If you’re a Kuwaiti freelancer, investor, Amazon seller, or business owner earning income from U.S. sources, you may need an ITIN Number issued by the IRS (to stay compliant, receive full payments, and claim possible refunds).

Although Kuwait does not have an income tax treaty with the United States, obtaining an ITIN is still essential. It allows you to file U.S. tax returns, reclaim over-withheld taxes, and maintain compliance on global platforms like Stripe, Amazon, Payoneer, Upwork, Fiverr, Etsy, and AdSense.

House of Bookkeepers is an IRS-Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA), we help applicants from Kuwait obtain their ITINs safely without mailing passports to the U.S.

What Is an ITIN?

An ITIN is a nine-digit tax identification number (format: 9XX-XX-XXXX) issued by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to individuals who:

  • Need to file or report U.S. taxes, but

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

🔍 What ITIN Is Not

  • Not a U.S. work visa or permit

  • Not immigration status

  • Not a substitute for SSN

  • Not authorization to work in the U.S.

However, it is required to file U.S. tax returns, claim treaty benefits, and receive payments legally from U.S. companies and platforms.

Why Kuwait Residents Need an ITIN

Many professionals and entrepreneurs in Kuwait work with U.S. clients or use American payment platforms. Without an ITIN, U.S. payers must withhold 30% of your income for tax purposes.

Having an ITIN helps you:

  • Submit Form W-8BEN to confirm foreign status and avoid excess withholding

  • Receive full payments from Stripe, Payoneer, Upwork, Amazon, or AdSense

  • File a U.S. tax return (Form 1040-NR) for refund claims

  • Open or verify U.S. business bank accounts

  • Maintain compliance with the IRS and payment processors

Who in Kuwait Commonly Needs an ITIN

Freelancers & Digital Creators

Writers, developers, designers, and online creators earning through Upwork, Fiverr, Amazon KDP, or Payoneer often need an ITIN to:

  • File a W-8BEN to reduce withholding

  • Receive verified payments faster

  • File Form 1040-NR for refunds or reporting

Amazon & E-Commerce Sellers

Kuwaiti entrepreneurs selling on Amazon FBA, Shopify, or Stripe Atlas can use an ITIN to:

  • Complete tax forms (W-8BEN / W-9)

  • Prevent account holds due to missing U.S. tax ID

  • Manage IRS filings for U.S. LLCs

Property Investors

If you sell or rent U.S. property, the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA) withholds 15% of the sale price.
An ITIN allows you to file Form 1040-NR and reclaim over-withheld taxes.

Filing Jointly with a U.S. Spouse

If you’re married to a U.S. citizen or green card holder, you’ll need an ITIN to be included on a joint U.S. tax return and qualify for family tax benefits.

LLC Owners or Business Managers

If you manage or own a U.S. LLC, you’ll need an ITIN for IRS filings.
Commonly required documents include:

  • Articles of Organization

  • Operating Agreement (if multi-member)

  • IRS EIN Confirmation Letter (CP 575 Notice)

Benefits of Having an ITIN

  • File U.S. tax returns legally and stay compliant

  • Claim refunds for excess U.S. tax withholding

  • Reclaim FIRPTA withholdings on property sales

  • Be listed on a spouse’s or dependent’s return

  • Build tax credibility for your U.S. business or LLC

  • Connect with global processors like Stripe, Payoneer, Amazon, and AdSense

  • Avoid 30% default withholding on digital income

Tax Treaty Status (Kuwait)

Kuwait currently has no income tax treaty with the United States.
However, Exception 1(d) of the IRS rules still allows Kuwait residents to obtain an ITIN for:

  • Third-party withholding and platform reporting (e.g., Stripe, Payoneer, Amazon)

  • U.S. LLC or business tax filings

  • Financial institution compliance (KYC / FATCA)

This means Kuwaiti applicants can still file Form W-8BEN and get their payments released without needing a U.S. tax treaty.

How to Apply for an ITIN from Kuwait in 2025

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Valid U.S. tax reasons include:

  • Filing a U.S. tax return

  • Claiming withholding relief or compliance via W-8BEN

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

  • Filing jointly with a U.S. spouse

  • Owning or managing a U.S. LLC

  • Receiving U.S. scholarships or research grants

  • Financial or banking compliance (KYC, FATCA)

💡 If you only need to file W-8BEN for platform withholding or verification, you may qualify under an exception and may not need to attach a U.S. tax return.

