ITIN Inquiry

[Thad]

I am ok preparing the tax return, the application for the ITIN and the Certificate of Accuracy as a CAA. Do I make a copy of the passport and mail it to Austin, Texas with the ITIN package? Or, is the COA without a copy of the passport sufficient? Thanks for a response.

[David1980]

Basically yes, but you generally have to submit the originals for a dependent.

From the Instructions for Form W-7 (COA) "It is important to remember that as a Certifying Acceptance Agent, documentation to support identity and foreign status must be reviewed by you and included in your COA. You should attach a copy of the original documents or certified by the issuing agency for primary and secondary applicants. You must attach the original or certified copies for all dependents."

Probably you'll never see a "certified" copy. They have to be certified by the issuing agency. So for dependents you probably have to mail the originals. In lieu of sending the original documentation, a dependent application can have a pasport or national ID card authenticated by a designated TAC (taxpayer assistance center) location. Not all offer that service.

[taxea]

The instructions list all necessary documents. The best and quickest way to do this is by having the person take all documents to the local IRS office. They will forward everything to the ITIN office and the response will be faster.