ITIN delay help
Your ITIN application has gone quiet. Let’s find out why.
The IRS says to allow 7 weeks (9–11 weeks from January 15 to April 30 or from abroad). If that window has passed with no CP565, the usual causes are a CP566 request for more information that hasn’t been answered (or never arrived), a rejection notice sent to an old address, or a package that didn’t reach the IRS. We work out which it is and prepare the next step. We can’t make the IRS move faster — nobody can — but we can make sure your application isn’t stuck waiting on you.
- Review of what you filed, how and when
- CP566 answered with the documents the IRS asked for
- Status check prepared with the details the IRS will ask for
- Corrected resubmission if the application was rejected
- Reply within one business day
- Private service, not the IRS — read our disclaimer
- Passport scan uploadedVerified
- Reason for applying (W-7 box)Verified
- Foreign address verifiedVerified
- Tax return or exception documentsNeeds review
- CAA video verificationPending
This service is built for these situations
You applied more than 7 weeks ago
Outside peak season and from inside the U.S., that’s past the IRS’s standard window.
You applied from abroad or in peak season
Applications from overseas or filed January 15 – April 30 get 9–11 weeks. Past that, it’s time to check.
You received a CP566
The IRS needs more information before it can process your W-7. It waits for your reply.
Your address changed after you applied
IRS notices go to the address on your W-7 and can be lost if you moved.
You mailed originals and want them back
If your passport or ID went to the IRS by mail, we help you check on it.
You’re not sure the IRS received your package
We check the tracking and your filing details before anything is resent.
Getting an ITIN from outside the U.S. is full of small traps
The IRS rejects a large share of ITIN applications, and most rejections and long delays come from a handful of avoidable mistakes: the wrong documents, a missing tax return or exception proof, or originals lost in the mail.
Common pitfalls
What usually goes wrong when filing alone
- A CP566 went unanswered — the IRS holds the application, then rejects it if no reply arrives in time.
- Notices were mailed to an address you no longer use, so you never saw the request or the decision.
- The package went by untracked mail, so there’s no proof the IRS received it.
- IRS ITIN staffing has fallen: TIGTA reported in March 2026 that ITIN staffing was cut by about 27% in 2025 and warned processing could take longer.
Our approach
How we prevent each of those problems
- We read any IRS notice you have and prepare the reply with exactly the documents it lists.
- We check delivery tracking and the timeline against the IRS window before deciding the next step.
- We prepare you, or follow up for you as your acceptance agent where the IRS allows, with the details the IRS asks for.
- If the application was rejected, we diagnose the reason and prepare a complete, corrected resubmission.
What we actually do for you
Diagnose
We review your W-7, supporting documents, filing method, dates and any IRS notices to find the likely reason your ITIN hasn’t arrived.
Follow up
We answer a CP566, prepare a status check with the IRS, or prepare a corrected resubmission — whichever your case needs.
Track to a decision
We keep watching until the IRS assigns your ITIN (CP565) or tells you why it can’t, and update you at each step.
Compare what each package includes on our ITIN service pricing page.
ITIN Delay Help
Prepared and certified by our CAA team
Three ways a Form W-7 reaches the IRS
Every ITIN application needs the W-7, proof of identity and foreign status, and usually a tax return. These are the routes the IRS lists for getting your documents to it. You can use any of them yourself — the ITIN is free.
| Route | How it works | Who can use it | Your original documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA) | An IRS-authorized agent reviews your original passport (in person or on a video interview) and certifies a copy | Anywhere in the world | Original passport is not mailed to the IRS |
| Mail to the IRS | Internal Revenue Service, ITIN Operation, P.O. Box 149342, Austin, TX 78714-9342 | Anywhere in the world | You mail originals or copies certified by the issuing agency; originals are returned by mail |
| IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center | In-person appointment at a designated IRS office (844-545-5640) | Inside the U.S. only | Documents reviewed and returned at the appointment |
- Processing time. The IRS says to allow 7 weeks for an ITIN decision, or 9–11 weeks if you apply during peak season (January 15 – April 30) or from overseas. Nobody — no agent and no paid service — can make the IRS process an ITIN faster.
- Certified copies only. Copies must be certified by the agency that issued the document. Notarized copies are not accepted.
- A return, or an exception. Form W-7 must be attached to a valid federal income tax return unless you qualify for one of the exceptions listed in the W-7 instructions.
Why the route matters: Applications filed through a Certifying Acceptance Agent were rejected 12.3% of the time, against 27.3% when originals were mailed to the IRS and 18.4% through IRS offices (National Taxpayer Advocate, CY2023 to September 2024).
Get a clear next step for your case
Share your situation and a specialist will reply within one business day. The assessment is free.
- Free to askThe assessment costs nothing. Our packages have fixed prices, fully refundable until we file your W-7.
- Honest directionIf we're not the right fit, we'll say so and point you elsewhere.
- Private by defaultYour details stay with us. We don't sell or share data.
Common questions from non-U.S. applicants
If your question isn't here, contact us — we'll answer honestly, even if the answer is 'this isn't a fit for our service.'
How long is normal for an ITIN?
The IRS says to allow 7 weeks for an ITIN decision, or 9–11 weeks if you apply during peak season (January 15 – April 30) or from overseas. Those are the IRS’s own estimates. Our preparation time (1–3 business days) is separate and comes before the IRS clock starts.
What is a CP566 and what should I do?
CP566 — the IRS needs more information before it can process your application. Reply by the deadline in the notice with exactly what it asks for. If the IRS doesn’t get a complete reply in time, it rejects the application and you have to apply again.
How do I check my ITIN status with the IRS?
Call the IRS on 800-829-1040 from inside the U.S., or +1 267-941-1000 (not toll-free) from abroad. Have your W-7 details, date of birth and the date you applied ready. Only call once the IRS window has passed — before that, the IRS will usually just ask you to wait.
Why is the IRS taking longer than usual?
Volume and staffing both matter. Peak season (January 15 – April 30) is always slower. TIGTA reported in March 2026 that the IRS’s ITIN staffing fell by about 27% in 2025 and warned that processing times could lengthen as a result.
Can you speed up my ITIN?
No. Nobody — no agent and no paid service — can make the IRS process an ITIN faster. What we can do is make sure nothing on your side is holding it up — an unanswered CP566, a missing document or a lost notice.
How much does delay help cost?
IRS follow-up is included in ITIN Priority and ITIN Complete for applications we file. For an application filed elsewhere, tell us what happened and we’ll quote a fixed price after reviewing your case.
Related ITIN guides
Ready to get your ITIN without mailing your passport?
Tell us who needs an ITIN and why. A specialist will reply within one business day with the documents you need and a clear plan.
Or email support@itinnumber.io
- Reply within one business dayA specialist reviews your case and outlines a clear plan.
- Free resubmissionPriority and Complete include one free resubmission if the IRS rejects your application.
- Refund before filingChange your mind before we file your W-7? Full refund, no questions.
Two clocks apply to every ITIN. Ours: we prepare and certify your application within 1–3 business days of receiving your documents and completing the video verification. The IRS’s: it says to allow 7 weeks, or 9–11 weeks from January 15 to April 30 or when you apply from abroad — and nobody can speed that up. We track your application through the IRS wait, follow up once the IRS window has passed, and tell you as soon as your ITIN is assigned. All prices are listed in USD with no hidden fees, and payments are made securely by debit or credit card through Razorpay. The IRS charges nothing for the ITIN itself.