ITIN application rejected due to missing information - what's my next step?
So frustrated right now. I recently submitted my ITIN application to claim a tax treaty benefit, but just got a notice saying it was rejected because of "missing information" (whatever that means - they weren't very specific). What's really confusing me is the information on the IRS website about CP567 notices. There are two sentences that seem completely contradictory: "What happens to the tax return I sent with the application?" They say: "We'll process your return without an ITIN. You'll need to reapply for an ITIN and attach a copy of the return to your application to get a refund." These statements make no sense together! The first part suggests they'll still process my tax return even without the ITIN. But then the second part makes it sound like I need to start over completely and submit everything again to get my refund. Has anyone dealt with this before? Which interpretation is correct? Do I need to start from square one or will they process my original return? I'm so confused about what to do next.
20 comments


Giovanni Mancini
This is definitely confusing, but I can help clarify. The IRS is actually saying two different things that happen in sequence: First, they will process your tax return even without an approved ITIN. This means they'll record that you filed, but they won't issue you any refund you might be entitled to under the tax treaty. Second, to actually receive that refund, you need to reapply for the ITIN with the missing information corrected. When you resubmit your ITIN application, you'll need to attach a copy of the same tax return you already submitted. The key thing to understand is that your original tax return is still "in the system" and considered filed on time, but any refund is essentially on hold until you get an approved ITIN. You're not starting the whole tax filing process over - you're just fixing the ITIN application part.
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
•So just to be clear - they're not saying the entire tax return is rejected, right? Just that it's on hold until the ITIN part gets fixed? And when reapplying, do I need to submit the entire tax return again or just a copy of what I already sent?
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Giovanni Mancini
•Your tax return is definitely not rejected - it's filed and in their system. It's just that they won't issue any refund until you have a valid ITIN. When reapplying for the ITIN, you need to submit a complete copy of the tax return you already filed. This helps them connect your new ITIN application to the return already in their system. Don't file a new or different return - that would create confusion.
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Dylan Cooper
After struggling with an almost identical ITIN situation last year, I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it was a game-changer. The system analyzed my rejection letter, highlighted exactly what information was missing, and gave me step-by-step instructions for reapplying correctly. It even explained the confusing CP567 language about processing returns without ITINs but still needing to reapply to get refunds. Saved me tons of stress trying to interpret IRS notices.
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Sofia Morales
•How does it actually work? Do you just upload your rejection notice and it tells you what to fix? I got rejected too but for "invalid supporting documentation" and have no idea what they mean specifically.
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StarSailor
•I'm skeptical about using third-party services for something this important. Couldn't you just call the IRS directly and ask them what information was missing? Seems safer than uploading tax documents to some website.
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Dylan Cooper
•It's super simple - you just take a photo of your rejection notice or upload the PDF, and within minutes it breaks down exactly what's missing. For my case, it pointed out that my foreign passport wasn't properly certified by the issuing agency. The tool actually highlights the specific sections of the notice that indicate the problem. As for calling the IRS directly, I tried that route first and spent hours on hold without ever reaching anyone. The taxr.ai service just gives you the clarity without the wait. All data is encrypted and they don't store your actual tax documents after analysis, which gave me peace of mind.
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Sofia Morales
Just wanted to update you all - I ended up trying taxr.ai after posting my question. It immediately identified that my "invalid supporting documentation" meant my passport copy wasn't certified by the issuing embassy as required. The service actually showed me examples of properly certified documents and gave me a checklist for reapplying. Just got my ITIN approved this week after resubmitting! The whole process was way smoother the second time around.
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Dmitry Ivanov
If you're still trying to contact the IRS about your ITIN rejection, good luck getting through on the phone. I spent literally 4 days trying before I found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). They have this system that holds your place in the IRS phone queue and calls you when an agent is about to answer. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. I finally got to speak with an actual human at the IRS who explained exactly what was missing from my ITIN application (turned out my identity documents weren't properly certified).
