ITIN Application from Egypt: 2025 Guide

If you’re an Egyptian freelancer, investor, or business owner working with U.S. clients or platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr, Amazon, Payoneer, Stripe, Etsy, or Google AdSense, you may need an ITIN Number from the IRS.

The US-Egypt Tax Treaty allows Egyptian residents to benefit from reduced withholding tax rates on certain U.S. income — including dividends, interest, and royalties. However, to claim those benefits or file a U.S. tax return, you must have a valid ITIN.

At House of Bookkeepers, an IRS-Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA), we help applicants in Egypt apply for ITINs securely without mailing passports to the United States.

What Is an ITIN?

An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a nine-digit number (format: 9XX-XX-XXXX) issued by the IRS to people who:

  • Need to file or report U.S. taxes, and
  • Are not eligible for a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN).

🔍 What ITIN is not:

  • It’s not a U.S. visa or immigration status.
  • It’s not a work permit.
  • It’s not the same as an SSN.

Still, it’s essential for anyone who receives income from U.S. sources or wants to access treaty benefits through Form W-8BEN.

Why Egyptian Freelancers and Business Owners Need an ITIN

Many Egyptian professionals earn income through U.S.-based companies and platforms. Without an ITIN, these companies are legally required to withhold up to 30% of your earnings for tax purposes.

An ITIN allows you to:

  • File Form W-8BEN to certify foreign status and reduce tax withholding.
  • Receive full payments from Upwork, Fiverr, Amazon, Stripe, AdSense, and Payoneer.
  • File Form 1040-NR to claim refunds or report income.
  • Open and verify U.S. payment processors or bank accounts linked to your LLC.
  • Build a U.S. tax compliance record for future business expansion.

Why Egyptians Need an ITIN

Thousands of Egyptian professionals and entrepreneurs receive U.S. income every year — whether from freelancing, e-commerce, or investments. Without an ITIN, U.S. companies and payment platforms are required by law to withhold 30% of your earnings for tax purposes.

Having an ITIN helps you:

  • File Form W-8BEN to claim treaty benefits under the US-Egypt Tax Treaty.
  • Avoid unnecessary 30% withholding on royalties, freelance, or platform income.
  • Receive faster, verified payments on platforms like Stripe, Payoneer, Amazon, and Upwork.
  • File a U.S. tax return (Form 1040-NR) to report or reclaim overpaid tax.
  • Build financial credibility in the U.S. and qualify for business banking or LLC setup.

Who in Egypt Commonly Needs an ITIN

  • Freelancers & Digital Workers

Egyptian professionals earning through Upwork, Fiverr, Payoneer, Stripe, or AdSense often need an ITIN to:

    • File a W-8BEN to prove non-U.S. status and claim treaty benefits.

    • Avoid 30% default withholding on U.S. payments.

    • File a 1040-NR to report income and request refunds.

  • Amazon & E-Commerce Sellers

If you’re an Amazon Egypt seller or run a Shopify store serving U.S. customers:

    • You’ll need an ITIN to complete W-8BEN for Amazon Seller Central or Stripe Atlas.

    • The treaty may reduce tax on U.S.-sourced royalties from digital product sales.

  • Property Investors

Selling or renting U.S. real estate triggers FIRPTA (Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act) withholding — typically 15% of the sale price.
An ITIN is required to:

    • File your U.S. tax return (Form 1040-NR)

    • Report real estate transactions

    • Reclaim excess FIRPTA withholding

  • Filing Jointly with a U.S. Spouse

If you are married to a U.S. taxpayer, you’ll need an ITIN to be included on their joint return and access spousal tax benefits.

  • Business Owners & LLC Members

If you own a U.S. LLC or serve as its responsible party, you’ll need an ITIN for IRS filings.
You may also need to submit:

    • Articles of Organization

    • Operating Agreement

    • IRS EIN Confirmation Letter (CP575 Notice)

 

US-Egypt Tax Treaty Benefits

The treaty signed in 1980 and in force since 1982 provides Egyptians with reduced tax rates on several income types:

Income Type Default U.S. Rate Treaty Rate (U.S.–Egypt)
Dividends 30% 5–15% (depending on ownership)
Interest 30% 15% maximum (some government interest exempt)
Royalties 30% 15% maximum
Business Profits — Taxed only if you have a Permanent Establishment in the U.S.
Students, Teachers, and Researchers — Exempt under treaty Articles 22–23 for limited periods

👉 To use these benefits, you must:

  • Have an ITIN, and

  • Submit the correct form (usually Form W-8BEN or Form 8233) to the U.S. payer or platform.

