ITIN number not recieved, should we file tax return with new W7 form?

[rimtsun2014]

I and my wife firstly filed tax return on 2018 fiscal year. I have SSN, but she is not qualified for SSN. So we filed tax return manually by mailing 1040 form along with W7 form. We got tax return to our bank account, but haven't get ITIN number so far. We called IRS on 03 12 2020, and they told us they will mail us a new ITIN letter in 2 weeks, but we haven't got this yet (it has been already more than one month since then). It is very confusing that there is no way to call IRS again, due to the COVID19 lockdown. Should we file tax return with new W7 form this year? Or just wait for IRS's ITIN letter? Thanks!

[Opus 17]

I think you should wait. I don’t think you can get a second ITIN if the first one is not expired.  The IRS would not have processed your 2018 tax return and paid your refund unless they first issued an ITIN.  I don’t know why you didn’t get a letter last year, maybe it was lost in the mail. Is it possible that you used the wrong address on your tax return? You should use the address where you want to get mail from the IRS, which does not necessarily have to be the address where you live during the tax year.

[rimtsun2014]

Thank you for the reply! Last year I lived in a apartment and used that address for tax return. I moved to a new house after then. My friend alway help us to check mail box in that apartment, but get nothing. By calling them in this March, we told IRS that we moved to new place, and they told us they will mail ITIN here. We could wait until July, but how can we contact IRS about this issue? or just wait till COVID19 is gone? Thanks!

[harsha283]

Hello, 

We are in this boat where we applied for an ITIN for my child using w7 but had an old unaccessible address in the W7 application. We fear the response (If the ITIN was issued) might have gone to the old address and hence lost. 

We do not have the ITIN # and not even sure if one was issued - cannot verify this as IRS phone lines are shut down temporarily for COVID 19. Should we wait for IRS phonelines to re open to verify ITIN status or should we just apply for a new ITIN via the w7 form given we never received an ITIN? 

Please advise, worried we might miss the deadlines and incur penalties or get into IRS trouble. 

Regards

HK

[Opus 17]

Well, the IRS is not processing any paper documents right now. So even if you wanted to apply for a new ITIN, that would mean mailing a paper W7 plus a paper tax return to the IRS. I think applying for a new ITIN is going to cause more trouble than it’s worth.  

I don’t think there are any important deadlines you would be missing by filing late. You can’t claim certain dependent credits without a Social Security number, and you must have the Social Security number before you file a “on time” return, but I don’t think that applies to dependents who have ITINs.  What I suggest in your case is that you file a request for a tax extension. That would give you until October 15 to file a return that would still be considered “on time“.  Presumably, the coronavirus restrictions will be relaxed and the IRS will start answering their phones again before October 15.