To find your ITIN number, check the CP565 notice the IRS mailed when it was assigned, look at the top of any Form 1040 you have filed, sign in to your IRS online account, or call the IRS and verify your identity so an agent can read it back to you. An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number is nine digits, always begins with a 9, and is formatted like a Social Security number (9XX-XX-XXXX),1Internal Revenue Service. Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN) so you’ll recognize it once you see it.
Look Through Documents You Already Have
Start with paperwork at home. The single best document is the CP565 notice, which the IRS mailed specifically to tell you your assigned ITIN when your application was approved.2Internal Revenue Service. Understanding Your CP565 Notice The number is printed near the top of that letter.3Internal Revenue Service. Notice CP565 English
If the CP565 is gone, any Form 1040 you previously filed will show your ITIN at the top of page one, in the field where a Social Security number would otherwise sit. Check paper copies, PDFs, and your tax software account for prior years.
The number can also appear on other IRS correspondence (refund, balance due, or account change notices), mortgage closing disclosures, and bank account applications. Anywhere a financial institution or the IRS asked for your taxpayer identification number is worth a look.
Use Your IRS Online Account
ITIN holders can create an IRS online account through the ID.me identity verification service, which requires a photo ID and either a selfie or a live video chat with an ID.me agent.4Internal Revenue Service. How to Register for IRS Online Self-Help Tools Once you’re in, you can view tax records and pull transcripts from the dashboard.5Internal Revenue Service. Online Account for Individuals
A tax return transcript summarizes a return you already filed and will reflect the ITIN you used. You can view it online or request one by mail through your account or by calling the automated transcript line at 800-908-9946; mailed transcripts usually arrive in 5 to 10 calendar days.6Internal Revenue Service. Get Your Tax Records and Transcripts One caveat: transcripts partially mask personal identification numbers, so you may see only the last four digits.
Call the IRS
If nothing at home helps and the online route isn’t working, call the IRS. The domestic line is 800-829-1040. From outside the United States, use 267-941-1000, which is not toll-free.7Internal Revenue Service. ITIN Documentation Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Before dialing, have these ready so the agent can verify you:
- Your full legal name exactly as it appeared on your original Form W-7
- Date of birth
- The mailing address on your most recent tax filing
- Filing status (single, married filing jointly, and so on)
- Approximate income or refund amount from your last return
Any mismatch can keep the agent from releasing your information. Once you’re verified, the agent can read your ITIN to you over the phone, which is often enough if you need it for a filing you’re finishing that day. You can also ask for a replacement CP565 notice to be mailed to the address on file. The file doesn’t give a guaranteed delivery window for replacements; for reference, the original CP565 typically arrives 7 to 11 weeks after an application is approved.8Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form W-7
Spanish-speaking callers use the same 800-829-1040 line. For Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Russian, or Haitian Creole, call 833-553-9895; the assistor can bring in an interpreter or set up an appointment at a local Taxpayer Assistance Center.9Internal Revenue Service. Let Us Help You
Go in Person to a Taxpayer Assistance Center
If you’d rather handle this face-to-face, book an appointment at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center that offers ITIN services by calling 844-545-5640. Walk-ins may not be accommodated, and appointments can be weeks out.10Internal Revenue Service. IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers with ITIN Services Bring a government-issued photo ID and any tax records you have; staff can verify your identity and help you access your ITIN.
Ask Someone Who Already Has It on File
Third parties often hold your ITIN for their own tax reporting and can give it back to you.
If you used a Certifying Acceptance Agent when you filed Form W-7, that agent is required to keep copies of the application and supporting documents, so calling the agent’s office is often the fastest route.11Internal Revenue Service. Form W-7-COA Certificate of Accuracy for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number If you don’t remember which agent you used, the IRS keeps a searchable list on its site.12Internal Revenue Service. ITIN Acceptance Agent Program
Banks hold your taxpayer identification number because they have to report interest income to the IRS,13Internal Revenue Service. Topic No. 403, Interest Received so customer service can usually confirm the number tied to your account. Any employer or payer that issued you a W-2 or 1099 used your ITIN for reporting, so payroll or HR can pull it too.
If Your ITIN Has Expired
An ITIN that hasn’t appeared on a federal return for three consecutive tax years expires on December 31 of that third year. The methods above still work to retrieve the number itself, but you cannot use an expired ITIN on a return without renewing it first. Filing with an expired ITIN can delay processing, block certain credits, and lead to a smaller refund or penalties.14Internal Revenue Service. How to Renew an ITIN Renewal is done by submitting a new Form W-7 with the “Renew an existing ITIN” box checked, along with the same types of identity documents you used originally, plus proof of any name change.