An ITIN costs $0 in IRS fees. You pay only if you choose to use an Acceptance Agent or Certifying Acceptance Agent, who may charge for their services.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| IRS fee for an ITIN | $0 |
| Free ways to apply | By mail, at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center, or at select VITA sites |
| Fee-based ways to apply | A Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA) or an Acceptance Agent (AA) |
| What agents charge | The IRS says only "Fees may vary" |
| Who issues the ITIN | Only the IRS. Agents assist but cannot issue it |
| Documents mailed on your own | Returned within 60 days to the address on Form W-7 |
| Processing time | 7 weeks, or 9 to 11 weeks from January 15 to April 30 or from overseas |
How much does an ITIN cost?
An ITIN costs $0 in IRS fees. As of IRS guidance in 2026 (Publication 1915, Rev. 12-2025), the IRS charges nothing to issue the number, however you apply.
An ITIN is a nine-digit number the IRS issues to people who need a U.S. taxpayer identification number but don't have and aren't eligible for a Social Security number (SSN).
The only fee you can face is a service fee. Acceptance Agents and Certifying Acceptance Agents may charge for helping you. The IRS publishes no set price for them.
What are Acceptance Agents?
Acceptance Agents (AAs) are individuals or entities, such as colleges, financial institutions, and accounting firms, that have formal agreements with the IRS to help people apply for ITINs on Form W-7.
An AA must submit your original documents or certified copies from the issuing agency to the IRS. A certified copy is one the issuing agency provides and certifies as an exact copy, with the agency's official stamped seal.
The IRS publishes a list of authorized Acceptance Agents on its Acceptance Agent Program page.
What is a Certifying Acceptance Agent?
A Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA) is an Acceptance Agent with greater responsibility. A CAA can authenticate your documents. That means checking your originals in person for authenticity, accuracy, and completeness. Your originals stay with you.
The CAA then sends the IRS Form W-7, your tax return if you have one, and a copy of your documents.
A CAA can't authenticate everything:
- A CAA can't authenticate foreign military ID cards.
- For dependents, a CAA can verify only passports and birth certificates. Other dependent documents are mailed with the application.
Can an Acceptance Agent issue your ITIN?
No. Acceptance Agents and Certifying Acceptance Agents only assist with the application. Only the IRS issues an ITIN.
The IRS confirms the number with a CP565 notice, the letter saying it assigned your ITIN. If you used a CAA, the CAA receives your number directly from the IRS and gets copies of your ITIN notices.
What does each way of applying cost?
Each way of applying for an ITIN has the same $0 IRS fee. What differs is whether someone charges for help and whether your original documents go in the mail.
| Option | Cost | Reviews Form W-7 | Helps complete Form W-7 | Authenticates most documents | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mail it yourself | Free | No | No | No | Mailed to Austin, TX |
| IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC) | Free | Yes | No | Yes | U.S. |
| VITA site with ITIN services | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited U.S. locations |
| Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA) | Fee-based | Yes | Yes | Yes | U.S. and international |
| Acceptance Agent (AA) | Fee-based | Yes | Yes | No | U.S. and international |
Mailing Form W-7 yourself
Mailing Form W-7 yourself carries no IRS fee and no agent fee. You send the form to the IRS ITIN Operation in Austin, Texas. It usually goes with a tax return. Your original documents or certified copies go too.
Those documents can include your passport. The IRS returns them within 60 days, and if they are not back by then, contact the IRS.
An IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center
A Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC) with ITIN services is free and hands your documents back at the end of the appointment. It also reviews your Form W-7 before mailing the package.
TACs are in the U.S., and it may take several weeks to get an appointment. A TAC can't authenticate school or medical records for dependents, so those are mailed with the application.
A VITA site with ITIN services
Select VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) sites give free ITIN help. Their own CAAs do the work. They complete and review Form W-7 and authenticate most documents.
VITA sites can also prepare your tax return for free if you qualify. They are in limited U.S. locations.
A Certifying Acceptance Agent
A Certifying Acceptance Agent charges a fee that varies by agent. In exchange, the CAA completes and reviews Form W-7, authenticates most documents, and returns them at the end of the appointment.
Ask for the fee before you book. The IRS sets no price.
An Acceptance Agent
An Acceptance Agent (AA) charges a fee but still mails your originals or certified copies to the IRS. An AA does not authenticate documents.
What an AA does is help complete and submit Form W-7, review and mail your supporting documents, and work with the IRS to resolve issues with the application.
Is a Certifying Acceptance Agent worth the fee?
