Bladerunner

Hi all

I arrived in NY in November on a non immigrant visa and sent in my W7 form (for tax exempt status) at the start of December. I work for a European-based employer and still pay tax in my country of residence.

So far I have heard nothing from the IRS. I cannot do a number of things like open a bank account or pay rent without the aforsaid tax ID number. When I call the IRS they say I do not appear on the computer, but applications can take months.

Anyone have any experience of this? I am getting a bit frustrated.

Cheers.

meauxna

I thought the W-7 rules now say the form can only be submitted with a tax return? You might not see that number for a long time, if ever.

What visa are you on?

Rete

He's asking about a Tax Exemption Number. I know that a Taxpayer's Identification Number has to be filed with a tax return but not sure about the Tax Exemption Number and in fact, thought it was only available to non-profit and religious affiliations.

meauxna

I've never heard of a Tax Exemption Number for an individual (orgs can get Tax Exempt status); I think he is referring to this use of an ITIN:

Individuals needing an ITIN include:

1. A nonresident alien individual eligible to obtain the benefits of a reduced rate of withholding under an income tax treaty,

http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc857.html

You must file Form W-7 (PDF) , Application for Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, to apply for an ITIN, and show that you have a federal tax purpose for seeking the ITIN. In most cases, this will require attaching a federal tax return to the most current revision of the Form W–7 available. Along with the completed Form W-7, you will submit identity documents, and either a federal tax return, or other documentation to show the federal tax purpose for which you need the ITIN.


The thing is, the ITIN is not designed to be a replacement SSN for the purposes he's talking about in the OP.

Bladerunner: It's also possible to open a bank account and pay rent without either of these numbers.

Bladerunner

Cheers for the info guys. I'm on an "I" visa from a country with a tax treaty with the US. If you tick the "covered by tax treaty" box, you don't need to supply a tax return - apparantly. I submitted copies of my visa, a letter confirming my country of residence and photo ID.

I live in a large apartment block in NY and they say their payment system won't accept my rent without a SS or Tax ID number. If there was a way to get around this, I'd be tempted not to bother with the tax ID number.

meauxna

Ask them what other 'unique identifier' they can work with. SSNs and ITINs are for FEDERAL TAX purposes. Other places use them because they are unique.
See if they'll take your pp number or similar.

I'll have to read the page I linked you to see where it says they will send you the number without a tax return or Federal Tax need.
The point I'm driving at is that SSA or the IRS isn't going to give you a number so you can pay your rent. In their thinking, these are TAX ID#s for tax reporting purposes.

fatbrit

Try another bank. You do NOT need a SSN or ITIN to open a checking account. Your foreign passport should be just fine.

meauxna

From the linked page:


If you apply by mail, use the address shown in the Form W–7 instructions and in Publication 1915. After reviewing your application, your documents will be returned to you. If your original documents have not been returned within 60 days, you may call 1–800–829–1040 (in the United States), or 1–215–516–2000 (outside the United States), to find out about the status of your documents. It takes approximately 4 to 6 weeks for the IRS to notify you in writing of your ITIN.

Bladerunner

Thanks Meauxna and Fatbit. Appreciate the help.

I'm glad I didn't send them my passport.

fatbrit

You sometimes have to persevere. If the drone behind the counter starts prattling on about the Patriot (aka Paranoid) Act, it means s/he went to the bank's training session, ate the donuts, drank the coffee....but didn't understand a word they were saying. Simply put, if you have a SSN, you must give it to them. If you don't have one, you merely have to prove your identity, i.e. a passport or similar. If you meet an idiot, push it gently up to someone in the establishment who has a brain. I don't think it'll be too hard to open an account in cosmopolitan NYC without a SSN.

marielawson

If you did everything well you will get you ITIN 10 weeks after the IRS (Texas) received your W7 with all the information and notarized support papers they require.

Good luck

Bladerunner

Thanks for the info. I'll call them again after 10 weeks.

I submitted a b/w photocopy of my visa, an original letter from the immigtration authorities of my country of residence confirming my residence, and b/w photocopies of two forms of ID - national ID card without photo, and press card with photo. I don't drive, so don't have a licence. Short of sending my passport itself, this was the best I could do. Nothing was notarized though.

marielawson

Sorry to know that.

If nothing is notarized they will send you a letter stating that your application was refused. You'd better call them right away so you do not spend all this time waiting for nothing.

Good luck.

Noorah101

What is it that would need to be notarized? Looking at his list of documents, I don't see anything that he needed to sign. All a notary does is verify a signature. A notary doesn't verify the validity of documents themselves.

Rene

marielawson

All copies of documents (passports, visas, etc.) need to be notarized; the Notary Public will certify that they are true copies of the original.