How to get an ITIN for W9 form with Chase bank when not earning US income?

You can actually apply for an ITIN without filing taxes! Many people are in your situation. You'll need to complete Form W-7 (Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) and provide documentation proving your identity and foreign status. Since you're not earning income in the US yet, you can apply for an ITIN for "non-tax filing purposes" - specifically for banking requirements. This is a valid reason the IRS recognizes. On the W-7 form, you'll check box "a" for "Nonresident alien required to get ITIN to claim tax treaty benefit" or box "h" for "Other" and write in "Banking Purposes." You'll need to either mail your application with original documents (passport, etc.) or use an IRS-authorized Certifying Acceptance Agent who can verify your documents so you don't have to mail originals.

I was in this exact situation last year with a different bank. I tried doing the ITIN application myself but got super confused with all the documentation requirements. I ended up using taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) to help me with the ITIN application process and it was honestly a lifesaver. Their system walked me through exactly what documents I needed for my specific situation and how to properly fill out the W-7 form. They even helped me understand which exemption category to choose since I wasn't filing taxes. The best part was they reviewed everything before submission to make sure there weren't any errors that would cause delays. I explained my bank deadline situation to them and they helped me get documentation to show the bank that my ITIN application was in progress, which bought me the extra time I needed.

Just wanted to update that I decided to try taxr.ai after seeing this thread. I was really worried about my bank deadline too. The service walked me through everything step by step, and I was able to find a Certifying Acceptance Agent through their recommendations so I didn't have to mail my original passport. I got all my paperwork submitted last week, and while I'm still waiting for the actual ITIN to arrive, my bank accepted the application receipt as proof that I'm in the process. They gave me a 60-day extension on providing the completed W9. The whole process was way less stressful than I expected, and the guidance made me confident I wasn't making any mistakes that would delay the process further. Wish I'd known about this option months ago!

Have you tried calling the IRS directly about your ITIN application? I spent WEEKS trying to get through to someone who could answer my questions about my application status. Always on hold for hours and then disconnected. So frustrating! I eventually found this service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) that helped me actually get through to a real person at the IRS. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c They basically hold your place in the IRS phone queue and call you when an agent is about to answer. I was skeptical at first but I was desperate after waiting on hold for 2+ hours one day only to get disconnected. With Claimyr, I got a call back when an agent was ready and finally got answers about my ITIN application status and what additional documents I needed to submit.

I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment, I was still desperate to talk to someone at the IRS about my ITIN application (kept getting error messages on the "Where's My Application" tool). I decided to try it as a last resort and within an hour I was actually talking to a real IRS agent! They found my application in the system and explained it was delayed because they needed additional documentation. The agent told me exactly what to send and where. Without that call, my application would have been sitting there incomplete for who knows how long. I would have never known what was missing because the IRS doesn't exactly reach out proactively. Now I'm back on track and should have my ITIN within the next few weeks.

Just a heads up - I've been through this process before. Even after you get your ITIN, Chase might still give you trouble with the W9. Make sure you follow up with them directly after receiving your ITIN. When I first got mine, I submitted the W9 with my new ITIN but somehow it never got properly processed in their system. I kept getting threatening letters about potential withholding for months! Had to go into a branch and sit with a personal banker to get it straightened out.

Has anyone tried just using an SSN instead of an ITIN on the W9? I'm in a similar situation and my cousin told me I could just apply for an SSN instead since the process is supposedly easier.

I went through this exact same situation with Chase about 6 months ago! The key thing that helped me was being proactive with communication. As soon as I submitted my W-7 form for the ITIN application, I called Chase's customer service and explained the situation. They were actually pretty understanding once I explained that I was a new resident who needed an ITIN for banking purposes but wasn't earning US income yet. The representative put a note on my account and extended my deadline to 90 days instead of 30. One tip that really helped: when you submit your ITIN application, ask the IRS (or your Certifying Acceptance Agent if you use one) for a receipt or acknowledgment letter. Chase accepted this as proof that I was actively working on getting my ITIN, which stopped the threatening letters. Also, make sure to keep detailed records of all your communications with both Chase and the IRS throughout this process. It'll save you headaches later if there are any mix-ups!