AOS and Taxes Question (merged)

[Merica-n 65]

2 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

The IRS says “You’re eligible for an SSN if you’re a U.S. citizen or if you’ve been admitted by the United States for permanent residence or U.S. employment.” Until one of those happens you are not eligible for a SSN and can get an ITIN. Those have not happened for you.

This!

 

I would strongly suggest using an acceptance agent to complete your ITIN over mailing.  There is a fee, but if you call around and get some quote, it should be fairly minimal.  H&R block will do the ITIN for free if you do your tax return with them according to their marketing.  Where I live the local tax clinic does them for free.

[Wuozopo 4,285]

3 hours ago, Merica-n said:

This!

 

I would strongly suggest using an acceptance agent to complete your ITIN over mailing.  There is a fee, but if you call around and get some quote, it should be fairly minimal.  H&R block will do the ITIN for free if you do your tax return with them according to their marketing.  Where I live the local tax clinic does them for free.

How does the acceptance agent get it to Austin? How does the IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center get it to Austin?  

[Merica-n 65]

1 hour ago, Wuozopo said:

How does the acceptance agent get it to Austin? How does the IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center get it to Austin?  

Sorry, I when I said mailing it in, I was referring to option 1 just mailing in the W7 without going to a third party.  Obviously the other services use mail as well.  I guess I should have said option 1 or self prepare?  Not trying to be unclear.

 

Anyways, Taxpayer Assistance Centers can be very busy at times as the IRS is very underfunded.  For $100-200 you can pay someone to do it on Saturday or Sunday down the street, instead of traveling a long distance and waiting a long time to have a IRS employee do it.  I think they are a little bit more controlled because of the pandemic, but I would pay over going there.

[Wuozopo 4,285]

1 hour ago, Merica-n said:

Sorry, I when I said mailing it in, I was referring to option 1 just mailing in the W7 without going to a third party.  Obviously the other services use mail as well.  I guess I should have said option 1 or self prepare?  Not trying to be unclear.

 

Anyways, Taxpayer Assistance Centers can be very busy at times as the IRS is very underfunded.  For $100-200 you can pay someone to do it on Saturday or Sunday down the street, instead of traveling a long distance and waiting a long time to have a IRS employee do it.  I think they are a little bit more controlled because of the pandemic, but I would pay over going there.

Well it is all self prepared anyway you do it. You bring in a completed and signed tax return and a completed and signed W7 application.  The certifying agent or TACs are for the purpose of certifying the passport so the actual passport doesn’t have to go to Austin and come back to you. They look at it to verify it is real then prepare a photocopy which has their certification with it. Would you pay $100-$200 to have somebody certify your passport? ( Geez I guess we are cheap. We won’t even pay somebody to do our tax return. My TurboTax disk cost $30 on Black Friday.) And yes TACs become busy but they operate by appointment only which is why one shouldn’t leave it to the last minute. Get in early by making an appointment weeks out before they fill up.

@Joe30

Here’s the link for Taxpayer Assistance Centers https://www.irs.gov/help/tac-locations-where-in-person-document-verification-is-provided

Click your state and see if there is an office near enough to get to. And make sure you look at their services for “Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers and Form W-7”.

 

Or here is the list for Certifying Acceptance Agents. Scroll down for the list of states. https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/acceptance-agent-program

 

And a few volunteer sites (VITA) that certify https://www.irs.gov/individuals/vita-sites-that-offer-caa-services

[Merica-n 65]

28 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

 Would you pay $100-$200 to have somebody certify your passport? ( Geez I guess we are cheap. We won’t even pay somebody to do our tax return. My TurboTax disk cost $30 on Black Friday.)

You pay in time or you pay in money.  Not calling you cheap, but going to a TAC can be quite a hassle.