Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
An ITIN lets people who cannot get a Social Security number meet their US tax obligations. Form W-7 is the application, filed together with your tax return and identity documents.
This is the genuine IRS PDF, unmodified. Source: IRS official page.
What is W-7?
Form W-7 applies for or renews an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, a nine-digit number the IRS issues for tax processing when someone is not eligible for an SSN. Nonresident aliens with US filing requirements, dependents and spouses of taxpayers, and treaty claimants are typical applicants.
Most applications must be attached to a federal tax return and include original identity documents (or certified copies from the issuing agency), a passport being the one document that proves both identity and foreign status alone. Certifying Acceptance Agents and IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers can verify documents so you keep the originals.
Who files W-7?
- Nonresident and resident aliens with a US filing or reporting requirement but no SSN eligibility
- Spouses and dependents claimed on a US return who cannot get an SSN
- Treaty benefit claimants and foreign students or researchers with reporting needs
- ITIN holders whose number expired and who need to file
How to fill out W-7
- Check the box for your application type and reason for needing an ITIN.
- Enter your legal name, addresses, birth details, and citizenship.
- List your identity document details: passport, national ID, or the document combination you will submit.
- Download and sign the PDF, attach it to the front of your tax return with the documents, and mail everything to the IRS ITIN Operation in Austin, or apply through a Certifying Acceptance Agent.
Quick fill W-7 on this page
Prefer to see the form itself while you type? Open W-7 in the editor to fill it on the actual pages, add a signature, and download.
Frequently asked questions
Do I really have to mail my passport?
You can avoid mailing originals by using a Certifying Acceptance Agent or booking an appointment at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center, both of which verify documents and return them on the spot.
Does an ITIN authorize work or immigration status?
No. It exists purely for tax processing: filing returns, being claimed on one, and opening the tax records those require.