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IRS Certifying Acceptance Agent

ITIN services — without mailing your passport to the IRS.

Apply for or renew your Individual Taxpayer Identification Number with a licensed CPA who is also an IRS Certifying Acceptance Agent. We verify your identity documents directly, so eligible applicants keep their original passport instead of sending it away.

Handled by a Washington State Licensed CPA and IRS CAA. Verify our license →

  • Washington State Licensed CPA Verify →
  • IRS Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA)
  • Encrypted client portal & secure document handling

ITIN basics

What an ITIN is — in plain terms.

An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a nine-digit tax processing number issued by the IRS. It’s for people who have a U.S. federal tax filing or reporting requirement but aren’t eligible for a Social Security Number (SSN). An ITIN lets you file a U.S. tax return, be claimed on someone else’s return, or meet a reporting requirement. It is strictly a tax number.
  • A non-citizen who must file a U.S. federal tax return but can’t get an SSN
  • A spouse or dependent of a U.S. citizen or resident being claimed on a return
  • A resident alien filing a U.S. return based on days present in the country
  • Someone with a U.S. tax reporting requirement who isn’t eligible for an SSN

Not sure whether you qualify or need one? That’s the first thing we’ll figure out together on your consultation — before you spend anything.

Not sure if you need an ITIN? Book a free consultation and we’ll confirm it.

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Why a Certifying Acceptance Agent matters

Keep your passport. We verify your documents directly.

Most people applying for an ITIN on their own face a hard choice: mail their original passport to the IRS, or track down a certified copy. Mailing originals means being without your passport for weeks while the IRS processes and returns it.

As an IRS Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA), IMAAR Associates CPA, PLLC is authorized to review and certify your identity documents for you. For eligible applicants, that means you keep your original passport, you face fewer rejections because we check your Form W-7 first, and one licensed CPA manages your application and your tax return together.

A note on dependents: identity-document rules for dependents can differ from those for adults. We’ll confirm exactly which of your family’s documents we can verify directly and which, if any, must be submitted — before you commit to anything.

You keep your passport

  • We verify your identity documents directly, as a CAA
  • Eligible applicants don’t mail originals to the IRS
  • Your Form W-7 is prepared and checked before submission

What's included

What we handle for you.

  • New ITIN applications. Full preparation of Form W-7, identity-document verification as a CAA, and submission with your federal tax return or qualifying exception.
  • ITIN renewals. If your ITIN has expired or is expiring, we prepare and submit the renewal so your filings aren’t delayed.
  • Spouse and dependent applications. Applications for family members who need to be claimed on a U.S. return, with document rules confirmed up front.
  • Tax return coordination. Because an ITIN application usually goes in with a tax return, we prepare the return too — no handing you off to a second firm.
  • Document review. We check every form and supporting document before it’s submitted, so avoidable mistakes don’t cost you weeks.

The process

Your ITIN, step by step.

  1. 1

    Free consultation.

    We confirm whether you need an ITIN, whether you qualify, and which documents apply to your situation.

  2. 2

    Secure document upload.

    You share your documents through our encrypted portal — no email attachments, no mailing sensitive records.

  3. 3

    Identity verification as a CAA.

    We verify your identity documents directly. Eligible applicants keep their originals.

  4. 4

    Preparation and submission.

    We complete your Form W-7, prepare your tax return where required, and submit your application to the IRS.

  5. 5

    Follow-through.

    We track your application and keep you updated until your ITIN is issued.

Processing times are set by the IRS and can vary throughout the year. We'll set clear expectations based on current IRS guidance — we don't promise a date the IRS controls.

Ready to get your ITIN handled the right way?

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Get ready

What to have ready.

Every situation is a little different, but most applicants will need:
  • A valid passport (the single document that can prove both identity and foreign status), or an approved combination of other identity documents
  • Details for your U.S. federal tax return, or the exception that applies to you
  • Information for any spouse or dependents included in the application

On your consultation, we’ll give you a short, personalized checklist so you’re not guessing.

Why IMAAR Associates CPA, PLLC

A CPA and a CAA — in the same firm.

CPA + CAA combined.

Your ITIN and your tax return are handled together by one licensed professional, not split across a preparer and an agent.

No passport mailing.

Our core advantage, and often the biggest relief for clients — eligible applicants keep their original documents.

Remote-first and secure.

Apply from anywhere in the U.S. through an encrypted portal.

Straight answers.

We tell you if you don’t need an ITIN, or if something won’t work. Honesty over upsell.

Clear ITIN pricing.

ITIN services start at $100, with your exact quote confirmed after a free consultation once we know whether it’s a new application, a renewal, or a family filing. No surprise fees.

ITIN questions, answered.

For eligible applicants, yes. As a Certifying Acceptance Agent, we verify your identity documents directly instead of the IRS requiring your originals by mail. Some dependent documents have different rules, which we’ll confirm with you first.

No. An ITIN is only for federal tax reporting. It does not authorize employment, provide Social Security benefits, or change your immigration status.

The IRS sets and controls processing times, and they change during the year. We’ll give you a realistic expectation based on current IRS guidance — but we won’t promise a date we don’t control.

Yes. We prepare and submit ITIN renewals so your tax filings aren’t held up.

Yes — and usually we should, since an ITIN application typically goes in with a return. You get both handled by one CPA.

Yes. We’re remote-first and serve clients across the United States through our secure portal.

Let's get your ITIN handled.

What happens next

  1. 1

    Book a free consultation.

  2. 2

    We confirm your eligibility and documents.

  3. 3

    You decide whether to move forward — no pressure.

An ITIN is issued for federal tax reporting purposes only. It does not authorize work in the United States, establish eligibility for Social Security benefits or the Earned Income Tax Credit, or change your immigration status. Eligibility and document requirements are determined by IRS rules and depend on your individual circumstances. Nothing on this page is tax or legal advice, and no engagement begins until a signed engagement letter is in place.

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