IRS Strengthens ITIN Requirements- What This Means For Your Office

The IRS announced today that it has put in place new “interim procedures” designed to “help protect the integrity” of the ITIN process.  During this interim period, no ITINs will be accepted or assigned without original documentation, such as passports and birth certificates, or certified copies of these documents from the issuing agency. Even Certifying Acceptance Agents will have to submit original copies of said documentation.  Notarized copies of documents will no longer be accepted as proof.  The changes, which are effective immediately, are designed to strengthen and protect the integrity of the ITIN process while minimizing the impact on taxpayers.

Also, some current ITIN applicants who are going through the process now will not be “grandfathered in” and may be required to submit additional documentation as proof.

More information will be released as the summer continues on, but nothing will be finalized until just before this up-coming tax season.