What is an IRS Certifying Acceptance Agent?
June 27, 2019
Below is description from the IRS website:
A Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA) is a person or an entity (business or organization) who, pursuant to a written agreement with the IRS, is authorized to assist individuals and other foreign persons who do not qualify for a Social Security Number but who still need a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) to file a Form 1040 and other tax schedules. The Certifying Acceptance Agent facilitates the application process by reviewing the necessary documents, authenticating the identity when able and forwarding the completed forms to IRS. [IRS]
The primary different between an Acceptance Agent (AA) and CAA, is a CAA can certify a taxpayer and spouse's identification documents whereas an AAcannot. What’s more, and something new for 2019, CAA’s can now authenticate the passport and birth certificate for dependents. Thus, CAAs can certify identification documents for the primary and secondary applicants. The goal is to increase the availability of Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) services both nationwide and abroad.
To ensure that Acceptance Agents have the tools they need to perform their jobs, all new and renewing applicants are required to complete mandatory training. New and Renewing CAA applicants are also required to complete formal Forensic Document Training to obtain the necessary skills to determine the authenticity of identification documents. A certificate of completion is issued for this training, and is necessary to complete the IRS Acceptance Agent Program. Be sure the CAA you are using has this on hand when you are applying for an ITIN.
The IRS conducts compliance reviews including both physical and correspondence reviews. Certifying Acceptance Agents are required to cooperate with IRS compliance checks as well as requests for information from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration or the Government Accountability Office. Failure to do so can result in termination from the program.
All Acceptance Agents are required to adhere to new quality standards established and monitored by the IRS. The focus of the new standards will be on the quality of each agent’s W-7 submissions as well as their adherence to the terms and conditions of their Acceptance Agent Agreement.
In Our Company News Department
You should know that 1042-S Tax Services is now a Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA) for the IRS.
What does this mean?
It means that we can now certify passports and any other allowable ID for inclusion with a W-7 Application – to apply for or renew an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). That’s the taxpayer number you need in order to file for casino tax refunds from the IRS.
Please see the article below for an explanation of the IRS CAA.
So that’s good news for you. Instead of having to leave your passport with Passport Canada for two weeks and pay $45 to have it certified, we can now provide this service for you quicker and more conveniently – not to mention at a lower cost – as we do not charge to certify client ID.
Ask us about this service if you have any questions about your situation.
Thusly, tax preparers and services that are CAA’s have the ability to apply for your ITIN (via the W-7 application) and file return(s) at the same time is a more effective manner than those needing external identification authentication means, saving clients time and money.
1042S Tax Services is an IRS Certified Acceptance Agent.