Yes, for most people who can't reach a free TAC or VITA site. A CAA costs money, but your passport stays with you and a professional reviews Form W-7 before the IRS sees it.
A CAA fee pays for 4 things a mailed application doesn't give you:
- Your passport is authenticated in person and not mailed.
- A mistake caught at the appointment is fixed before the IRS sees it, instead of coming back as a CP566 request for more information or a CP567 rejection.
- The CAA can work with the IRS on application issues and receives copies of your ITIN notices.
- CAAs operate internationally, while TACs and VITA sites are U.S. only.
Which option fits your situation?
The right option depends on whether you live in the U.S., where a TAC or VITA site can check your passport for free, and whether you can spare the passport for up to 60 days.
Example 1: you live abroad and must attach Form 1040-NR. No TAC or VITA site is open to you, so the choice is mailing your passport and waiting up to 60 days for it, or paying a CAA who returns it at the appointment. A third route is mailing a certified copy of your passport from the issuing agency. You may be able to request one at an embassy or consulate, though services vary by country.
Example 2: you live in the U.S. near a VITA site with ITIN services. Its CAA authenticates your passport for $0. The site can also prepare your tax return for free if you qualify, so paying an agent buys you little.
Example 3: you live in the U.S. and are applying for a child whose only ID documents are school and medical records. A TAC can't authenticate those records. A CAA can verify only a dependent's passport or birth certificate. So those records are mailed with the application on any route, and paying a CAA does not change that.
What costs do people miss?
The ITIN itself is free, but applying on your own can cost you time without your passport, an optional prepaid courier envelope for faster return, certified copies, and a second round of processing if the IRS rejects the application.
- Documents mailed to the IRS come back within 60 days.
- You may include a prepaid Express Mail or courier envelope for faster, secure return of a passport.
- Certified copies must come from the issuing agency, and embassy or consulate services vary by country.
- A CP567 notice means the IRS rejected the application and you must resubmit it, so you wait through processing again.
Can you get an ITIN for free?
Yes. You can get an ITIN for free by mailing Form W-7 yourself, visiting an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center with ITIN services, or using a VITA site with ITIN services.
Mailing is realistic if you can spare your passport for up to 60 days. A TAC is realistic if you are in the U.S. and can wait several weeks for an appointment. A VITA site with ITIN services is realistic if one is near you.
If none of those fit, a Certifying Acceptance Agent is the paid option that keeps your passport in your hands. After any route, the IRS notifies you in 7 weeks, typically, though it can take 9 to 11 weeks from January 15 to April 30 or if you applied from overseas.
Frequently asked questions
Is an ITIN free?
Yes. The IRS charges $0 to issue an ITIN, no matter how you apply.
Does the IRS charge a fee for Form W-7?
No. There is no IRS filing fee for Form W-7. A fee applies only if you hire an Acceptance Agent or Certifying Acceptance Agent.
How much does a Certifying Acceptance Agent charge for an ITIN?
The IRS does not set a price. It says only that fees may vary, so ask the CAA for its fee before the appointment.
Why would I pay a CAA if the ITIN is free?
You pay a CAA mainly to keep your passport. The CAA checks your originals in person and sends the IRS a copy instead.
What is the difference between an Acceptance Agent and a Certifying Acceptance Agent?
A Certifying Acceptance Agent can authenticate most of your documents and return them. An Acceptance Agent cannot, so your originals or certified copies still go to the IRS.
Where can I get free help applying for an ITIN?
At an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center with ITIN services, or at select VITA sites with ITIN services. Both are free and in the U.S.
Can a CAA help me if I live outside the U.S.?
Yes. Certifying Acceptance Agents work in the U.S. and internationally, unlike TACs and VITA sites.
Does an Acceptance Agent give me my ITIN?
No. Only the IRS issues ITINs. A CAA does receive your number directly from the IRS once it is issued.
How do I find an authorized Acceptance Agent?
Use the list on the IRS Acceptance Agent Program page. It lists the agents the IRS has authorized.
How long do I go without my passport if I mail it?
Up to 60 days. If your documents are not back after 60 days, contact the IRS.
How long does the IRS take after I apply for an ITIN?
The IRS notifies you in 7 weeks, typically, though it can take 9 to 11 weeks from January 15 to April 30 or if you applied from overseas.
Sources
- Publication 1915, Understanding Your IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
- How do I apply for an ITIN?
- Instructions for Form W-7 (Rev. December 2024)
- Acceptance Agent Program
Michael B
