Has anyone had experience with obtaining an individual taxpayer identification number (as opposed to a Social security number). I want to claim my dominican wife as a dependent on my income tax return (we both reside in the DR). I heard there is an authorized IRS partner agency in the DR that is authorized to verify required documents. Also, are there any US Income tax preparers located in the DR. Thank you.
- Thread starter bacha
- Start date
Help with US Income tax
According to the IRS website, the only acceptance agent (authorized by the IRS to help you get an ITIN) in the Dominican Republic is:
Servicios Personalizados Legales y Bancarios
Avenida Romulo Betancourt No. 483
Plaza Violeta, Local 1-4
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Unfortunately, no phone number is provided, I just called 1411, they don't have this business in their records.
http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=113042,00.html
At least it is something to start with...
Jess.
Servicios Personalizados Legales y Bancarios
Avenida Romulo Betancourt No. 483
Plaza Violeta, Local 1-4
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Unfortunately, no phone number is provided, I just called 1411, they don't have this business in their records.
http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=113042,00.html
At least it is something to start with...
Jess.
Form W-7
Bacha,
I checked the IRS web site. It looks like you can submit a Form W-7 directly to the IRS Philadelphia Service Center. The form can be downloaded in English or Spanish from the IRS (you will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software to open the document):
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=112728,00.html
Links to the Form W-7 are at the bottom of the referenced article. If you carefully follow the instructions and submit any additional documents that are required, you should be OK.
Also from the IRS web site, it appears that all the "big 4" accounting firms are authorized Acceptance Agents for this form. These firms can also prepare a U.S. tax return. PricewaterhouseCoopers has offices in Sto Domingo and Santiago, and I'm sure the other firms all have offices in D.R. as well. The firms are:
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Deloitte and Touche, LLP
Ernst & Young LLP
KPMG LLP
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Ben
Bacha,
I checked the IRS web site. It looks like you can submit a Form W-7 directly to the IRS Philadelphia Service Center. The form can be downloaded in English or Spanish from the IRS (you will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software to open the document):
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=112728,00.html
Links to the Form W-7 are at the bottom of the referenced article. If you carefully follow the instructions and submit any additional documents that are required, you should be OK.
Also from the IRS web site, it appears that all the "big 4" accounting firms are authorized Acceptance Agents for this form. These firms can also prepare a U.S. tax return. PricewaterhouseCoopers has offices in Sto Domingo and Santiago, and I'm sure the other firms all have offices in D.R. as well. The firms are:
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Deloitte and Touche, LLP
Ernst & Young LLP
KPMG LLP
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Ben
bacha said:
If you income is less than US$80,000 a year you may be excempt and claiming your wife would be irrelevant. I suggest calling the IRS directly if your income situation is otherwise as if your are wrong on any filing or you are audited you will incur hefty penalties.
I'm in the same boat as you------
and have downloaded the form W7 and form W7(SP) from the IRS Website. We have completed the required form and IT MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A VALID FORM 1040 when you send it in to the IRS. That address is included in the Form W7 Instructions (downloaded with the form).
We have attached a Certified EXTRACT of our marriage liscense, of my wife's Birth Certificate and a copy of her Cedula showing her new LAST NAME.
Other than that, it is now up to the IRS to assign a ITIN to your wife. They will notify you by RETURN MAIL if the assignment and the number. Use that number on all subsequent filings.
Since the mail delivery in the DR is a sometime thing I used my EPS mailbox in Miami as my address on the 1040 and on the Form W7 as an "in care of" citation.
All ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS will be returned according to the IRS.
You might want to download PUB 501 in PDF format. It has proved to be invaluable to me.
Other than that, the filing is the same as in the USA.
If all your income is US originated, forget about the reference to the US$80.000 figure. it doesn't apply.
BTW, I used TaxACT2004 software for my tax computations and highly recommend it.
Good Luck with the Infernal Revenue Service!!!!
Texas Bill
and have downloaded the form W7 and form W7(SP) from the IRS Website. We have completed the required form and IT MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A VALID FORM 1040 when you send it in to the IRS. That address is included in the Form W7 Instructions (downloaded with the form).
We have attached a Certified EXTRACT of our marriage liscense, of my wife's Birth Certificate and a copy of her Cedula showing her new LAST NAME.
Other than that, it is now up to the IRS to assign a ITIN to your wife. They will notify you by RETURN MAIL if the assignment and the number. Use that number on all subsequent filings.
Since the mail delivery in the DR is a sometime thing I used my EPS mailbox in Miami as my address on the 1040 and on the Form W7 as an "in care of" citation.
All ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS will be returned according to the IRS.
