Chinese tax ID number

[Mike and Yaoling 46]

Does anyone know if they just use the number from the individual's national ID card as their Chinese Tax ID number?

I am researching into filing a W7 for my new wife (not yet filed for spousal visa) to get a US tax ID number so we can file together this year.

Edited January 2, 2015 by Mike and Yaoling

[CowBoE 429]

Does anyone know if they just use the number from the individual's national ID card as their Chinese Tax ID number?

I am researching into filing a W7 for my new wife (not yet filed for spousal visa) to get a US tax ID number so we can file together this year.

I'm no tax expert, but don't you have to be married in 2014 to file tax together in US?

Also, is this to build evidence?

Or is there a financial benefit to jointly filing in US?

[Mike and Yaoling 46]

I'm no tax expert, but don't you have to be married in 2014 to file tax together in US?

We got married on November 25th 2014

Also, is this to build evidence?

Or is there a financial benefit to jointly filing in US?

Both, commingling and filing married versus filing single gives me a big tax credit.

[RandyW 149]

Does anyone know if they just use the number from the individual's national ID card as their Chinese Tax ID number?

I am researching into filing a W7 for my new wife (not yet filed for spousal visa) to get a US tax ID number so we can file together this year.

It's not clear why you would want a Chinese tax ID number - neither it nor the Chinese ID is needed for the W-7. You WILL need to get her passport certified at the American consulate or in the U.S. (she would need to mail it to you so you could have it certified in the U.S.)

It is not possible to have the passport certified by the issuing authority in China. But yes - several people have gotten the ITIN's while in China

What you need is to have the passport copy certified at a consulate. She can make an appointment through American Citizen Services - they will know what is required.

[Mike and Yaoling 46]

Thanks for the info. I had been trying to research it online and some things were not quite clear as it seems the rules changed at least a couple times in the last few years.

It's not clear why you would want a Chinese tax ID number - neither it nor the Chinese ID is needed for the W-7. You WILL need to get her passport certified at the American consulate or in the U.S. (she would need to mail it to you so you could have it certified in the U.S.)

It is not possible to have the passport certified by the issuing authority in China. But yes - several people have gotten the ITIN's while in China

What you need is to have the passport copy certified at a consulate. She can make an appointment through American Citizen Services - they will know what is required.

[Darnell 8,478]

the instructions in the W-7 are very clear about the ID requirements on her. Please revisit those instructions, nowish.

Note they changed, as well, these ID requirements, so unofficial sites, non-IRS sites, might have outdated info.

[RandyW 149]

The laws changed around 2011 to 2012, with interim measures in place until policies went into effect for the 2012 tax year - http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/Updated-ITIN-Procedure-Changes-Announced

The Certified Acceptance Agents and certification by the issuing authorities options no longer apply in China, although you can have her passport forwarded to the U.S., and take care of it there.

The authentication procedure through the U.S. consulates in China HAS stayed the same, though.

She can make an appointment to get this done through American Citizen Services (yes, they even help out Chinese citizens who have this sort of an issue).

[Mike and Yaoling 46]

She will mail me her passport and the signed W7 form and then I will mail them to the IRS. The IRS will then mail me back the passport and US tax ID number in a couple of months. I will hand deliver her passport back to my wife on my next visit to China. We're not so worried if the IRS loses her original passport since there are no exit or entry stamps in it, it's only 200 RMB for another one and we probably have a f'n year to wait for her CR-1 interview in Guangzhou.

Thanks for the help guys!

[Darnell 8,478]

that's a really good attitude - easier to get a new passport !!!

my wife went to US Cons Chengdu to get stuff done there, but I don't know the 'current' requirements.

[spangoo 0]

Are you guys sure the US Consulates in China can still notarize Chinese passports? I am researching how to do the same thing for my wife and found this on the Chengdu consulate website:

What we CANNOT do:

• Certify true copies of documents. Note: If you need a certified copy of a foreign passport for IRS purposes, you may either contact the IRS office or use a local notary.

http://chengdu.usembassy-china.org.cn/notarials.html

[Mike and Yaoling 46]

I just had my wife send me her real passport which I then submitted as evidence when filing my taxes this year. IRS will then mail back her passport to me when done.

[spangoo 0]

Update: the Chengdu consulate replied with this. seems like it is still possible!

"We can certify true copy of Chinese passport if it is used for IRS purpose, $50.00 for each signature/seal. Your wife need to bring her current passport and W7 when she comes for this service. Please make an appointment first and find more details at this page: http://chengdu.usembassy-china.org.cn/notarials.html"

[Mike and Yaoling 46]

Update: the Chengdu consulate replied with this. seems like it is still possible!

"We can certify true copy of Chinese passport if it is used for IRS purpose, $50.00 for each signature/seal. Your wife need to bring her current passport and W7 when she comes for this service. Please make an appointment first and find more details at this page: http://chengdu.usembassy-china.org.cn/notarials.html"

I understand there is an option but my wife is my goddess, so no need to trouble her to travel for this, I just let her mail it to me. We can easily replace the passport.

Edited February 14, 2015 by Mike and Yaoling