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Ava Garcia
•Wait, how does this actually work? Does it just keep calling the IRS for you or something? I'm confused about how a service can hold your place in a phone queue.
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StarSailor
•This sounds like a scam to me. How could a third-party service possibly get you through the IRS phone system faster? And are you really comfortable giving your phone number and tax information to some random company?
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Dmitry Ivanov
•It basically calls the IRS and navigates the phone menu for you, then holds your place in the queue. When an agent is about to pick up, it calls your phone and connects you. It's like having someone else sit on hold for you. I was skeptical too at first, but it's completely legitimate. They don't actually need any of your tax information - they just connect you to the IRS phone line. Then you speak directly with the IRS agent, not with the service. It saved me hours of listening to that awful hold music, and I got clear instructions on exactly how to fix my ITIN application.
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StarSailor
I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment, I was desperate enough to try it because my ITIN application deadline was approaching fast. I figured I had nothing to lose since they only connect you to the IRS call line. It actually worked exactly as advertised - got a call back within 40 minutes when I'd previously been unable to get through for days. The IRS agent explained that my supporting documentation needed a certified translation since it was in another language. Fixed it, resubmitted, and my ITIN was approved last week. Sometimes being proven wrong is a good thing!
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Miguel Silva
Something else to consider - depending on which tax treaty benefit you're trying to claim, there might be a deadline for properly completing your application. The CP567 notice should include a date by which you need to respond with the corrected ITIN application. Make sure you don't miss that deadline or you might lose the ability to claim the treaty benefit for this tax year.
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Amara Nnamani
•Thanks for bringing that up! My CP567 notice actually doesn't mention a specific deadline. Is there a standard timeframe for responding to these notices? I want to make sure I don't miss some hidden deadline.
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Miguel Silva
•There isn't a standard deadline that applies to all cases. It depends on the specific tax treaty and benefit you're claiming. Generally, you should respond as quickly as possible, ideally within 30 days of receiving the notice. If your notice doesn't mention a specific date, I would still treat it with urgency. The longer you wait, the more likely there could be complications with getting your refund. Also, keep in mind that some tax treaty benefits have annual deadlines separate from the ITIN process, so you want to make sure your ITIN is approved in time to claim those benefits.
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Zainab Ismail
Has anyone used a Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA) for their ITIN application? After my first rejection, I went to a local CAA and they handled everything. Worth the fee since they verified my documents on the spot and I didn't have to mail my original passport. Might be worth looking into if you're reapplying.
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Connor O'Neill
•The CAA route is definitely easier. I used one last year and had zero issues with my ITIN application. They charge about $150-300 depending on location, but it saved me from having to send original documents or properly certified copies.
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Madeline Blaze
I went through this exact same situation last year! The key thing to understand is that when they say "we'll process your return without an ITIN," they mean they'll accept it as filed and it counts toward your filing deadline, but they won't issue any refund until you have a valid ITIN. For your next steps: carefully review your CP567 notice to see if it gives any hints about what was missing. Common issues include documents not being properly certified, missing signatures, or incomplete Form W-7. When you reapply, make sure to include a complete copy of your original tax return - this helps them match everything up in their system. One tip that saved me time: if your rejection notice is vague about what's missing, try calling the ITIN hotline at 1-800-908-9982. The wait times are brutal, but if you can get through, they can sometimes tell you exactly what documentation issue caused the rejection. Good luck with your reapplication!
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Ana Erdoğan
•This is really helpful advice! I'm also dealing with a similar ITIN rejection situation. Quick question - when you called the ITIN hotline, did they ask for any specific information to look up your case? I'm wondering if I need my application receipt number or if they can find it with just my name and DOB. Also, did you find any particular time of day that had shorter wait times? I've been hesitant to call because everyone mentions how long the waits are, but it sounds like it might be worth it to get specific details about what went wrong.
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