For Austrian citizens with a global outlook, the United States is a key market for investment, freelancing, and property ownership. The U.S.–Austria Tax Treaty prevents double taxation and offers reduced withholding tax rates. But to unlock these treaty benefits, you first need an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number).

At House of Bookkeepers, an IRS-Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA), we help applicants in Austria obtain their ITIN letters securely — without mailing passports overseas.

What Is an ITIN?

An ITIN is a nine-digit number (format: 9XX-XX-XXXX) issued by the IRS for individuals who:

  • Need to file or report U.S. taxes

  • Are not eligible for a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN)

What ITIN is not:

  • Not a work permit or visa

  • Not immigration status

  • Not a replacement for SSN

Who Commonly Uses ITINs?

  • Nonresident aliens earning U.S.-sourced income

  • Real estate investors affected by FIRPTA when selling U.S. property

  • Spouses and dependents of U.S. taxpayers

  • International students or researchers receiving U.S. funding

  • Freelancers and contractors working with U.S. clients

Who in Austria Should Apply for an ITIN?

Some common cases include:

  • Freelancers and Digital Workers
    Austrians earning through Upwork, Fiverr, PayPal, Stripe, Amazon, or AdSense often face 30% withholding. With an ITIN, you can file a tax return and apply treaty benefits to reduce tax.

  • Property Investors
    Under FIRPTA, the IRS withholds 15% of the sales price of U.S. property. An ITIN allows you to file your U.S. return and reclaim excess withholding.

  • Filing Jointly with a U.S. Spouse
    If married to a U.S. taxpayer, you’ll need an ITIN to be listed on the joint return and claim spousal tax benefits.

  • Investors in U.S. Companies
    The U.S.–Austria treaty allows reduced rates on dividends, royalties, and interest. An ITIN is required to apply these treaty benefits.

  • Responsible Party for a U.S. LLC
    If you manage a U.S. LLC, you may need an ITIN for IRS filings. Commonly required documents:

    • Articles of Organization

    • Operating Agreement

    • IRS EIN Confirmation Letter (CP 575 Notice)

Benefits of Having an ITIN

  • File U.S. taxes legally

  • Claim refunds for overpaid withholding

  • Apply reduced rates under the U.S.–Austria tax treaty

  • Avoid the default 30% withholding on U.S. income

  • Stay compliant with FIRPTA on real estate sales

  • Strengthen financial access to U.S. institutions (when combined with EIN/LLC)

U.S.–Austria Tax Treaty Benefits

The treaty provides tax advantages for Austrian residents:

  • Dividends: Reduced to 5–15% depending on ownership

  • Interest: Often reduced or exempt under certain conditions

  • Royalties: Lowered to around 0–10% depending on type

  • Students & Researchers: Some scholarship or fellowship income may be exempt from U.S. tax

👉 To claim these benefits, you need:

  • An ITIN

  • The appropriate IRS form (such as Form W-8BEN or Form 8233) provided to the U.S. payer

Step-by-Step: How to Apply for an ITIN from Austria in 2025

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

You must have a valid tax reason such as:

  • Filing a U.S. return for income or investments

  • Selling or renting U.S. property

  • Filing jointly with a U.S. spouse

  • Claiming treaty benefits

Step 2: Complete Form W-7

The official IRS application form for ITIN. Must be completed accurately to avoid rejections.

Step 3: Gather Required Documents

  • Valid passport (scan copy works if applying via a CAA; otherwise, IRS requires original or certified copy)

  • U.S. federal tax return (Form 1040 or 1040-NR), unless exempt

  • Supporting documents (visa, U.S. income statements, property contracts, scholarship letters, etc.)

Step 4: Apply Through a Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA)

With House of Bookkeepers, you don’t need to risk sending your passport overseas. We verify your documents locally in Austria and submit your ITIN application directly to the IRS.

ITIN Processing Timeline in 2025

  • Standard processing: 8–13 weeks

  • Peak season (Jan–Apr): up to 13–16 weeks

  • At HOB, we can often retrieve your ITIN number within ~2.5 months by contacting the IRS.

    • Note: The official ITIN letter (CP565) still requires the full processing time to arrive by mail.

Why Use House of Bookkeepers (IRS CAA)?

✅ Passport stays safe — verified locally in Austria

✅ Higher approval rate, fewer rejections

✅ End-to-end support: W-7 form, COA, tax return, and submission

✅ Official IRS authorization (listed CAA)

✅ Real-time updates until your ITIN letter arrives

✅ 100% Money-Back Guarantee if rejected due to our process error

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Incomplete or incorrect Form W-7

  • Using uncertified passport copies without a CAA

  • Forgetting to attach a tax return (unless exempt)

  • Mailing sensitive documents through unreliable services

  • Assuming ITIN provides work or immigration rights (it does not)

Quick FAQs – ITIN from Austria

Q1. Can I apply for an ITIN from Austria?
Yes. With House of Bookkeepers as your IRS CAA, you don’t need to travel or mail your passport.

Q2. Does Austria have a tax treaty with the U.S.?
Yes. The treaty reduces withholding on dividends, royalties, and other U.S. income. An ITIN is required to claim these reductions.

Q3. How long does it take to get an ITIN?
8–13 weeks. At HOB, we can often retrieve your ITIN number earlier (~2.5 months), but the IRS letter CP565 will still take the full time.

Q4. Do I need a U.S. address?
A U.S. address is not mandatory. The IRS can send your ITIN letter directly to your foreign (non-U.S.) address as listed on your application. However, having a U.S. residential address or a reliable mail forwarding service is beneficial, as it can help ensure faster and more secure delivery of your IRS correspondence.

Alternatively, we can also receive the letter at our address and send you a scanned copy by email.

Q5. How will you verify my identity?
As part of the IRS verification process, we’ll ask you to provide a selfie of yourself holding the passport’s information page. This simple step confirms that the passport belongs to you and helps us complete your identity verification securely.

Apply with Confidence

At House of Bookkeepers, we make ITIN applications secure and stress-free for Austrian applicants.

📍 IRS-Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA) – Austria Service
🌍 Website: https://www.houseofbookkeepers.com

Apply today — and unlock the benefits of refunds, compliance, and U.S.–Austria treaty savings.