IRS Notice CP567: Why Your ITIN Application Was Rejected

IRS Notice CP567 means the IRS rejected your application for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, or revoked an ITIN you already had.¹ The notice states the specific reason and what to do next. Your tax return can still be processed without an ITIN, but any refund you’re owed is held until you get one, so the sooner you fix the problem and reapply, the better.

Why the IRS Rejected Your Application

The reason is printed on your notice. According to the IRS, rejections generally come down to three things: you weren’t eligible for an ITIN, your documents weren’t valid, or the IRS asked for more information and never received it.¹ In practice, most rejections trace to one of the following.

Document Problems

This is where most applications fall apart. The IRS requires original documents or certified copies issued directly by the agency that produced them, stamped with that agency’s official seal. Notarized copies are not accepted. The only exception is for dependents of U.S. military personnel, who may submit notarized copies.² Regular photocopies and notarized versions get rejected routinely.

Expired documents also trigger rejections. A document counts as current only if its expiration date hasn’t passed by the date you submit Form W-7.³ A passport that expires one day before you mail the application will be rejected.

Information Mismatches

The name, date of birth, and country of citizenship on Form W-7 must match your supporting documents exactly.⁴ Small discrepancies between the form and the documents, or between two documents that show different versions of your name (a maiden name and a married name, for example), can be enough for the IRS to flag the file.

No Federal Tax Purpose

An ITIN exists only for federal tax filing. If your application didn’t include a completed federal tax return and didn’t qualify under one of five narrow exceptions covering things like passive income withholding, tax treaty benefits, mortgage interest reporting, U.S. real property dispositions, and certain e-filing requirements, the IRS has no basis to issue the number.⁵

You Already Have an ITIN

One version of CP567 states that the IRS already assigned you an ITIN.⁶ The IRS will not issue a duplicate. If you lost or forgot the number, you need to retrieve the existing one rather than reapply.

What Happens to Your Refund and Return

The IRS does not throw out the return you attached. It processes the return without an ITIN, but no refund goes out until you have a valid number.¹ To claim the refund, you’ll need to reapply and attach a copy of that same return to the new W-7.

You generally have three years from the original filing date to claim a refund, so waiting too long to reapply can wipe it out. If you owed tax instead, the balance is still due, and interest and penalties may keep accruing while you sort out the ITIN.

How to Fix the Rejection

There is no formal appeal from a CP567. The only path is to correct whatever the notice flagged and submit a new application.¹ Read the notice closely first, because the specific reason it gives dictates what you need to change.

Before reapplying, confirm that you actually need an ITIN rather than a Social Security number. If your immigration status changed and you’re now SSN-eligible, apply for the SSN instead. If an ITIN is still correct, gather documents that address the exact deficiency, and prepare a fresh Form W-7.

Documents That Will Be Accepted

Your supporting documents have to prove two things: identity and foreign status. A valid passport is the only single document that satisfies both.⁷ Without a passport, you need at least two documents, one for each requirement.

Beyond passports, the IRS accepts national identification cards, civil birth certificates, foreign driver’s licenses, foreign voter registration cards, foreign military identification cards, visas, and USCIS photo identification. For child dependents, medical records (under age 6) and school records (under age 14, or under 18 if a student) also qualify.⁸

Every document must be an original or a certified copy from the issuing agency, bearing that agency’s seal, and current as of the date you submit the new application. Notarized copies will be rejected.²

Use a fresh copy of Form W-7 from irs.gov, enter your legal name and other identifying information exactly as it appears on your documents, sign and date the form, and attach a copy of the return that was originally submitted along with any paperwork the CP567 notice specifically requested.¹ An unsigned or incomplete W-7 is an easy way to get rejected a second time.

How to Resubmit

You have three ways to submit the new application.

By Mail

Send the W-7, supporting documents, and a copy of the tax return to the IRS ITIN Operation in Austin, Texas.⁹ The addresses are:

USPS: Internal Revenue Service, Austin Service Center, ITIN Operation, P.O. Box 149342, Austin, TX 78714-9342
Private delivery: Internal Revenue Service, ITIN Operation, Mail Stop 6090-AUSC, 3651 S. Interregional, Highway 35, Austin, TX 78741-0000

Use a tracked service. You’re mailing original identity documents, and while the IRS will return them, the process takes time.

In Person at a Taxpayer Assistance Center

Some IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers handle ITIN applications. Staff can review your W-7, authenticate most of your documents on the spot, and hand the originals back before mailing the application for processing.⁹ This is the safest option if you don’t want your passport out of your hands. Not every center offers the service, so check first or call ahead.

Through a Certifying Acceptance Agent

A Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA) can complete and review the W-7, authenticate most documents, and send the package to the IRS on your behalf.⁹ You keep the originals. CAAs charge for the service, and fees vary widely depending on location and complexity. The IRS maintains a searchable directory of authorized CAAs on its website.

How Long Processing Takes

Outside of tax season, allow about seven weeks for a status notice. During tax season (January 15 through April 30), or if you’re applying from overseas, it can take nine to eleven weeks. If you mailed original documents and don’t have them back within 60 days, contact the IRS.¹⁰

Where to Get Help

For questions about your specific rejection, call the phone number in the top right corner of the CP567 notice. For general ITIN questions, the IRS toll-free line is 800-829-1040, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. From outside the United States, the number is 267-941-1000, which is not toll-free.¹⁰

Two free resources are worth knowing about if you can’t get the rejection resolved on your own. The Taxpayer Advocate Service is an independent office inside the IRS that helps taxpayers experiencing hardship or stuck problems. Low Income Taxpayer Clinics offer free or low-cost help with IRS disputes, and many clinics work with ITIN applicants specifically. Your CP567 notice may indicate whether you qualify.¹

1
Internal Revenue Service. Understanding Your CP567 Notice
2
Internal Revenue Service. ITIN Documentation Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
3
Internal Revenue Service. ITIN Application Frequently Asked Questions
4
Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form W-7 – Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
5
Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form W-7 (12/2024)
6
Internal Revenue Service. CP567 – Notice
7
Internal Revenue Service. ITIN Supporting Documentation
8
Internal Revenue Service. Revised Application Standards for ITINs
9
Internal Revenue Service. How to Apply for an ITIN
10
Internal Revenue Service. Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)