ITIN basics
What Is an ITIN? A Clear Guide for First-Time Applicants
A plain-language introduction to ITINs, eligibility, Form W-7, identity documents, and what applicants should expect.
Read guide →Certa prepares your Form W-7 and, if needed, your U.S. federal tax return. An IRS-authorized Certifying Acceptance Agent authenticates your identity documents, prepares the filing package, and keeps you updated until the IRS responds.
Your original identity documents are handled under the applicable IRS rules and returned to you with tracking. A passport is not ordinarily mailed inside your IRS application package. Physical inspection by the CAA is required.
About two minutes. No payment required.
Complete service with federal return preparation: $499 one time. Already have a completed return? ITIN service is $249.
Your document
Returning to you — tracked
Original identity documents are handled under the applicable IRS rules and returned after review. A passport is not ordinarily mailed inside the IRS filing package.
How your identity documents are handled
IRS rules require your Certifying Acceptance Agent to physically possess and inspect the original documents they are authorized to authenticate during your verification interview. Certa provides the approved delivery instructions, records custody the moment each document is received, and returns originals to you with tracking after authentication.
Available review methods, expected timing, and any shipping details for your location are shown and confirmed with you before you pay. Full details in the FAQ.
Is Certa right for you?
Applying with family? Certa supports spouses and dependents filed together as one household — each person gets their own Form W-7, and every person’s requirements are confirmed before payment.
How it works
You answer plain questions and hand over one document. Certa's professionals do the rest.
Answer a few opening questions so we can set up the right application and service for you. About two minutes, no payment.
Complete a plain-language intake instead of working through IRS forms alone. Certa prepares your Form W-7 — and your federal tax return if you need one.
Follow Certa's secure delivery instructions for the original identity documents your case requires. Your CAA physically examines the documents they are authorized to authenticate, records the result, and returns originals with tracking.
Certa assembles the filing package, mails it to the IRS with tracking, and keeps your dashboard updated through the IRS response.
What you’re paying for
The IRS is a black box. Certa isn’t. From the first application question to the envelope’s tracking number, a real case team does the work and your dashboard shows every step in plain language.
Federal tax owed to the IRS is not included — it always remains the taxpayer’s responsibility. IRS approval and processing time can’t be guaranteed by any service.
Who handles your case
An IRS-authorized Certifying Acceptance Agent listed in the IRS Maryland directory.
Your application is prepared and reviewed by Toa Tax Professional, an IRS-authorized Certifying Acceptance Agent listed in the IRS directory. Certa prepares your Form W-7 and tax return when selected, authenticates the required documents, assembles the filing package, mails it with tracking, and helps you respond if the IRS asks for more information.
The IRS directory opens directly at “Toa Tax Professional” in supported browsers.
Questions before you start? support@certaitin.com
How your documents are protected
You're trusting us with your most important document. These are the actual controls.
Your identity-document numbers, dates, addresses, and tracking references are field-encrypted in our database, and every connection uses TLS.
Only the Certifying Acceptance Agent and staff assigned to your case can open your documents — enforced by the system, not by policy alone.
Every download of your documents and filing package is written to your case's audit history, along with every custody and filing decision.
Uploaded document images are stored privately and purged on a schedule after filing — they exist to prepare and verify your application, nothing else.
Pricing
Most applicants need the complete service — a first-time ITIN application is usually filed together with a federal tax return.
For applicants who need Certa to prepare the federal return.
$499one time
Tax owed to the IRS is not included — it always remains your responsibility.
Start complete serviceFor applicants with a completed, filing-ready federal return.
$249one time
You provide the completed return; Certa files the application around it.
Continue with my returnYou only pay after the opening application questions confirm Certa supports your situation, and every document-handling detail is disclosed before payment.
Your case is handled by Toa Tax Professional. Verify Toa Tax Professional on IRS.gov
The IRS alone issues ITINs and controls processing times. Certa cannot promise the IRS’s decision, but we stand behind the work within our control.
Returning to an existing ITIN
Renew only if your ITIN has expired and you need it for a U.S. federal tax return. We'll confirm the return and document requirements before you pay.
Certa guides
Plain-language answers covering ITINs, Form W-7, identity documents, renewals, and what happens next.
ITIN basics
A plain-language introduction to ITINs, eligibility, Form W-7, identity documents, and what applicants should expect.
Read guide →Questions, answered
The honest answers — including the ones other services bury.
Answer a few opening questions. No payment or IRS forms are required to begin.
Start my application