2017 ITIN NUMBER PROCESS

Hi there!

Has anyone's UK spouse applied for and received an ITIN number in 2016 or 2017? If so, was it a complicated process? How long did it take?

We want to submit his passport to make the process smoother but for some reason there isn't much information available and the US Embassy in London no longer deals with these requests.

Thank you in advance!

To obtain an ITIN one would need to either send an original UK (or other non-US) passport to the IRS ITIN Unit or - alternatively - use an IRS Certified Acceptance Agent; such as www.americantaxreturns.co.uk

To get an ITIN, file form W-7. However does your pouse really need an ITIN? It's often better to check 'married filing separately' and leave them outside the US tax system, unless there's a good reason why they need to file US taxes.

Filing Form W-7 is the correct form; however with the IRS rejecting over 30% of all ITIN applications, and to avoid the nuisance of having to send a passport to the IRS, when an ITIN is required it is often best to use an IRS Certified Acceptance Agent.