Please Share: Renew ITIN Now to Avoid Tax Refund Delays

Dear Partners,

Many of the families you serve could be impacted by recent changes to the ITIN program that requires taxpayers to renew their ITINs. An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a number issued by the IRS to help individuals who cannot obtain a social security number to file their taxes. In the past, a taxpayer applied for and received an ITIN only once. The changes will require every ITIN holder to eventually renew based on when their ITIN was issued.

Certain taxpayers need to renew their ITINs before the end of the year to avoid tax refund delays. To avoid delays, we encourage taxpayers with expiring ITINs to renew as soon as possible. Our team wants to make sure that all of our partners have content to share this important information with the community, so we’ve put together an informational flyer and outreach toolkit (attached) for you to use that includes sample newsletter/website copy, social media posts and talking points.

We believe this message will be best received if it came directly from organizations that serve communities affected by the ITIN renewal process. In addition to sharing this information directly with families, we would appreciate if you could distribute it to other organizations in your network that reach ITIN taxpayers and encourage them to spread the word as well. If you send to other organizations, please let us know so we can add them to our outreach list.

Thank you for your support in raising awareness about this important issue and let me know if you have any questions.

Warmly,

Brooke Visser

Public Information Campaign Associate

P: 303-454-3735

Table of Contents

Newsletter Copy for Taxpayers with ITINs...... 2

Social Media Tips...... 2

Talking Points...... 3

Background on the Law...... 3

Newsletter Copy for Taxpayers with ITINs

Please include this copy on your website or in newsletters that reach families that could be impacted by the new ITIN renewal requirements.

New IRS law requires ITIN renewal, starting for some this year

A new IRS law requires some taxpayers to renew their Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs)—and you can begin renewing expiring ITINs immediately. In the past, taxpayers applied for and received ITINs only once. These changes require all ITIN taxpayers to eventually renew based on when their ITINs were issued. We encourage taxpayers with an expiring ITIN to renew as soon as possible to avoid refund delays.

All ITINs issued with middle digits 70, 71, 72, or 80 are expiring this year. Avoid a delay in your IRS refund and ensure you receive your tax credits – check to see if your ITIN is expiring and renew immediately. Learn more about the ITIN renewal process from the IRS website.

Social Media Tips

Please use these sample Twitter and Facebook posts to share information about ITIN renewal requires via social media.

Twitter:

  • New law requires some taxpayers to renew #ITIN by 2018. #ITINinfo
  • Is your #ITIN expired? Avoid Tax refund delays and find out! #ITINinfo
  • Important: See if #ITIN program changes affect you in 2018. #ITINinfo
  • Is your #ITIN expired? Avoid tax refund delays and renew ASAP. #ITINinfo

Facebook:

A new @IRS law requires taxpayers with Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) to renew them—and those who are impacted should renew immediately. An individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a number issued by the IRS to help individual who cannot obtain a social security number to file their taxes. In the past, a taxpayer applied for and received an ITIN only once. In 2016 the IRS issued a new law which requires some taxpayer to renew their ITINs. All ITINs issued with middle digits 70, 71, 72, or 80 are expiring this year. Taxpayers with expired ITINs may be ineligible for certain tax credits or face delayed tax refunds. To avoid delays, taxpayers with expiring ITINs should renew ASAP.

Learn who is affected, and how they can renew.

Talking Points

Please use these talking points when discussing the new ITIN renewal requirements with the families you serve.

  • New IRS law requires ITIN renewal, starting for some taxpayers this month.
  • An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a number issued by the IRS to help individuals who cannot obtain a Social Security number to file their taxes.
  • In the past, a taxpayer applied for and received an ITIN only once. Recent Changes to the ITIN program include a requirement that taxpayers renew their ITINs.
  • In 2016 the IRS created a “rolling renewal” schedule for all ITINs.
  • Some taxpayers should renew their ITIN before the end of 2017:
  • All ITINs issued during 2018 will begin expiring this year, starting with those with middle digits of 70, 71, 72 and 80 (Example: 9XX-70-XXXX).
  • All ITINs not used on a federal tax return at least once in the last three years will also expire.
  • All ITINs issued before 2008 have already expired. These ITINs have the middle digits of 78 and 79 (Example: 9XX-78-XXXX).
  • Taxpayers with expired ITINs may be ineligible for certain tax credits or face delayed tax refunds.
  • The IRS is now accepting renewal applications and taxpayers with expiring ITINs are encouraged to apply early to avoid delays.
  • Learn more about the ITIN renewal process from the IRS website.

Background on the Law

Changes to the ITIN program are part of the implementation of the PATH Act. You can learn more on the IRS website:

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ITIN Renewal Messaging – EnglishOctober 2016