You might want to download PUB 501 in PDF format. It has proved to be invaluable to me.
Other than that, the filing is the same as in the USA.
If all your income is US originated, forget about the reference to the US$80.000 figure. it doesn't apply.
BTW, I used TaxACT2004 software for my tax computations and highly recommend it.
Good Luck with the Infernal Revenue Service!!!!
Texas Bill
US Income tax and ITIN
It has been sometime since I posted my original request for help-but I now have all the answers. The IRS authorized representativein the DR is Virginia A. Pacheco from the office of Servicios Personalizados Legales y Bancarios, Avendia Romulo Betancourt No. 483, Plaza Violeta, Local 1-4, Santo Domingo, RD. The office phone # is (809) 482-9393. However, Virginia's number is (809) 440-9760 or 224-9760 or 412-8881. She speaks perfect english and is very helpfull. The office is very hard to find and I paid a taxi to show me the way to the office. There is a sign that says Plaza Violeta and the office is located around the conner of the right side as you face the front of the plaza. Ground floor. No office sign.
The procedure is as follows: Your spouse needs to go their personally with ID. In my case my wife has a valid Dominican passport and that was all that was needed. If no passport then other forms of ID will be required ( cedula, birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc,). Your spouse requests that Virgina fills out a IRS Form W-7 (Request for an individual taxpayer identification number- ITIN). The fee for services is $75. After the form is filled out, she verifies it and then she sends it somewhere (consulate) for further verification. We went in the morning and returned that same afternoon and the form was ready for pick up. I attached an amended income tax return to the form along with a letter from Virgina and mailed it to the IRS address that was provided in Philadelphia. Approximately 4 1/2 weeks later Virginia called to say that she had received the ITIN number for my spouse and could be picked up at the office. She provided a card (similiar to a social security card) with the nine digit number. However I am still waiting for the IRS to process ouramended return. I hope this helps anyone with a similar situation. Since we have been married two years, I was able to file amended returns for the past two years and should be getting back a nice check from the IRS. You could also apply for ITIN numbers for any dependent children involved.
It has been sometime since I posted my original request for help-but I now have all the answers. The IRS authorized representativein the DR is Virginia A. Pacheco from the office of Servicios Personalizados Legales y Bancarios, Avendia Romulo Betancourt No. 483, Plaza Violeta, Local 1-4, Santo Domingo, RD. The office phone # is (809) 482-9393. However, Virginia's number is (809) 440-9760 or 224-9760 or 412-8881. She speaks perfect english and is very helpfull. The office is very hard to find and I paid a taxi to show me the way to the office. There is a sign that says Plaza Violeta and the office is located around the conner of the right side as you face the front of the plaza. Ground floor. No office sign.
The procedure is as follows: Your spouse needs to go their personally with ID. In my case my wife has a valid Dominican passport and that was all that was needed. If no passport then other forms of ID will be required ( cedula, birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc,). Your spouse requests that Virgina fills out a IRS Form W-7 (Request for an individual taxpayer identification number- ITIN). The fee for services is $75. After the form is filled out, she verifies it and then she sends it somewhere (consulate) for further verification. We went in the morning and returned that same afternoon and the form was ready for pick up. I attached an amended income tax return to the form along with a letter from Virgina and mailed it to the IRS address that was provided in Philadelphia. Approximately 4 1/2 weeks later Virginia called to say that she had received the ITIN number for my spouse and could be picked up at the office. She provided a card (similiar to a social security card) with the nine digit number. However I am still waiting for the IRS to process ouramended return. I hope this helps anyone with a similar situation. Since we have been married two years, I was able to file amended returns for the past two years and should be getting back a nice check from the IRS. You could also apply for ITIN numbers for any dependent children involved.
windeguy said:
windeguy:
You're absolutely right. Step-children don't qualify, unless you all live in the USA for the entire calendar year for which the 1040 is filed and the children lived with you.
If, however, you have legally adopted these children, then they qualify as exemptions if a W7 form, with appropriate support documentation, is submitted along with the 1040 filed. In addition, you can deduct the Adoption expenses incurred.
I would suggest, in all cases where support documentation is required by the W7, that passports be used and that copies Certified by the issuing agency be used. In any case any support documentation for the W7 application must be Certified by the agency issuing the documentation.
Everyone knows how "picky" the "Infernal Retribution Society" is for properly authinticated support documents.
We had a saying in the USAF that, "When the Gross Weight of the Paperwork is equal to the Gross Weight of the Airplane, you're cleared for take-off". That system is still in effect throughout the Guvment.
BTW, thanks for the contact info on the "Authorized Acceptance Agents". Invaluable.
Texas Bill