Request an ITIN

An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a 9-digit number issued by the IRS to individuals that have an income tax filing requirement but are not eligible to receive a Social Security Number (SSN). ITINs expire five calendar years after issue. University Tax Services assists both students and suppliers in navigating the ITIN application process which involves submission of paperwork and an in person interview.

Suppliers should review the Considerations for Suppliers section of this page for timing information. Jump to a topic using the Table of Contents button to the right.

Assistance with Application

IU is authorized to perform the function of a Certifying Acceptance Agent by the Internal Revenue Service. The Bloomington, Indianapolis, and South Bend campuses can assist eligible individuals in applying for, obtaining, or renewing an ITIN at no cost to the applicant. To be eligible for this service you must meet one of the following criteria:

• Individual temporarily in the U.S. with a primary purpose of studying, teaching, or performing research for which the individual is receiving a scholarship or grant, AND the individual will not be receiving any type of compensation for services during their stay in the U.S.
• Individual temporarily in the U.S. receiving payment of an honoraria, or other compensation for service, when the individual will claim the benefits of a tax treaty between the U.S. and the tax resident country AND the individual is not eligible for an SSN.

If you are eligible for an ITIN based on the criteria described above, contact your campus using the information below.

Required Documents for Students

The following documents must be submitted to the office listed above at least 24 hours prior to scheduling an ITIN interview. You will be contacted to schedule an interview after documentation has been processed. Please note only the Indianapolis and South Bend campus students will have their interview conducted by their respective campus. The interviews for Bloomington campus students will be conducted by a third-party vendor.

• Completed FNIS questionnaire. Review the FNIS Questionnaire Help page for more information.
• Completed ITIN Application Request
• Passport and Visa

  Please note that you must bring your original Passport to the interview even though you provided a copy with the pre-submitted documentation. Without the original passport, your ITIN application cannot be accepted or processed.

• Copy of stamp on passport page
• Copy of I-20 (for F visas), DS-2019 (for J visas), or I-797 if applicable
• Copy of scholarship/grant award letter from IU for applicants receiving scholarship, fellowship, or grant income
• Letter of Denial for an SSN from Social Security Administration (if an SSN has been applied for and was denied)

Required Documents for Suppliers

The following documents must be submitted to the office listed above at least 24 hours prior to scheduling an ITIN interview. You will be contacted to schedule an interview after documentation has been processed.

• Completed FNIS questionnaire. Review the FNIS Questionnaire Help page for more information.
• Completed ITIN Application Request
• Passport and Visa

  Please note that you must bring your original Passport to the interview even though you provided a copy with the pre-submitted documentation. Without the original passport, your ITIN application cannot be accepted or processed.

• Copy of stamp on passport page
• Copy of I-20 (for F visas), DS-2019 (for J visas), or I-797 if applicable
• Copy of contract or an invitation to speak (on IU department letterhead) for applicants receiving honoraria or other compensation for services
• Letter of Denial for an SSN from Social Security Administration (if an SSN has been applied for and was denied)

After Application Submission

After you have submitted the required documents and completed the in person interview, your information will be submitted to the IRS by IU. It generally takes one week from your interview date for information to be submitted. The IRS's review and issuance of the ITIN, if appropriate, takes eight to ten weeks. If IU has not received a response within eight weeks of submission, IU will contact the IRS to request an update.

If the IRS rejects your application, your documents will be returned to the IU office which submitted them. If the rejection was related to an administrative error, IU will correct and resubmit the application for a second review. If more information is necessary, you will be contacted.

Once IU receives the ITIN, both you and IU will receive a letter of acceptance. Store this letter in a secure place! The ITIN will also be applied to the appropriate IU system. The ITIN will appear on tax statements issued to you by IU, the Indiana Department of Revenue, or the IRS. If you are eligible to receive tax treaty benefits, University Tax Services will contact you to complete a new W-8BEN.

Considerations for Suppliers

If you are a supplier, please review the following timing considerations:

• If you are a supplier visiting the Bloomington campus, email University Tax Services as soon as possible for expedited processing instructions.
• ITIN applications will not be processed after November 1 for the current calendar year. If an ITIN application was submitted prior to November 1 but an ITIN was either not issued or was rejected, the supplier payment will be grossed up with the tax liability charged to the associated IU department account.
• Treaty benefits for supplier honorarium payments will not be granted after December 1 of the current calendar year. This is due to the fact that the IRS may reject the Form 8233 which impacts the application of tax treaty benefits.