How to Call the IRS to Check Your ITIN Status and Number

Some ITIN applicants have not yet received the ITIN notice letter mailed by the IRS. IRS ITIN notices are usually sent by regular mail and may not have a tracking number, so the letter may already have been mailed even if you have not received it yet.

If your ITIN has already been approved, calling the IRS directly may help you check the status and, in some cases, ask for the ITIN number before the paper notice arrives. The paper CP565 notice is still important and should be kept safely, but calling can be useful when you urgently need the number first.

Check the Current IRS Processing Timeline First

Before calling, check the IRS processing status page:

IRS processing status for tax forms

This page shows general processing progress for form types, not your individual case. It may show, for example, which month of Form W-7 applications the IRS is currently processing.

The IRS generally says to allow 7 weeks for an ITIN application status notice. It can take 9 to 11 weeks during peak processing season, from January 15 through April 30, or if you applied from overseas. If you have not received your ITIN or correspondence after that timeframe, you can call the IRS to check the status.

Why You Should Call in Person

An ITIN is a personal tax identification number, and the IRS is strict about identity verification. In most cases, the IRS will not disclose an applicant's ITIN number to a third party on the applicant's behalf. Even with authorization, an IRS representative may still refuse to provide the number to someone else.

For this reason, we recommend that you call the IRS yourself. If language or communication is difficult, we can help you prepare a script or assist with explanations while you are present on the call. Whether third-party assistance is accepted depends on the IRS representative handling the call.

Recommended Calling Time

Based on experience, it is usually better not to call too early or too late in the IRS business day. During U.S. daylight saving time, we recommend trying the following window:

Monday to Friday, Beijing Time 21:20 to 02:20 the next day.

Which Phone Number to Call

The IRS lists the following ITIN-related phone numbers:

• Calling from within the United States: +1 800-908-9982
• Calling from outside the United States: +1 267-941-1000. This is an international phone number and is not toll-free.

If you do not have a U.S. phone number, you can use an international calling service that can call U.S. phone numbers. Please check the fees before calling because the waiting time can be long.

Keypad Path to Reach a Live Representative

After the call connects, the system will ask you to choose a language.

1. Press 1 for English.
2. If you are familiar with Spanish, you may choose Spanish instead.

After selecting English, the system will continue playing menu options. The menu can change, but based on the path we have tested so far, pressing 1 after the English selection is the path that leads to a live representative.

Do not press random keys while the system is playing a longer voice message. Wait patiently. Usually, after about 2 to 3 minutes, the system may start transferring you to a live representative line.

When you hear hold music, you are in the queue. If it is fast, you may be connected in about 5 minutes. If it is slow, you may need to wait 30 minutes or longer. Keep the call connected and do not hang up midway.

What to Say After Reaching a Live Representative

After you reach a live representative, explain that you want to check the status of your ITIN application and ask whether the ITIN number has already been assigned.

You can say:

Hello, I submitted my ITIN application. Could you please help me check the status of my ITIN application? If my ITIN has been assigned, could you please tell me my ITIN number?

If the representative asks when you submitted your application, tell them the approximate submission date.

For example:

I submitted my application around March 1st.

Or:

I submitted my application around March 10th.

Use your real approximate submission date. If you call too early, the IRS may tell you that the ITIN has not been issued yet and ask you to wait longer.

What Information the IRS May Verify

The representative will usually search the system first and then verify your identity. Common questions include:

• What is your last name?
• What is your first name?
• What is your date of birth?
• What is your nationality?
• What is your country of birth?
• What mailing address did you put on your application?
• What is your foreign address or home address?

State your name clearly. We recommend saying it normally first, then spelling it letter by letter.

For example:

My last name is Wang, W-A-N-G. My first name is Wei, W-E-I.

Be careful not to mix up your addresses. The U.S. mailing address and your overseas home address are two different addresses.

• If they ask for the mailing address or U.S. mailing address, provide the U.S. mailing address listed on your W-7 form. If you used our U.S. mailing address, tell them: 8080 Westpark Drive STE 76608, Houston, TX 77063.
• If they ask for the foreign address or home address, provide your own overseas home address, including the full address details used on your application.

If you used our U.S. mailing address, read the address item by item, including the street, suite number, city, state, and ZIP code. After reading it, you can ask the representative to repeat or confirm it to avoid address entry errors.

Possible Result 1: Your ITIN Has Been Approved

If the IRS finds that your ITIN has been approved, ask whether the representative can provide the ITIN number.

You can say:

Could you please tell me my ITIN number?

After hearing the number, write it down immediately and verify it again:

Could you please confirm it again? Is my ITIN 9XX-XX-XXXX?

An ITIN is usually 9 digits and starts with 9. Make sure you confirm the complete number. If it sounds like 8 digits, 10 digits, or any digit is unclear, ask the representative to repeat it.

Possible Result 2: The Notice Letter Was Mailed, But You Have Not Received It

If the IRS tells you that the ITIN notice letter has already been mailed but you have not received it, say:

I have not received the notice letter yet.

Then request that the IRS resend the notice letter:

Could you please resend the ITIN notice letter to my mailing address?

If you have a stable U.S. mailing address, we recommend sending it to the U.S. address first. ITIN notice letters are usually sent by regular mail without tracking numbers. If the letter is mailed outside the United States, international regular mail has a higher risk of delay or loss.

If you do not currently have a suitable U.S. mailing address, you may consider arranging a stable U.S. mailing address first and then asking the IRS to resend the letter. When requesting a reissue, read the address slowly and confirm that the representative enters it correctly.

Possible Result 3: Your ITIN Has Not Finished Processing Yet

If the IRS says that your application is still being processed, ask whether any additional materials are needed and when they recommend calling again.

You can ask:

Is there anything missing from my application?

And:

When should I call again to check the status?

Write down the representative's answer, including whether you need to wait, whether the IRS needs additional documents, and whether any letter has already been mailed.

Please also email us at support@itinservices.com with the status update. If there is still no result, we can help review the situation and decide what to do next.

Representative familiarity with the ITIN system can vary. Sometimes one representative cannot find the information, but another representative can. If you still cannot get a clear result after hanging up, you can call again after a few days and email us at support@itinservices.com at the same time.

If You Need the ITIN Notice Letter Resent

If you have already obtained your ITIN number but still want the official paper notice letter, continue asking the IRS to resend it:

I would like to receive a copy of my ITIN notice letter. Could you please resend it to my mailing address?

The representative may verify your address again. The reissue request may take several more minutes. Including the waiting time and identity verification, the full call may take more than 20 minutes.

After the Call

After the call, keep a written record of:

• The date and time of the call
• The IRS representative's employee ID, if provided
• Whether the ITIN was approved, pending, rejected, or already mailed
• Any requested follow-up documents
• Any address correction or resend request

If you are an ITIN Services client, send the update to support@itinservices.com so we can keep your case record current and advise on the next step.