Acceptance agent application frequently asked questions

In order to access IRS Online Services with a secure account that protects your privacy, you must sign in with ID.me. If you don’t have an ID.me account, you must create a new account.

All individuals identified on your application, excluding foreign participants, must register with IRS e-Services for access to the Acceptance Agent application. All parties, excluding contacts, must complete required fields, acknowledge training completion, and sign respective jurats.

No. We no longer accept applications by mail. You must access and complete the Acceptance Agent application through IRS e-Services. Additionally, you must upload any required documents through the CAA Documentation Upload Tool.

All individuals listed as a Responsible Party on an Acceptance Agent application must have a SSN or TIN to participate in the Acceptance Agent Program, unless you are a foreign national living outside the United States. Note: ITINs are only accepted if the individual is located abroad.

All individuals listed as Responsible Party on a new or renewal Acceptance Agent application must complete the required ITIN Acceptance Agent Training. PDF

All individuals listed as a Responsible Party on a new or renewal Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA) application must complete the required Forensic Training.

No. IRS will conduct a background check as a part of the Acceptance Agent application process, however fingerprint cards are not currently required. As a reminder, we do not accept any portion of the application by mail.

You should review the Acceptance Agent Application tutorial for guidance on how to properly complete the electronic application. You can access the tutorial on our website at New ITIN Acceptance Agent Program changes or in the list of online tutorials on the landing page once you’ve signed in to e-Services. If you still have questions, you may email us at ITINProgramOffice@irs.gov.

Applications may take up to 60 days to process.

You may monitor the status of your application on-line by signing into your E-Services account. Once your application is processed, it will show a status of Pending Agreement Signature. You will need to sign your agreement online by entering your e-Services PIN. Once signed, the status will change to Pending Agreement Approval which means it is pending approval. When the IRS approves the agreement, the status will update to approved.

Your agreement expires on December 31st of the 4th year following your agreement approval date. For example, if your agreement was approved on March 1, 2024, it will expire December 31, 2028.

If you are a foreign firm or organization and neither the principal, partner, or owner nor individuals listed as Responsible Party have a taxpayer identification number (TIN), email us at ITINProgramOffice@irs.gov for guidance on submitting an Acceptance Agent application.

You can only renew an application during the year your Acceptance Agent Agreement expires. All participants are encouraged to start the renewal process a minimum of 6 months prior to their expiration date.

If your Acceptance agent agreement had an expiration date of  12/31/2023, you will not experience disruption in service because  you were unable to timely renew due to the moratorium. Your submitted Form W-7 applications will be processed. However, once the moratorium is lifted, you must submit your renewal application for processing and approval in order for you to continue participation in the IRS Acceptance Agent Program.

Please review the Acceptance Agent application tutorial as noted earlier in these FAQs. Specifically, refer to the section titled, Update an Existing Acceptance Agent Application.

Please review the Acceptance Agent application tutorial as noted earlier in these FAQs. Specifically, refer to the section titled, Update an Existing Acceptance Agent Application.

Follow the instructions on the notice and reply within the specified time. All notice responses must be submitted through the CAA Documentation Upload Tool.

The only training certificate that should be uploaded is a forensic training certificate, if applying as a CAA. This should be uploaded through the CAA Documentation Upload Tool.

EFINs are not required for participation in the IRS Acceptance Agent Program. However, all participants must have an Employer Identification Number (EIN).

Amended applications may be submitted at any time within your approved agreement period. However, if your agreement expires during the current year, it is advisable to submit a renewal application instead.

A Certifying Acceptance Agent is an individual or an entity who is authorized by the IRS to assist alien individuals and other foreign persons in obtaining Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN) from the IRS.

Tax return preparers and other entities can be of tremendous assistance to their clients by becoming Certifying Acceptance Agents. CAAs provide one-stop assistance for clients who are not eligible for a Social Security Number and need Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) services. CAAs can review and determine if required taxpayer documents meet the IRS criteria for identity and foreign status to obtain an ITIN. This means the client will not be required to send their original identification documents to the IRS. CAAs can work with the IRS to resolve any issues with submitted ITIN applications and receive copies of client ITIN notice(s) directly.