Certifying Acceptance Agents (CAA): Why They Matter for Your ITIN

The part of the ITIN process everyone dislikes is the identity documents. The IRS needs to be sure who you are, so it requires original documents or copies certified by the issuing agency. For most non-residents, that means one thing: their passport. Sending your original passport to another country for weeks is not an attractive idea.

A Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA) solves most of that problem. This guide explains what a CAA is, what they can and cannot do, and why using one is the preferred route for most applicants abroad.

What is a Certifying Acceptance Agent?

A CAA is an individual or organisation that the IRS has authorised to help people apply for ITINs. CAAs complete IRS training, sign an agreement with the IRS, and must follow its procedures.

What makes a CAA different from an ordinary tax preparer is that a CAA can verify identity documents for primary applicants and their spouses. After examining the original passport (in person or through an approved process), the CAA certifies to the IRS that the document is genuine and the copy is accurate.

The main benefit: keep your passport

Without a CAA, an ITIN applicant usually has to send the IRS either:

• the original passport, which the IRS returns after processing, or
• a certified copy from the agency that issued it, which many governments do not provide easily.

With a CAA, the original stays with you. For a business owner who travels, needs their passport for banking or visas, or simply does not want it in the post for two months, this alone makes a CAA worth it.

Other benefits

• Fewer rejections. CAAs review the application before it goes to the IRS. Missing information, mismatched names or dates, or an invalid reason for applying are caught early.
• The right reason to apply. ITINs are issued for a specific tax purpose, usually attached to a tax return or under an IRS exception. A CAA helps make sure your application is supported properly.
• A point of contact. If the IRS has questions, the CAA can help you respond.

A rejected ITIN application usually has to be corrected and resubmitted, which can add two or three months. Getting it right the first time is the biggest time-saver of all. See ITIN processing time in 2026.

What a CAA cannot do

• Speed up the IRS itself. The IRS still processes the application on its own timeline.
• Guarantee approval. The IRS makes the decision.
• Certify every document for every applicant. For dependants, CAAs can only certify certain documents (typically the passport and birth certificate); other documents for dependants may still need to go to the IRS or be certified by the issuing agency.
• Replace a valid reason to apply. If you have no tax purpose, an ITIN will not be issued.

CAA vs other routes

Is a CAA right for you?

If you live outside the USA and need an ITIN, using a CAA is almost always the most convenient and lowest-risk route. It is especially useful if:

• you need your passport for travel or other applications,
• you have had an ITIN application rejected before,
• your name appears differently on different documents, or
• you are applying together with a tax return that needs careful handling.

How UCB handles ITIN applications

Our ITIN service ($249) covers the full process: we confirm your reason to apply, prepare the application and supporting documents, coordinate the verification of your passport so you can avoid mailing originals where possible, submit it, and follow up until your ITIN letter arrives. If you also need a company or bank account, our combined packages handle everything together.

See the ITIN service, and read what is an ITIN and do you need one if you are still deciding.

Need an ITIN without sending your passport abroad? WhatsApp us at +91 8105 199 399 or email info@ucbsolutions.com and we will explain the best route for you.