11 replies to this topic

[AccountingBasics]

As part of our publishing business we get paid from the US. The Internal Revenue Service in the US ensures that 30% of all our revenue is kept at source from our printers. To stop this happening we have to obtain an ITIN (Individual Tax Identification Number). I have had great difficulty in obtaining this and the forms have been rejected twice due to technical matters, which are not explained very clearly on their website. What is really annoying is that they take 6-8 weeks to process your application and for us this is loss of income.

I was just wondering if anyone has ever completed the process.

[Matt]

Sounds Painful! They always seem to try and make these things as compliated as possible dont they

Can't say i have personally applied for a US tax ID before, but i don't suppose this post would be of any use to you? http://www.jonathanm...uk-citizen.html

Good luck!

[AccountingBasics]

That is a good article - one of the problems I have had is that the person authorising my documents Notary didn't provide all the documentation required. Also actually filling in the form is complicated and the instructions provided are not very clear. I'm sure it is the US IRS just wanting to keep my money.

Hopefully this time I will be successful and get the number required.

[AccountingBasics]

I have now found out that I need to obtain a certified copy of my birth certificate from central office and not local office and need to get my driving licence signed by a public Notary. When that is complete I then need to send then to obtain a Apostille certificate from a different office. All the documents can then be sent off and wait another 6 weeks.

I will be glad when it is all sorted so we do not have to pay tax in the US.

[Business Circuit]

Sounds like you've hopefully got it sorted then

Nothing worse than paying too much tax!

[AccountingBasics]

I hope it is sorted. I will let you know when I get my number through.

[Business Circuit]

Good luck! Interested to know the outcome - Perhaps you could do a quick step by step guide if it works this time?

[AccountingBasics]

It will take a couple of months to hear the outcome, but I will certainly let you know.

[AccountingBasics]

I have finally today received my US ITIN number. This means that I will no longer need to get tax deducted from source each month, this has cost me £600 per month so far. I am hoping that I can now also reclaim the tax back.

I will shortly post how I went about getting the ITIN number.

[Matt Gubba]

Good job Angela!

Wow, £600 a month over-tax is a horrific! I hope you manage to claim it all back.

Matt

[AccountingBasics]

On the IRS (Inland Revenue Service) website it is difficult to find the correct information on how to obtain an ITIN number. If you make any mistakes or you miss anything on your application it gets rejected. The IRS take 6-8 weeks to process your application so getting it right the first time is very important.

Here are the instructions that I followed to get the ITIN number.

I located a US Tax company http://www.usataxrebate.com that would ensure all the documentation and form were correct. Their fees for this service was $200, which was well worth the money. They sent across full information on the proof of identification that was required and also who was in my local area to get the documents certified.

The IRS require 2 documents certified by a solicitor - it is worth shopping around I was quoted between £30 and £60 per document. One of the documents that I used was my birth certificate, this had to be obtained from http://www.certified...ificatesuk.com/ and was already certified. If you have a passport (mine is out of date) this is the best document to use.

The certified copies then need an Apostille attached, which is a legal documentation obtained from the courts. The Apostille service I used was based in Coventry so I was able to drop in the documents. The cost for this service was £132.

All the documentation was then posted to the US Tax Rebate office and they checked it completed all the forms and sent it to the IRS. I received an email from them when they submitted the forms and an email when the ITIN number was obtained.

This process has taken many months and I would recommend that you get someone to complete it for you, unless you know what you are doing. Following advice on the internet is not easy.

Angela

[AndrewBenn]

I received a new ITN number Today.which means no more further need to reduce tax playments.