ITIN Renewal Window — Avoid 2026 Refund Holds

Has your ITIN expired?

Your ITIN expires automatically if it has not appeared on a federal tax return for three consecutive tax years. ITINs issued before 2013 with middle digits 70-99 expired on a published rolling schedule and most have already lapsed.

Why renew before you file

• An expired ITIN on a return causes the IRS to disallow exemptions and credits initially

• Your refund is held until renewal completes (often 7-11 weeks)

• Child Tax Credit and Credit for Other Dependents are reduced or denied while ITIN is pending

• Renewing before filing avoids interest delays on time-sensitive credits

Form W-7 and our CAA service

Renewal uses Form W-7 plus required identity documents. Most applicants would have to mail their original passport to the IRS — and wait weeks or months to get it back. As an IRS Certifying Acceptance Agent, Santosh Sah, EA can verify your identity documents in-office. You keep your passport, and we submit the certified W-7 directly to the IRS.

Bring your original passport (or two secondary documents from the IRS list), your prior year's tax return if available, and any IRS letter you received about the ITIN. Renewals typically take 30-45 minutes in-office.