ITIN Application Rejected? What to Do After Receiving IRS Notice CP566
If your ITIN application was denied, you have 45 days to respond. This guide explains the most common rejection reasons, what CP566 means, and exactly how to reapply correctly.
Getting a rejection letter after waiting 7–11 weeks is frustrating. But an ITIN denial isn't the end of the road — it's a specific notice telling you what went wrong and giving you a limited window to fix it.
This guide explains what CP566 means, the most common reasons applications are rejected, and the step-by-step path to resubmitting successfully.
What Is CP566?
CP566 is the IRS notice issued when your ITIN application (Form W-7) is rejected or when the IRS needs additional information to process it.
The notice will include:
- A statement of what was missing or incorrect
- A 45-day deadline to respond with corrected materials or additional documentation
- Contact information for the ITIN office
Read the notice carefully — the IRS usually specifies the exact problem, and the fix depends entirely on which issue triggered the rejection.
If you received CP567, your application was denied outright (not a request for more info). The same resubmission steps below still apply, but you'll need to file a completely new application rather than responding to a specific notice.
The Most Common Rejection Reasons
1. Passport Not Certified by an Authorized Certifier
This is the single most common rejection — and the most misunderstood.
The IRS only accepts passport certification from one of three sources:
- IRS Certified Acceptance Agents (CAAs) — the most common and most accessible option
- IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs) — by appointment at a U.S. IRS office
- U.S. Embassy or Consulate — for applicants outside the U.S.
What doesn't count: Notaries, attorneys, accountants, military base legal offices, local government offices, foreign notaries, and consulates of countries other than the U.S.
Military contractors and service members stationed overseas frequently encounter this problem. If you had your base legal officer certify your spouse's or dependent's passport, that certification is not accepted by the IRS. Only a U.S. Embassy/Consulate or a CAA can perform the required verification.
2. Expired Passport
The IRS will not accept an expired passport under any circumstances. If the passport used for verification has expired since the application was submitted, a new verification with a valid passport is required.
Note: The expiration date matters — not the issue date. A passport issued 10 years ago is fine if it's still within its validity period.
3. Wrong Reason Code
Checking the wrong box on Form W-7 is a common error.
The most frequent mix-up:
- Reason d (dependent of U.S. citizen/resident) vs. Reason e (spouse of U.S. citizen/resident) — these look similar but require different supporting documents
- Reason h (Other) without specifying the applicable exception — leaving the exception description blank causes rejection
- Reason b (nonresident alien filing a return) when no tax return is actually attached
4. Tax Return Not Attached (and No Exception Claimed)
If you checked any reason code other than h (exception), a U.S. federal tax return must be attached to the W-7. Applications submitted without a return — and without a valid exception — are rejected.
If you don't have a tax return yet: consider whether an exception applies (see our exceptions guide), or file a complete return before resubmitting.
5. Name Mismatch with Passport
The name on the W-7 must exactly match the name on the passport — including spelling, order (surname first), and any middle names or compound names. Even a single character difference can trigger a rejection.
If your passport uses a transliteration that differs from your preferred name (common for Chinese, Korean, Arabic, and Russian names), use the passport spelling on the W-7.
6. Missing or Incorrect Exception Documentation
If you claimed an exception (Reason h), the supporting documents must match the specific exception category:
- Exception 1(a): Schedule K-1 or letter from partnership with EIN
- Exception 3: Form 1098 or lender letter
- Exception 4: Form 8288-B and sales contract
- Exception 5: LLC formation docs, EIN letter, explanation letter referencing TD 9363
See the complete exceptions guide for a full document list per exception.
7. Outdated Form Version
Form W-7 is periodically revised. The IRS rejects applications submitted on outdated form versions. Always download the current version from IRS.gov before submitting. As of 2025–2026, the current version is the December 2024 revision.
8. Date Format Errors
The IRS uses MM/DD/YYYY format exclusively. If you're from a country that uses DD/MM/YYYY (which is most of the world), entering your birth date in the wrong order is a common error that causes rejections.
After a Rejection: Your Options
Option 1: Respond to CP566 Within 45 Days
If the notice is requesting specific additional information, you can respond directly. Send the corrected or missing documents to the address on the notice, referencing your CP566 notice number.
This option works well when the problem is minor — a missing document, a form needing a correction — and you can resolve it quickly.
Option 2: Resubmit a Complete New Application
For more substantial problems (wrong certifier, expired passport, wrong reason code), it's usually cleaner to submit a brand-new W-7 package with:
- New Form W-7 (current revision, correct reason code and exception description if applicable)
- Fresh identity verification (new passport certification from a CAA, IRS TAC, or U.S. Embassy)
- All required supporting documents
- Correct tax return (or exception documentation if applicable)
If using a CAA, the CAA will issue a new Certificate of Accuracy (COA) and can review the application before submission to catch any remaining issues.
Option 3: Apply In Person at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center
TAC offices can verify your identity in person and accept ITIN applications directly. This eliminates the passport certification issue entirely. Appointments are required and availability varies by location. Find TAC offices at irs.gov.
The Military Contractor Situation: A Special Case
Military contractors and service members working overseas commonly encounter ITIN denials when applying for a non-U.S. spouse or dependent.
The issue is that base legal officers — who handle legal services for military personnel — are not IRS Certified Acceptance Agents. When base legal certifies an identity document for an ITIN application, the IRS rejects it.
The correct options are:
- CAA with video verification — the CAA conducts a video call to verify the original passport; the applicant never has to leave the base
- U.S. Embassy or Consulate — contact the nearest U.S. consular post to schedule a passport verification appointment
- IRS TAC — only if the applicant is able to travel to a U.S.-based TAC
For families stationed overseas, option 1 (CAA video verification) is usually the most practical. It can be done from anywhere in the world with a valid passport and an internet connection.
Common Questions After a Rejection
Does my ITIN application reset the processing clock?
Yes. Whether you respond to CP566 or resubmit, processing starts over from the date the new or corrected application is received. Budget 7–11 weeks from that point.
Can I apply for a tax filing extension while waiting for my ITIN?
Yes. If you need to file a tax return and are waiting for an ITIN, file Form 4868 (Application for Automatic Extension of Time) to get a 6-month extension. The ITIN application can then proceed in parallel.
Do I pay again if I resubmit through a CAA?
If you used a CAA for your original application and the rejection was due to IRS processing (not an error on our side), most CAAs will work with you on resubmission. If the error was in the original documents you provided, a new verification session is typically required.
What if my passport expired between the original application and the resubmission?
You'll need to renew the passport before resubmitting. The ITIN cannot be issued against an expired document.
Avoiding Rejection on the First Try
The most reliable way to avoid a rejection is to use a Certified Acceptance Agent rather than mailing directly to the IRS. A CAA:
- Verifies your identity documentation before submission
- Reviews the W-7 for errors and correct reason code selection
- Issues a Certificate of Accuracy (COA) that the IRS accepts in lieu of your original passport
- Has experience with exception pathways that trip up self-prepared applications
See our ITIN application services if you'd like help submitting a rejection-proof application.
