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Project 01043

Improve the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number

Project Statement:

Develop a tool to improve services and finality by assisting taxpayers to validate the status of the ITIN or renew one, if expired, reducing duplicative filings and errors.

Goal Statement:

The purpose of this tool would be to allow taxpayers to verify the status of their ITINs before filing a tax return.

Special Projects Committee

Year: 2025


Status: Elevated

RECOMMENDATION 01043-001

RECOMMENDATION TEXT:

Recommendation: Create a tool to see if the TP’s ITIN is active or expired. Similar to Where My Refund Justification: Avoid unnecessary ITIN requests that increase the volume of cases to work in processing centers

IRS Action: Partially adopted

Response explanation: Leadership is exploring opportunities for expansion and modernization of taxpayer experience tools

RECOMMENDATION 01043-002

RECOMMENDATION TEXT:

Recommendation: Refile ITIN if expired Justification: Reduce errors and increase efficiency in the refile process.

IRS Action: Not adopted

Response explanation: Renewal applications require the submission of a full Form W-7 application packet including original identification documents.

RECOMMENDATION 01043-003

RECOMMENDATION TEXT:

Recommendation: An orientation campaign in English and Spanish. This campaign should include step-by-step guides, FAQs, and explanation videos on the IRS website, as well as outreach via social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Justification: To allow taxpayers to stay informed about free tools that the IRS offers. This provides people—especially non- English speakers and those unfamiliar with IRS processes awareness of how to use the ITIN status check tool effectively. Simply creating the tool is not enough; the IRS must actively promote it. Without this outreach, many eligible users might remain unaware of the tool or struggle to navigate it.

IRS Action: Recommended

RECOMMENDATION 01043-004

RECOMMENDATION TEXT:

Recommendation: On the second anniversary of inactivity, send a reminder by email or text message if available for the ITIN holder that upon the third anniversary the ITIN will be deactivated. Justification: Reduce errors and increase efficiency in the refile process.

IRS Action: Not adopted

Response explanation: Renewal applications require the submission of a full Form W-7 application packet including original identification documents.