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

You must have a valid U.S. tax reason such as:

  • Filing a U.S. return

  • Claiming treaty benefits via Form W-8BEN

  • Selling or renting U.S. property (FIRPTA)

  • Filing jointly with a U.S. spouse

🧾 Eligibility Reference Table

Reason for Applying Description W-7 Box to Check Tax Return Required?
Filing a U.S. tax return Reporting freelance, investment, or property income b – Nonresident alien filing a U.S. return ✅ Yes (attach 1040-NR)
Claiming treaty benefits via W-8BEN Avoiding 30% withholding on Stripe, Amazon, or Payoneer a + h – Treaty exception ❌ No (treaty exception)
Property sale/rental (FIRPTA) U.S. real estate or rental income b or a + h ⚙ Depends
Filing jointly with U.S. spouse For inclusion on a U.S. joint tax return e – Spouse of U.S. citizen/resident ✅ Yes

Step 2: Complete Form W-7

This is the official IRS ITIN application form. Accuracy is essential — even small errors can delay your application.

Step 3: Gather Required Documents

  • Valid passport (scan copy works with a CAA; otherwise, IRS requires the original or certified copy).

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

  • Supporting documents like visa, income statements, property sale papers, or scholarship letters.

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

With House of Bookkeepers, you don’t need to send your passport to the U.S.
We verify your documents locally in Egypt, issue a Certificate of Accuracy (COA), and submit your complete application directly to the IRS.

 

Why Use House of Bookkeepers (IRS CAA)?

✅ Passport stays safe — verified locally in Egypt
✅ Higher success rates and fewer rejections
✅ Full-service assistance: W-7 form, COA, and IRS submission
✅ Officially authorized by the IRS (listed Certified Acceptance Agent)
✅ Real-time updates until your ITIN approval letter (CP565) arrives
✅ 100% Money-Back Guarantee if rejected due to our process error

ITIN Processing Timeline in 2025

  • Standard processing: 8–13 weeks
  • Peak season (Jan–Apr): 13–16 weeks
    At House of Bookkeepers, we can often retrieve your ITIN number within ~2.5 months by directly following up with the IRS. The official letter (CP565) will still take the full time to arrive.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

🚫 Submitting incomplete or inaccurate Form W-7
🚫 Using uncertified passport copies (if not applying through a CAA)
🚫 Forgetting to attach a tax return (unless exempt)
🚫 Mailing documents through unreliable services
🚫 Assuming ITIN grants U.S. work or immigration rights

Quick FAQs – ITIN from Egypt

Q1. Can I apply for an ITIN from Egypt?
Yes. With House of Bookkeepers as your IRS CAA, you can apply from Egypt without mailing your passport to the U.S.

Q2. Does Egypt have a tax treaty with the U.S.?
Yes. The U.S.–Egypt Tax Treaty (1982) reduces withholding tax on U.S. income like dividends, interest, and royalties. You need an ITIN to claim these benefits via Form W-8BEN.

Q3. How do I know if my ITIN is approved?
The IRS issues Letter CP565 once your ITIN is assigned. If you don’t receive it within 13 weeks, contact us — we’ll check the status and update you promptly.

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 (Egyptian) address.
However, using a U.S. residential or mail forwarding address may speed up delivery.
Alternatively, we can receive your letter and send a scanned copy by email (not recommended though).

Q5. How will you verify my identity?
We’ll ask you to provide a selfie holding your passport’s information page. This ensures your identity is verified securely before IRS submission.

Apply with Confidence

At House of Bookkeepers, we make ITIN applications safe, fast, and fully IRS-compliant for Egyptian applicants.

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

Start your ITIN application today — and unlock faster payments, fewer tax deductions, and full IRS compliance when working with U.S. clients or platforms.