A Certifying Acceptance Agent is authorised by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service to verify your identity documents directly — which means your original passport never has to leave your hands.
An individual or firm that has entered into a formal written agreement with the IRS to help applicants obtain an ITIN.
The distinguishing power is document authentication: a CAA can examine your original passport and certify a copy, so the original stays with you rather than being posted to the United States.
It is not a title anyone can adopt. The IRS vets applicants, requires forensic document training, and publishes the list of approved agents country by country.
Every ITIN application has to prove identity and foreign status. How that proof reaches the IRS is what separates the three routes:
Filing on your own: you post your original passport to the IRS and wait without it. If the application is rejected, the whole cycle starts again.
An ordinary tax preparer: can complete Form W-7 with you, but cannot certify documents. The original still has to be mailed.
A Certifying Acceptance Agent: examines the original in front of you, certifies the copy, and submits that instead. You keep your passport throughout.
The only other way to avoid mailing originals is an in-person appointment at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center — which is not a realistic option from India.
You do not have to take our word for any of this. The IRS publishes its own list of authorised agents, and we appear on the India page:
We would encourage you to check it — and to check anyone else who claims the same status. It takes a moment, and it is the clearest way to tell a licensed agent from a firm that simply prepares the form.
Working with us as your Certifying Acceptance Agent:
You tell us why you need an ITIN. We confirm you are eligible and identify exactly which documents will satisfy the IRS in your situation.
We examine your original documents, certify the copies, and prepare Form W-7 together with the Certificate of Accuracy the IRS requires from a CAA.
The complete package goes to the IRS. You keep your passport, and we track the application and deal with any correspondence that follows.
What a Certifying Acceptance Agent can and cannot do for you.
Both are authorised by the IRS to assist with ITIN applications, but only a Certifying Acceptance Agent can authenticate your identity documents and certify copies. With a plain Acceptance Agent, originals still have to be submitted. It is worth confirming which one you are dealing with.
It does not guarantee approval — the decision is always the IRS's. What it changes is how many applications fail for avoidable reasons. A CAA checks eligibility, document sufficiency and the accompanying tax return before anything is submitted, which is where most rejections originate.
For a spouse, yes, on the same basis as the primary applicant. For dependants the IRS applies narrower rules about which documents a CAA may certify, and in some cases originals or agency-certified copies are still required. We will tell you which applies to your family before you commit to anything.
Our office is in Ahmedabad and we are listed by the IRS under India, but ITIN applicants come to us from many countries. The practical question is how your original documents can be examined, and we will explain the options that apply to where you are before you engage us.
The IRS does not charge for issuing an ITIN, and it does not charge for using a CAA. What you pay is our professional fee for reviewing the case, certifying documents, preparing the forms and dealing with the IRS on your behalf.
Our part is usually quick once we have your documents. The IRS side generally takes 7 to 11 weeks, and longer during the January to April peak. Using a CAA does not shorten the IRS queue — it reduces the risk of being sent to the back of it.
https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/acceptance-agents-india
We can help you with the ITIN application and renewal, including document authentication for the IRS. However, final approval is subject to the IRS's decision. An ITIN is strictly for tax use and does not grant U.S. work authorization or Social Security benefits.
Tired of confusing paperwork and lengthy procedures? Avoid the hassle and apply for your ITIN stress-free today by using our streamlined services.
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