The IRS keeps a public directory of authorized Acceptance Agents at irs.gov, and browsing that list by state is the only reliable way to find a Certifying Acceptance Agent near me or you. A Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA) is a professional the IRS has authorized to verify your identification documents in person and submit your ITIN application on your behalf, so you keep your passport instead of mailing it to Austin, Texas and waiting weeks to get it back.
Using the IRS Directory to Find One in Your Area
Go to irs.gov/tin/itin/itin-acceptance-agents. The page is a list of links, one for each state and U.S. territory. Click your state and you’ll see every authorized agent in that area with their contact information and a marker showing whether they’re a CAA or a regular Acceptance Agent.1Internal Revenue Service. ITIN Acceptance Agents There is no zip code search and no map. You scan the state list for an agent in your city or a nearby one.
Most CAAs work out of accounting firms, CPA offices, or larger tax preparation companies. Before you commit, call and confirm two things. First, that the agent is still actively authorized, because the IRS list can lag behind changes. Second, what they charge. Fees are not regulated or capped by the IRS and they vary widely. A straightforward single-applicant filing may run under $100, while a filing with multiple dependents or a business connection can cost several hundred dollars. Get a clear quote before you book.
Make Sure It’s a CAA, Not Just an AA
The IRS authorizes two types of agents, and only one lets you keep your originals on the spot. A Certifying Acceptance Agent authenticates your documents and hands them back the same day. A regular Acceptance Agent, marked with an asterisk on the IRS list, has to mail your original documents to the IRS with the application and you won’t see them again until processing is finished.1Internal Revenue Service. ITIN Acceptance Agents If holding onto your passport is the reason you’re paying someone, confirm the CAA designation when you schedule.
What Happens at the Appointment
The CAA reviews your original identification, confirms it’s authentic, and prepares a package with your completed Form W-7 and certified copies of your documents. The agent attaches a Certificate of Accuracy, which tells the IRS that a vetted professional has verified your identity and foreign status, and the IRS processes the application without needing to see your originals.1Internal Revenue Service. ITIN Acceptance Agents Your documents go home with you that day.
After the package is mailed to the IRS ITIN Operations office in Austin, allow about 7 weeks for a status update, or 9 to 11 weeks during tax season (January 15 through April 30) or if you applied from overseas.2Internal Revenue Service. Individual Taxpayer Identification Number If the IRS raises a question about the application, your CAA can communicate with the agency directly, which is a real advantage over applying on your own.
Documents a CAA Cannot Authenticate
There are a few limits worth knowing before your appointment. CAAs cannot authenticate foreign military identification cards for any applicant. For dependents, they can only authenticate passports and civil birth certificates. Any other dependent documents, such as school or medical records, must be sent as originals directly to the IRS with the application package.3Internal Revenue Service. ITIN Documentation Frequently Asked Questions This catches parents off guard when they’re applying for young children.
What to Bring
A valid passport is the simplest option because the IRS treats it as a standalone document that proves both identity and foreign status. Without a passport, you’ll need at least two documents from the IRS’s approved list, and each has to come from a different category.4Internal Revenue Service. Revised Application Standards for ITINs Acceptable documents include:
- National identification card (must show photo, name, current address, date of birth, and expiration date)
- U.S. or foreign driver’s license
- U.S. state identification card
- Civil birth certificate (required for dependents under 18)
- Foreign voter’s registration card
- U.S. or foreign military identification card
- Visa
- USCIS photo identification
- Medical records (dependents under 6 only)
- School records (dependents under 14, or under 18 if a student)
All documents must be originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. A photocopy or a notarized copy will not be accepted. Electronic records you print yourself, such as school records, bank statements, or utility bills, count as originals for residency documentation.5Internal Revenue Service. ITIN Supporting Documents
Extra Residency Documents for Dependents
Dependent applicants whose passport lacks a U.S. entry date stamp need additional residency proof, and the rules vary by age:
- Under 6: passport plus a U.S. medical record, school record, state ID card, or qualifying visa
- Ages 6 through 17: passport plus a U.S. school record, state ID card, driver’s license, or qualifying visa
- 18 and older: passport plus a U.S. school record (if under 24), state ID card, driver’s license, qualifying visa, or a U.S. bank statement, rental statement, or utility bill showing the applicant’s name and U.S. address5Internal Revenue Service. ITIN Supporting Documents
Keep in mind that your CAA can only certify the passport and birth certificate. The other dependent documents travel to the IRS as originals with the rest of the package.
If You’re Applying From Outside the United States
The state-by-state directory only covers the U.S. and its territories. If you’re abroad, the IRS recognizes five international accounting firms that maintain approved agents in offices around the world: Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and BDO.1Internal Revenue Service. ITIN Acceptance Agents There is no country-by-country directory, so contact the firm directly to find an office near you that offers ITIN services. Fees at these firms tend to run higher than at a small domestic CPA practice.
A Free Alternative if Fees Are a Problem
If a CAA’s price doesn’t work for you, an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC) that offers ITIN services will review your completed Form W-7, authenticate most of your supporting documents, return them at the end of the appointment, and mail the application for processing at no cost.6Internal Revenue Service. How to Apply for an ITIN Not every TAC offers ITIN services, so check the IRS website or call before going.
Two things to know. TAC staff cannot authenticate school records or medical records for dependents, so those still travel as originals. And the TAC won’t prepare your tax return, so you’ll need to arrive with a completed return if one is required with your W-7. For anyone comfortable filling out Form W-7 on their own who just needs the document authentication done in person, a TAC is the cheapest route.
Renewing an ITIN Uses the Same Channel
An ITIN expires if you don’t use it on a federal tax return for three consecutive tax years; it lapses on December 31 following that third year of non-use. To renew, you file a new Form W-7 with the “Renew an existing ITIN” box checked and submit your identification. Spouses and dependents renewing to claim a tax benefit must be listed on an attached federal tax return with the relevant schedule or form. You can use a CAA or a TAC for a renewal the same way you would for a first-time application.7Internal Revenue Service. How to Renew an ITIN