Filing W7 Form with Federal Return - Does Placement Order in Envelope Matter?

The order does matter when submitting a W7 with your tax return. The IRS recommends placing the W7 form at the front of your tax return (on top). This is because the W7 is essentially your application for an ITIN, which they need to process before they can fully process your tax return. Make sure you also include all required supporting documentation with your W7 application - typically original or certified copies of documents that verify your identity and foreign status (passport, birth certificate, etc.). These supporting documents should be attached to your W7 form. Don't forget that W7 applications with tax returns must be submitted by mail - you can't e-file when applying for an ITIN. And be prepared for your tax refund (if you're expecting one) to take longer than usual since the ITIN application process adds additional processing time.

I was in the exact same situation last year and found a really helpful tool that saved me tons of headaches. I used taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) to check all my documents before sending them in. It analyzed my W7 form and tax return to make sure everything was correct and in the right order. The tool confirmed I needed to put the W7 on top, and it also caught a mistake I made in one of the sections that would have delayed my application. Definitely worth checking out if you're worried about getting everything right!

I decided to try taxr.ai after my initial skepticism and I'm actually glad I did. I uploaded my W7 and 1040 forms and it immediately flagged that I'd missed checking one of the boxes in Section 2 of the W7 about my document type. It also confirmed the W7 should go on top, followed by my ID documents, then the tax forms. The peace of mind was worth it. My ITIN application is currently processing and the IRS tracking shows it's moving along without any issues, which I count as a win given all the horror stories I've heard!

If you're still struggling with getting your W7 and tax return sorted, another option is using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to actually speak with the IRS directly. I was in a similar situation where I needed clarification on some W7 requirements and couldn't get through on the IRS phone lines at all. Claimyr got me connected to an IRS agent in about 15 minutes when I had been trying for days on my own. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The agent I spoke with confirmed exactly how to organize my documents and answered some specific questions about my foreign passport that the IRS website didn't address.

I need to apologize and eat my words. After being completely skeptical about Claimyr, I decided to try it as a last resort because I was desperate to ask questions about my wife's W7 application. I was shocked when I got a call back in about 25 minutes connecting me to an actual IRS agent. The agent confirmed that the W7 should go on top, but also explained that I needed to include a specific cover letter for my wife's application since she was a dependent. This wasn't clear at all from the instructions! I would have definitely had my application rejected without this info. The time and stress saved was absolutely worth it.

Just want to add - don't forget to make copies of EVERYTHING before you send it in! I learned this the hard way last year when my W7 application had an issue and I couldn't remember exactly what I had submitted. Also, definitely use tracked shipping so you know when it arrives at the IRS.

Has anyone used a Taxpayer Assistance Center for submitting their W7 instead of mailing it? I heard you can take your documents there in person and they can verify them on the spot so you don't have to mail originals.

One more thing to consider - if you're filing the W7 because you're not eligible for a SSN, make absolutely sure that's correct. I spent months going through the W7 process only to find out later I was actually eligible for a SSN, which would have been much easier to get and use long-term. Worth double-checking with Social Security before going down the ITIN path!

Great advice in this thread! I went through the W7 process two years ago and can confirm that order absolutely matters. Here's what worked for me: 1. W7 form on top (as mentioned) 2. Supporting identity documents attached to the W7 3. Tax return (1040) underneath everything 4. Any schedules or additional forms at the bottom One thing I didn't see mentioned - if you're married filing jointly and both spouses need ITINs, you'll need separate W7 forms for each person, but you can submit them together with one tax return. Just make sure each W7 has its own set of supporting documents. Also, pro tip: write "ITIN APPLICATION" in large letters on the outside of your envelope. It helps ensure your package gets routed to the right department at the IRS processing center. My accountant recommended this and I think it helped my application move through faster. Good luck with your application! The wait is frustrating but once you get your ITIN, future tax filings become much smoother.