Noorah101

Interesting. In all my years of being a notary, no one has ever asked me to do this. Learn something new every day.

For immigration purposes, I just put that notation on a sheet of paper, which said all the photocopies were copies of true originals, I believe I signed it but I know I didn't get it notarized.

But it's possible IRS does things differently than USCIS, and requires that note to be notarized.

Noorah101

To the OP, if you do this, don't forget to bring the original document AND the photocopy to the notary, so she can check the originals against the copies.

Rene

Bladerunner

Thanks for the info.

Basically, I have been issued with an NI visa by the US government, and cannot live here without a tax number. Can't the IRS just check with the Immigration Dept that this info is correct?

Ideally I would have been issued with the number along with the visa.

When I call them, they have no record of my application.

Oh well. :-(

Bladerunner

I just spoke to them. Yup, my application has been rejected because the documentation was not notarized, and I will receive it by post in the next 2 weeks.

I finally got a bank to let me open an account, but all rent payments are computerized, and the computer will not accept a rent payment unless the SS number (or tax ID number) is given.

The rental office is being OK about it though.

augigi

Check the SSA website, but there is advice on there for employers of what number to use when they need one and you don't have one. I am sure the rental company could use that. It may be 000-00-0004 or something, just a john doe-alien number.

I can't believe they are refusing to accept rental payments because they don't have enough initiative to enter a dummy number in the computer... duh!

Bladerunner

I just got a standard rejection letter for a second time, despite submitting notarized copies of my visa and passport, and filling in the relevant tax treaty and article number after consulting the IRS's legal department.

The rejection letter says "you did not submit the correct supporting documentation" but does not specify what I did wrong, or what I must do now.

For the second time, no documentation has been returned.

The good news is my rent is going through now. But I have no idea what to do regarding the tax number application other than hand the whole thing over to a tax professional.

marielawson

I recommend you to go to your City's IRS Office; there, you will be able to receive proper advise and an explanation on what you have to do to get the number. Take all your file with you, including the letters you received from them. Also take new notarised copies of everything, because the IRS does not keep copies of anything, the representative will have to tell you if everything is right.

Good luck,

Marie

PS.- If they do not provide a solution ask for a "Taxpayer's Advocate"; that is a free service the IRS provides. You must not be forced to spend money in hiring a specialist just to get a ITIN number.

Bladerunner

Thanks Marie. I'll be cracking the champagne when I finally get the d**n thing.

Bladerunner

On my latest W7 application I included a long letter detailing my circumstances. I stated that if they needed any further details, they should just give me a call. It was filled in after legal advice provided by the local IRS office.

Just got a letter back. My W7 has been rejected again because I "did not submit the correct documentation". They have not addressed the specific points in my letter, or returned my nootarized documentation. The letter looks like it has been written by a computer, and contains no reference to my specific details.

Tried to call them, but they "can't tell me any more than appears on the letter".

Basically, as far as I know I have done everything right. I have provided a notarized passport, visa, details of tax treaty and exemption number, letter from employer, proof of continued foreign residency etc.

They are telling me that I am doing something wrong, but won't tell me what it is.

I called the Taxpayers Advocate today, but the person I spoke to had no suggestions as she could not see what documentation was missing. She could only view a copy of the letter I received.

The word "Kafkaesque" springs to mind.

fatbrit

It is.

marielawson

The IRS is one of the most inefficient inefficient agencies (if not the most) in the United States; people want to pay taxes and they do not allow them to do it properly. If I was you I would insist with the taxpayer advocate in person. Again, once you send all the information they will take 10 weeks to give you the ITIN; I mean, if they ever do it. Best luck and do not dismay.

rew1000

We were in a different situation, as we had to attach the W-7 to our 1040 tax form, but we went for the option where you take the W-7 and documents to an IRS office, they look at your documents, take copies and apply their rubber stamp. You could try that approach. They're going to find it harder to say you supplied the wrong documents when there's an IRS stamp on the form saying you did.

[This worked on the second attempt - the first time they sent us away with a load of incorrect advice about the 1040 itself, so we had to go back again with publication 519 and a yellow highlighter, but that's a different story]

Bladerunner

Hooray! I just called the taxpayer advocate and quoted my case file. They then reeled off a number and told me it was my new ITIN.

It took nine months, four w7 applications, and many, many hours on the phone, but I am finally not a non-person!!

Ozzidoc

Hurrah! Fabulous news

MsElui

well done on persisting and getting there in the end!