COOPERTAX is a CAA, Certifying Acceptance Agent, authorized and certified by the Internal Revenue Service. This means that we have signed a contract with the Internal Revenue Service special ITIN (Individual Tax Identification Number) office. We are duly authorized to issue “Certificate of Accuracy” (COA). The COA certifies that our office was presented with an original passport and that we as CAA, Certifying Acceptance Agents, accepted the original documents presented and was satisfied with the authenticity and original origin so that the original documents need not be sent to the IRS.
With the Certifying Acceptance Agent acceptance, NO original passport or certified copy of passports are required to be submitted to the IRS. We, the CAA, Certifying Acceptance Agent issue a “Certificate of Accuracy” (COA) certificate to be submitted to the IRS in lieu of the original documents.
A regular Acceptance Agent (AA) does not have the authority to accept or deny the documents. The AA must submit your original documents to the IRS.
Once satisfied, our office will immediately return your original documents to you. We also prepare and sign the ITIN application and prepare all documents for submission to the Internal Revenue Service.
Our office as a CAA, Certifying Acceptance Agent, has a direct phone line with the IRS ITIN office which is not available to the general public.
If you need to obtain an ITIN, contact our office for expert, professional service.
An ITIN is a number issued by the IRS to enable a person to file a tax return. The ITIN can be for a primary taxpayer, a spouse or a dependent.
Not everyone is eligible for an ITIN! You must obtain a Social Security number if you are eligible to do so. The IRS may require that you obtain a denial letter from the Social Security Administration if you have been admitted to the United States under a visa that allows you to work with approval from the Department of Homeland Security.
An application for an ITIN is most often submitted with a valid tax return to support the need for the individual to obtain an ITIN. There are some limited exceptions to this requirement.
A CAA can help you with tax return preparation, document verification, W-7 preparation and submission of the application to the IRS. The CAA can follow the process through the IRS system and contact them directly should the need arise. You won’t need to send in original documents, unless the IRS specifically requests them as part of their review process. The CAA receives notifications from the IRS about your application, as well as a copy of the ITIN when it is issued.
The CAA is a facilitator who helps an applicant and the IRS process applications for ITIN’s. The CAA follows the ITIN process from beginning to end and has to comply with IRS regulations. The CAA has specific requirements when submitting applications for ITIN’s and for record keeping. There are also responsibilities, per the agreement the CAA has with the IRS, to help the taxpayer from the time the application is prepared, through the IRS processing of the application, and until the ITIN is relinquished by the taxpayer, cancelled by the IRS, or the taxpayer becomes eligible for a Social Security number.
The CAA can certify your identity and foreign status documents and prepare accurate Forms W-7 that conform to IRS guidelines. No need to go to the IRS or mail your documents to the IRS.
The CAA can certify your dependent’s passport and civil birth certificate and prepare Form W-7 so it conforms to IRS guidelines. Additional documents may be required to prove residency and to claim the child tax credit.
The actual records vary depending upon the person needing the ITIN. You will need at least one document to prove identity and another document for foreign status. One of the documents must contain a recent photograph, unless the application is for a dependent under 14, or 18 if a student.
An unexpired passport is the only document that satisfies both requirements. You can apply for an ITIN without using the passport. There are alternative documents!
The IRS has a table of documents on page 3 of the Instructions for Form W-7. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/iw7.pdf
Please be aware that neither the IRS nor the CAA can guarantee the issuance of an ITIN if you use the services of a CAA.
The CAA cannot guarantee that the IRS won’t send you a request for the original, certified or additional documents to enable them to clarify questions they may have about the application
Here are the steps, in general:
The process starts with a valid tax return for a prior year, the current tax year or an amended return.
The IRS is in control of the timing. The use of a CAA might speed up the process, but there is no guarantee. The CAA does have the ability to speak with the IRS ITIN Unit for status updates and to make sure the process is moving along. Typical turnaround time to receive a response from the IRS for an ITIN is 3-4 weeks, unless it is during their busy season. Then it could take up to 11 weeks.
CAA services are by appointment only. Evening and weekend appointments are available upon request at no additional cost. We are available 7 days a week.
Appointments are either in-person or by video-conference using Skype™.