How to Set Up a US Mailing Address for Your ITIN Letter
Why ITIN applicants should use their own US address, a free comparison of Stable vs UsePostal, and a 5–10 minute setup walkthrough — with a real fraud warning.
A client once told us, politely but firmly: "I trust you to file my ITIN — but I don't want anyone, including my agent, opening the IRS letter that has my number on it." That's a completely reasonable position, and the fix takes about 5–10 minutes: set up your own free US mailing address, give that to the IRS, and you receive the CP565 letter yourself. This guide explains why a US address matters, walks through the setup, and compares two services that are free long enough to cover the whole process.
Why use a US address at all
Two practical reasons:
- Speed. The IRS mails US domestic addresses roughly a month faster than international ones. Among US states a Texas address is fastest; for people outside the US, Canada is the next best. When you're already waiting ~7 weeks (or 9–11 in tax season), a wasted month on international post is painful.
- Privacy and control. Your ITIN is a sensitive identifier. Keeping the IRS letter under your own control — rather than routed through any third party — means your number is seen by exactly one person: you.
A word on why privacy here matters
We should be straight about this, because it's the real reason some clients ask for it.
Beyond ITIN work, our company also operates on the global payments risk and fraud-monitoring side. Through that work, over the past year we've seen reports across the industry of ITINs being misused for fraudulent tax refunds — cases where someone who had access to a person's ITIN used it to file or redirect a refund. To be clear, these were not our clients, and this is an industry-wide pattern, not an accusation against any specific agent.
It does, however, highlight a real exposure: when a Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA) or any intermediary receives and opens your ITIN letter, they see your number. The overwhelming majority handle this responsibly. We do not sell, leak, or misuse client data, full stop. But we completely understand clients with higher information-security requirements who would simply rather no third party ever sees their ITIN. If that's you, using your own US address is the clean solution — and we'll happily file your application against an address you control.
Free service comparison
Both services below give you a real US receiving address that scans your IRS mail. For an ITIN letter you only need 2–3 months of coverage, so either free tier is more than enough.
| Provider | Free period | Regular price | Verification | Billing trap | Sign up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stable | First 2–3 months free | ~$10/month (negotiable by email) | ID upload, ~1 day | Defaults to annual (several hundred $); ~$59 verification hold | Click to register → |
| UsePostal | 6 months free | Up to ~$40+/month | Zoom call with passport | Auto-charges after 6 months if not cancelled | Click to register → |
For a deep dive on each, see our dedicated guides: Stable setup and UsePostal setup.
The 5–10 minute setup
- Pick one service from the table above. If you want the absolute fastest path, Stable; if you want the longest free runway, UsePostal.
- Register through the referral link (this is what unlocks the free period).
- Verify your identity — an ID upload for Stable, or a short passport video call for UsePostal.
- Get your assigned US address. Choose a Texas address if you're offered options — it's the fastest for IRS mail.
- Give that address to us for your W-7 / ITIN filing. The IRS sends the CP565 letter there.
- Receive the scan yourself, read your ITIN, and you're done. Then set a reminder to cancel before the free period ends.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Annual billing by default (Stable): manually switch to monthly and screenshot the real charge. Use a virtual card with a spending limit.
- Forgetting to cancel (UsePostal): the card on file is auto-charged after 6 months — set the reminder the day you sign up.
- Using an international address "to keep it simple": it costs you roughly a month of extra waiting.
- Expecting instant physical mail: you get a scan first; forwarding the physical original abroad costs ~$40–$50+.
FAQ
Is it legal to use a virtual address for an ITIN application? Using a US mail-receiving address to receive IRS correspondence is a normal, widely used arrangement. Give the IRS an address where you can reliably receive mail.
Do I still need a CAA if I use my own address? A CAA is for verifying your passport remotely so you don't mail originals — that's separate from where the letter is delivered. You can use a CAA and keep the letter coming to your own address.
Will the IRS letter definitely arrive there? Yes — the CP565 assignment letter is mailed to the address on the W-7. That's exactly why controlling that address matters.
Want your ITIN filed against an address you fully control, with your passport verified remotely? As an IRS-authorized CAA, that's exactly what we do. Start your ITIN application.