ITIN Eligibility Scenarios for Kuwaiti Applicants

Reason for Applying Description W-7 Box to Check Tax Return Required?
Filing a U.S. tax return Reporting freelance, business, investment, or property income b – Nonresident alien filing a U.S. return ✅ Yes (attach Form 1040-NR)
Claiming withholding relief via W-8BEN Providing ITIN for compliance and avoiding account holds on Stripe, Amazon, Payoneer, AdSense h – Exception 1(d): Third-party withholding ❌ No (exception category)
U.S. rental or sale (FIRPTA) Reporting real estate sale or rental income and reclaiming FIRPTA tax b (if filing) or h (if exception) ⚙️ Depends
Filing jointly with a U.S. spouse Joining a U.S. joint tax return e – Spouse of U.S. citizen/resident ✅ Yes (joint return)
Owning or managing a U.S. LLC Required for foreign member reporting, EIN activation, or partnership income filing h – Exception 1(d) or b (if filing) ⚙️ Depends (usually yes for multi-member LLCs)
Receiving U.S. scholarships or grants Nonresident student or researcher receiving taxable U.S. funding f – Nonresident alien student/professor/researcher ⚙️ Depends on institution
Bank or financial compliance U.S. banks, brokers, or processors require a U.S. tax ID for KYC/FATCA h – Exception 1(d) ❌ No (exception category)
Refund claim for excess withholding Requesting refund on U.S. income (e.g., 1042-S or 1099-MISC) b – Nonresident alien filing a U.S. return ✅ Yes (attach Form 1040-NR)

Note: Exception 1(d) remains valid even though Kuwait has no tax treaty.
It covers platform withholding, U.S. banking compliance, and LLC filings.

Step 2: Complete Form W-7

This is the official IRS application form. Accuracy matters, even minor errors can cause delays or rejection.

Step 3: Gather Required Documents

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

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

  • Supporting proof such as W-8BEN, income statements, property documents, or scholarship letters

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

With House of Bookkeepers, you don’t need to mail your passport to the U.S.
We verify your identity locally in Kuwait, issue a Certificate of Accuracy (COA), and submit your application securely to the IRS.

Why Choose House of Bookkeepers (IRS CAA)

✅ Passport stays safe and verified locally
✅ Higher approval rate, fewer rejections
✅ Full support: W-7 form, COA, and IRS submission
✅ Official IRS-listed CAA
✅ Real-time updates until CP565 approval letter
✅ 100% Money-Back Guarantee if rejected due to our error

ITIN Processing Timeline – 2025

  • Standard processing: 8 – 13 weeks

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

Our team often retrieves the ITIN number within ≈ 2.5 months, though the official letter (CP565) may arrive slightly later by mail.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Incomplete or incorrect W-7 entries

  • Using uncertified passport copies (if not via CAA)

  • Forgetting to attach a required tax return

  • Mailing originals via unreliable couriers

  • Assuming ITIN equals work authorization (it does not)

Quick FAQs related to ITIN from Kuwait

Q1. Can I apply for an ITIN from Kuwait?
Yes. With House of Bookkeepers as your CAA, you can apply remotely and no need to mail your passport to the U.S.

Q2. Does Kuwait have a tax treaty with the U.S.?
No. But you can still apply under Exception 1(d) for third-party withholding or LLC compliance.

Q3. How will I know if my ITIN is approved?
You’ll receive IRS Letter CP565 once your ITIN is issued. We notify you immediately.

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 (Kuwaiti) address.
However, having a U.S. residential or mail forwarding address can ensure faster delivery.
Alternatively, we can receive the letter at our address and email you a scanned copy (not recommended though).

Q5. How will you verify my identity?
We’ll ask for a selfie of you holding your passport’s information page for a quick, secure verification step.

Apply with Confidence

At House of Bookkeepers, we make ITIN applications safe, accurate, and fully IRS-compliant for Kuwait-based freelancers, investors, and LLC owners.

📍 IRS-Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA) – Kuwait Service
🌍 ITIN Service Page: https://houseofbookkeepers.com/itin/

Start your ITIN application today — and unlock faster payments, tax refunds, and global business compliance with confidence.