Updated July 2026

ITIN Cost 2026: How Much Does an ITIN Number Cost?

Quick Answer

An ITIN costs $0 from the IRS. The only real cost is service. Applying yourself by mail is free aside from postage, but you must send your original passport. A Certifying Acceptance Agent charges $150-$400. At itin.so the price is $197, flat and all-inclusive, and you keep your passport.

How much does it cost to get an ITIN?

It costs nothing to get an ITIN from the IRS. What you pay depends on the service you choose. This table shows every ITIN pricing option, what is included, and the price as of July 2026.

Service	What's included	Price
IRS fee (any method)	Processing and issuing the ITIN	$0
DIY by mail	Self-prepared W-7, original passport mailed to IRS	Postage $5-15
IRS TAC (in person)	Document check at 1 of 13 assistance centers	$0 + travel
itin.so Standard (CAA)	Document review, W-7 prep, CAA certification, submission, email support, 7-10 business days	$197
itin.so Express (CAA)	Everything in Standard plus 2-3 business day prep and WhatsApp support	$297
Other CAAs / agents	Varies; often adds shipping, revision, and rush fees	$150-400

How much does it cost to file a W-7?

Filing Form W-7 costs $0 in IRS fees. You can download Form W-7 from irs.gov, complete it, and mail it to the IRS ITIN Operation center in Austin, Texas at no charge beyond postage. Paying for W-7 preparation is optional. What you buy with a service is accuracy and passport protection, not access to the form. The IRS rejects W-7 applications with wrong box selections, missing documents, or an unattached tax return, and each rejection adds 4-8 weeks.

How much does a certified acceptance agent charge for ITIN?

A Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA) charges $150 to $400 for a full ITIN application in 2026. The CAA fee is not an IRS charge. It pays for W-7 preparation, verification of your identity documents, and Form 13551 (Certificate of Accuracy) issued under IRS Publication 1915 authority. Because the CAA certifies copies, you never mail your original passport to the IRS.

How much is the CAA fee?

The CAA fee ranges from $150 to $400 depending on the provider, with $197-$297 being common for full service. At itin.so the CAA fee is a flat $197 (Standard) or $297 (Express). Both prices include document certification, W-7 preparation, IRS submission, and support with zero hidden charges. Watch for providers that advertise a low base fee and then add $20-50 for shipping, $50-75 for revisions, and $100-200 for rush processing.

DIY vs CAA cost: which is cheaper?

Applying yourself is genuinely cheaper in dollars, and IRS filing is free. That is the honest answer. A CAA fee buys accuracy and keeps your passport in your hands. Here is the trade-off in full.

Factor	DIY by mail	CAA (itin.so $197)
Out-of-pocket cost	$5-15 postage	$197 flat
IRS fee	$0	$0
Your passport	Mailed to IRS 6-11 weeks	Stays with you
Error checking	You carry all risk	Reviewed before submission
Cost of a rejection	4-8 weeks lost per cycle	Free re-file, money-back guarantee

For a wider provider-by-provider breakdown, see our full ITIN cost guide and ITIN service comparison.

What is the total cost including a tax return?

Most first-time ITIN applications must attach a federal tax return. Preparing a non-resident return (Form 1040-NR) costs $150-400 from a typical preparer. Combined with itin.so Standard at $197, your all-in ITIN cost is roughly $347-597 depending on tax complexity. The IRS still charges $0. Renewal-only applications do not require a tax return, so the cost is just the $197 service. See our ITIN tax return guide for details.

¿Cuál es el costo de un ITIN number?

El IRS no cobra nada por emitir un ITIN: la tarifa oficial es $0. Si aplicas por tu cuenta, solo pagas el franqueo ($5-15), pero debes enviar tu pasaporte original al IRS por 6-11 semanas. El servicio profesional con un Agente Certificador (CAA) como itin.so cuesta $197 con todo incluido, y conservas tu pasaporte. Visita nuestra página en español para empezar.

ITIN Cost & Fees: Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an ITIN number cost?

An ITIN number costs $0 from the IRS. The government charges no fee to issue an ITIN under IRC Section 6109. Your only costs come from how you apply: DIY by mail is free aside from postage ($5-15), while a professional CAA service like itin.so charges $197 flat. The $197 covers Form W-7 preparation, document review, and CAA certification so you keep your original passport.

How much does it cost to get an ITIN?

It costs nothing to get an ITIN from the IRS itself. The total you pay depends on the method. Applying alone by mail costs $5-15 in postage but you must send your original passport to Austin, Texas for 6-11 weeks. Using itin.so's CAA service costs $197 all-inclusive and you keep your passport. There are no IRS filing fees either way.

How much does it cost to file a W-7?

Filing Form W-7 costs $0 in IRS fees. You can download W-7 from irs.gov, complete it yourself, and mail it free of charge beyond postage. Paying for W-7 preparation is optional. itin.so prepares and files your W-7 for $197, which includes selecting the correct reason-for-applying box and CAA certification of your identity documents.

How much does a certified acceptance agent charge for ITIN?

A Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA) charges $150 to $400 for ITIN service in 2026. The CAA fee is not an IRS charge. It pays for W-7 preparation, verification of your identity documents, and Form 13551 (Certificate of Accuracy) so you never mail your original passport. itin.so charges a flat $197 with no add-ons, or $297 for Express 2-3 day preparation.

How much is the CAA fee?

The CAA fee ranges from $150 to $400 across providers, with $197-$297 being the common range for a full-service application. The fee is separate from the IRS, which charges $0. At itin.so the CAA fee is $197 flat and all-inclusive: it covers document certification, W-7 preparation, IRS submission, and support with no hidden charges.

Is applying for an ITIN yourself really free?

Yes. The IRS charges $0 to process a W-7. DIY costs are limited to postage ($5-15) and any certified translations ($25-75 per document). The trade-off is that you must mail your original passport to the IRS for 6-11 weeks, or visit 1 of 13 Taxpayer Assistance Centers in person. You also carry the full risk of rejection, which adds 4-8 weeks per correction cycle.

Why pay a CAA if the IRS is free?

A CAA fee buys three things the IRS does not provide: error-checked W-7 preparation, document certification so you keep your original passport, and support through the process. IRS rejects W-7 applications with errors or wrong box selections, and each rejection adds 4-8 weeks. For most applicants, the $197 CAA fee costs less than a rejected application or a lost passport.

Are there hidden fees with itin.so pricing?

No. Both the $197 Standard and $297 Express prices are all-inclusive. There are no charges for document shipping, notarization, revisions, consultations, or status checks, and no rush surcharge on top of Express. Both plans include a money-back guarantee if we cause a rejection.

¿Cuál es el costo de un ITIN number?

El IRS no cobra nada por emitir un ITIN: la tarifa es $0. Si aplicas por tu cuenta, solo pagas el franqueo ($5-15). El servicio profesional con un Agente Certificador (CAA) como itin.so cuesta $197 con todo incluido, y conservas tu pasaporte original. Consulta nuestra página en español para más detalles.

One flat price. No hidden fees. Keep your passport.

Get Your ITIN for $197

Need it faster? Express service: $297 with 2-3 day prep

New to ITINs? Start with how to get an ITIN number.