Gokce Tandogdu
ITIN Specialist, itin.net
An expired ITIN can be renewed in 5 to 10 business days through a Certified Acceptance Agent, or 8 to 14 weeks if you mail Form W-7 and your passport directly to the IRS. The difference is entirely a function of which channel you use.
Through a CAA (typical path for non-residents). A Certified Acceptance Agent is authorized by the IRS to verify your passport in-house and submit a certified copy with your W-7. You keep your original passport. The CAA channels at the IRS process faster than the public mail queue, and CAA-filed applications typically complete in 5 to 10 business days from submission.
Direct mail to the IRS. You send Form W-7 and your original passport to the IRS ITIN Operation in Austin, Texas. The IRS holds the passport for 8 to 14 weeks during processing. For non-residents, this means being without a passport for 2 to 4 months — which is rarely workable.
The timing trap. Do not submit a renewal W-7 in the same envelope as your tax return if you can avoid it. The IRS processes the W-7 first and the return second. Stacking them adds 6 to 11 weeks of refund delay during tax season. If your ITIN is expiring and you know you will file this year, renew in November or December of the prior year — well before the return.
What you need: Form W-7 with the "Renew an Existing ITIN" box checked, a valid passport (with more than 6 months of validity remaining), your existing ITIN number written exactly as it appears on prior IRS correspondence, and a U.S. tax return if you currently have a filing obligation. Name changes since the original issuance require supporting legal documentation.
Renewing before tax season is the single biggest timing optimization available. Plan ahead and the renewal is a non-event.