Hi there. This site has been a huge help to me. ..but I am hoping to get a bit more direct help in my situation. I provide a service to multiple clients and companies in the US. I live and work in Canada...and have done no work from the US. I have an EIN. I provide my clients with a form w8ben including my foreign tax ID. First.
Do I have to file any type of tax return?
Many clients request an ITIN. Although I am aware I don't need one. ..I would like to get one anyways. How can I do go about getting it. I have a certified copy of my passport . What else do I need. .?
Thanks so much.
Canadian providing service to multiple companies in US from
Moderator: Mark T Serbinski CA CPA
I presume you mean any type of US tax return? Only if you are doing business as a corporation, you are *encouraged* to file a 1120-F simply to cover your self, but even this is not required.
The problem with trying to get an ITIN is that, as you correctly concluded, you don't need one. IRS is extremely reticent to give out ITINs for no good reason.
Which reason were you thinking about putting on the W-7, without having to file anything.
The problem with trying to get an ITIN is that, as you correctly concluded, you don't need one. IRS is extremely reticent to give out ITINs for no good reason.
Which reason were you thinking about putting on the W-7, without having to file anything.
nelsona non grata. Non pro. Please Search previous posts, no situation is unique as you might think. Happy Browsing 
Thanks so much for the replies. This is certainly piece of mind.
I have a Agency that requires an ITIN to sign me on, whom I want to sign with, but as we all know, I can't get one, or have to jump through needless hoops to do so. I did get that option for filing an 8233 with one of my clients through some research as well, but it's nice to hear it from someone else to confirm the facts.
If I can't get that in order, any suggestions on how to nicely inform the Agency their practices are Archaic. I know this has changed somewhat recently as they used to throw out ITIN's like old shoes.
If I do end up getting an ITIN eventually, I WILL have to file a annual tax return as well I surmise. What specifc form would that be...? 1040NR?
Also, should I be putting my EIN number on the W8BEN form as well? It used to be on older forms, but it was removed last year from what I can see. Most clients don't care...they just want a number. The IRS instructed me to do this...which I was very hesitant to do so.
I have a Agency that requires an ITIN to sign me on, whom I want to sign with, but as we all know, I can't get one, or have to jump through needless hoops to do so. I did get that option for filing an 8233 with one of my clients through some research as well, but it's nice to hear it from someone else to confirm the facts.
If I can't get that in order, any suggestions on how to nicely inform the Agency their practices are Archaic. I know this has changed somewhat recently as they used to throw out ITIN's like old shoes.
If I do end up getting an ITIN eventually, I WILL have to file a annual tax return as well I surmise. What specifc form would that be...? 1040NR?
Also, should I be putting my EIN number on the W8BEN form as well? It used to be on older forms, but it was removed last year from what I can see. Most clients don't care...they just want a number. The IRS instructed me to do this...which I was very hesitant to do so.