Why Your ITIN Might Have the Wrong Name or Date of Birth
Two situations commonly cause errors in ITIN records:
1. The IRS matched the passport, not the W-7
When processing your application, IRS agents refer to your passport as the identity document. If the name on your passport differs in any way from what you wrote on Form W-7 — different order, extra patronymic, hyphenation — the IRS may enter the passport version instead.
2. A manual data entry mistake
IRS agents process applications by hand. Typos happen: a letter transposed, a digit in your date of birth entered incorrectly. These errors are uncommon but do occur.
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A Common Real-World Scenario
Some applicants have passports that list a full legal name including a patronymic or parental name — a convention in many countries. The applicant wants their ITIN to reflect only their preferred name, so they fill out Form W-7 accordingly.
Even so, the IRS agent reviewing the application may defer to the passport and enter the full name as it appears there. The result: the ITIN is assigned with a name the applicant never intended to use.
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How to Get It Corrected
Name and date of birth corrections on an ITIN record must be requested by phone, by the applicant in person. No third party, representative, or CAA can make this call on your behalf — the IRS requires direct identity verification.
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Before You Call
Have the following ready:
- Your ITIN number
- Full name as it currently appears on your ITIN record
- Correct name or date of birth you want on file
- Date of birth
- Country of birth
- Home address
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Step-by-Step: Calling the IRS
1. Dial the correct number
- Caller location: Inside the U.S. · Number: 800-908-9982 · Type: Toll-free
- Caller location: Outside the U.S. · Number: 267-941-1000 · Type: Toll call
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Best time to call: Around 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time tends to have shorter hold times than early morning or late afternoon.
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2. Navigate the IVR menu
Press 1 — English → Press 2 — Check ITIN application status → Stay on hold (disregard any callback prompt).
Typical hold times:
- Wait time: ~2 minutes · Frequency: Rare
- Wait time: ~17 minutes · Frequency: Most common
- Wait time: ~35 minutes · Frequency: Not uncommon
Be prepared to wait. Do not hang up.
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3. Verify your identity
The agent will ask a series of identity questions before taking any action. Be ready to answer:
- Your name
- Date of birth
- Country of birth
- Home address
- ITIN number
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4. State your request clearly
For a name correction:
"My ITIN has been issued with an incorrect name. My name on record shows as [incorrect name], but my correct name is [correct name]. I need to correct the [first name / last name / middle name]."
If the correction is specific:
"The name on my ITIN reads [incorrect version]. It should be [correct version]. Could you please update that?"
For a date of birth correction:
"My ITIN record has the wrong date of birth. It currently shows [incorrect date], but my correct date of birth is [correct date]. I need this corrected."
Speak clearly and spell out any names that may be unusual for the agent. If asked, confirm the correct spelling letter by letter.
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What to Expect
Whether the correction is processed on the spot depends largely on which agent answers your call:
- Most agents will handle it directly and confirm the update before you hang up.
- Some agents will transfer you to another department or say they cannot assist — end the call and dial again.
- Occasionally, an agent may indicate they processed the change but the update does not appear in the system afterward.
If the first call does not resolve the issue, call again. It is normal to need two or three calls to get this type of correction completed. Each call reaches a different agent, and outcomes vary.
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After the Call
The IRS does not send a new ITIN letter when a name or date of birth correction is made. Once the correction is confirmed:
- Your ITIN number remains the same — it does not change.
- The corrected information will be reflected in IRS systems, which is what matters for tax filing and withholding purposes.
- If a bank or institution requires documentation showing the correct name, you can use your original ITIN assignment letter alongside a brief written explanation. In most cases, the ITIN number itself is sufficient.
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Summary
- Item: Who can call · Detail: Applicant only — no third parties
- Item: Phone (outside U.S.) · Detail: 267-941-1000
- Item: Phone (inside U.S.) · Detail: 800-908-9982
- Item: Hours · Detail: Mon–Fri, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. ET
- Item: Best time to call · Detail: ~10:00 a.m. ET
- Item: Typical hold time · Detail: 15–35 minutes
- Item: New ITIN issued? · Detail: No — same ITIN number
- Item: Confirmation letter sent? · Detail: No