners
  • Dubai · Florida · Cyprus

FAQ

What is an ITIN?

An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number: a 9-digit number the IRS issues to people who need a US taxpayer ID for federal tax purposes but cannot get a Social Security number.

Why would a non-resident need an ITIN?

To file a US federal tax return, such as Form 1040-NR. PayPal also usually asks the owner of a US business for an SSN or ITIN, and with an ITIN you can apply for your LLC's EIN online, in 1–3 business days instead of 1–3 weeks.

Do I need an ITIN for Stripe?

Not for a US LLC you own from abroad. Stripe identifies the company by its EIN. PayPal is different and usually asks for the owner's SSN or ITIN.

Can I build a US credit score with an ITIN?

Yes. The 3 US credit bureaus can hold a credit file under an ITIN, and many card issuers, including Capital One and Bank of America, accept an ITIN instead of a Social Security number on some cards. Paying on time builds a US credit history and score in your name, and a score usually needs about 6 months of history. Each issuer decides whether to approve you, and most also ask for a US address.

How long does it take to get an ITIN?

Usually 2–6 weeks. We use an express service and get your application through as fast as possible, but the exact time depends on the IRS.

Do I have to send my original passport?

No. An IRS Certifying Acceptance Agent verifies your passport and sends a certified copy with the application. The original stays with you.

Can I get an ITIN without a US company?

Yes, if you have a federal tax purpose. The application normally goes with a US federal tax return, such as one reporting income from the US, unless one of the IRS exceptions applies.

Does the IRS charge for an ITIN?

No. The IRS issues ITINs for free. Our fee covers preparing the application, the Certifying Acceptance Agent and filing it with the IRS.

Does an ITIN let me work or live in the US?

No. It does not authorise work, give or change immigration status, or qualify you for Social Security benefits. The IRS issues it only for federal tax purposes.

Does an ITIN expire?

Yes, if it is not used on a US federal tax return for 3 consecutive tax years. It expires on 31 December after the third year, and you renew it with a new Form W-7.

Is a PayPal or US bank account guaranteed with an ITIN?

No. The ITIN lets you apply where a Social Security number is asked for, but PayPal, banks and marketplaces make their own decisions.

Can anyone apply?

Not from every country. We cannot take applications from people in countries under comprehensive US sanctions, such as Iran and North Korea.

What an ITIN is for

The IRS issues an ITIN to people who need a US taxpayer ID but cannot get a Social Security number. For a founder outside the US, it comes up when you:

  • file a US federal tax return, such as Form 1040-NR
  • open PayPal for a US business, which usually asks the owner for an SSN or ITIN
  • apply for your LLC's EIN online, which needs the responsible party's SSN or ITIN
  • apply for US credit cards that accept an ITIN, and build a US credit score in your name

Stripe does not need one for a US LLC owned from abroad. It identifies the company by its EIN.

ITIN, SSN or EIN

ComparedITINSSNEIN
Who it identifiesA person who cannot get an SSNA US citizen or a person authorised to work in the USA business, such as a company, LLC or partnership
Issued byThe IRSThe Social Security AdministrationThe IRS
Used forFederal tax onlyTax, work and Social SecurityThe business's taxes, banking and payroll
Can a non-resident get oneYesUsually notYes, for their company

A US company needs an EIN either way. The ITIN is for you, wherever the owner's tax ID is asked for.

Get started

$348 plus tax, paid here.

$348

Plus tax