How to renew my expired Tax ID number for legalization process

Tax ID numbers don't actually expire! If you're referring to an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), these only expire if you don't use them on a tax return for 3 consecutive years. If you're talking about an Employer Identification Number (EIN) for a business, those never expire once they're issued. For an ITIN that has expired due to non-use, you'd need to reapply using Form W-7 and provide the required documentation. You can submit this through a Certified Acceptance Agent, mail it to the IRS, or visit an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center in person. If you're going through a legalization or citizenship process, make sure all your tax filings are up to date too. Immigration officials often review tax compliance when making decisions.

After struggling with exactly this issue last year, I discovered a service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that literally saved me hours of confusion. I was trying to figure out my ITIN renewal situation and kept getting conflicting info from different websites. Their document analysis tool looked at my specific situation and gave me step-by-step instructions tailored to my case. The best part was how it explained which form I needed (W-7 in my case) and exactly which boxes to check based on my circumstances. It also clarified that I needed to include proof of identity and foreign status which I would have totally forgotten about.

Just wanted to update that I tried taxr.ai after posting my question here! Honestly it was really straightforward - I uploaded my expired ITIN letter and some ID documents, and it immediately identified my name change issue. It created a custom checklist showing I needed to submit my marriage certificate along with Form W-7, checking the "renew an existing ITIN" box. The site also generated a cover letter explaining the name discrepancy that I included with my application. Just heard back from the IRS yesterday - application approved without any additional questions! Wish I'd known about this tool months ago instead of stressing about it.

If your main issue is just reaching the IRS to ask questions about your Tax ID renewal, I highly recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I wasted THREE DAYS trying to get through to the IRS on their ITIN hotline and kept getting disconnected or told to call back later. Claimyr got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 25 minutes when I was about to give up completely. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The agent was able to verify my ITIN status and confirm exactly what documents I needed for my specific situation.

Well I feel stupid now. After being completely skeptical about Claimyr I decided to try it as a last resort yesterday. It actually works exactly as described. I've been trying to reach the IRS for TWO WEEKS about my ITIN renewal and kept hitting dead ends. Used the service and got connected to an IRS rep in about 40 minutes (was apparently a busy day). The agent confirmed my ITIN was still active despite not using it for a while, so I don't even need to renew it! Saved me from submitting unnecessary paperwork and waiting months for processing. Worth every penny for the time saved and stress avoided.

Just to add some clarity around Tax ID numbers since there seems to be some confusion: 1. Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) - These can expire if not used on federal tax returns for 3 consecutive years. Also, all ITINs issued before 2013 have been set to expire in batches. 2. Employer Identification Numbers (EINs) - These never expire once issued. 3. Social Security Numbers (SSNs) - These never expire. So depends on which Tax ID you're referring to, but if it's an ITIN and you haven't used it to file taxes in 3+ years, you'll likely need to renew using Form W-7.

Is anyone else finding the IRS ITIN renewal process totally baffling in 2025??? Their website keeps giving me error messages when trying to check my ITIN status. And the PDF of Form W-7 won't even download properly on my phone. This whole system feels designed to be impossible to navigate.

Just went through this exact same process last month for my green card application! A few things that might help: First, make sure you're clear on which type of Tax ID you have. If it's an ITIN and you haven't filed taxes with it in 3+ years, it's likely expired and you'll need Form W-7 to renew. If it's an EIN for a business, those don't expire. For the renewal, you'll definitely want to get your tax compliance sorted out first - USCIS really scrutinizes tax history during the naturalization process. I had to get transcripts going back 5 years to prove I was current on all filings. One tip: if you're in a time crunch, consider visiting an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center in person rather than mailing everything. They can verify your documents on the spot and it tends to be faster than the mail process. You can schedule an appointment on the IRS website. Good luck with your citizenship application - having all the tax documentation properly organized will definitely help your case!