As a freelancer, Amazon seller, investor, or business owner based in Romania earning income from U.S. sources, obtaining an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) from the IRS may be essential. The U.S.-Romania Tax Treaty offers Romanian residents valuable tax advantages, including reduced or exempt withholding on dividends, interest, and royalties. Securing an ITIN not only allows you to claim these treaty benefits but also ensures seamless payments on international platforms such as Stripe, Payoneer, Amazon, AdSense, Fiverr, and Upwork.

House of Bookkeepers is an IRS-Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA), we help applicants from Romania to obtain their ITINs securely and remotely, 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 for individuals who need to file or report U.S. taxes but are not eligible for a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN).

🔍 What an ITIN is NOT:

  • Not a U.S. work permit
  • Not an immigration status
  • Not a substitute for an SSN
  • Not authorization to work in the U.S.

However, an ITIN is required for individuals in Romania who want to receive payments legally from U.S. platforms that require U.S. tax returns such as Stripe, Upwork, Fiverr, Amazon KDP, Amazon Seller Central, Google AdSense, Etsy, Payoneer, and more.

 

Why Romanian Residents Need an ITIN

Having an ITIN helps you:

  • Submit Form W-8BEN to claim U.S.-Romania tax treaty benefits
  • Avoid the default 30% withholding tax on U.S. income
  • Prevent payment holds on global earning platforms
  • Receive faster payouts from Stripe, Payoneer, Amazon, AdSense, Upwork, Fiverr
  • File Form 1040-NR to claim refunds or remain compliant
  • Build U.S. tax history for long-term business or LLC operations

 

Who in Romania Commonly Needs an ITIN

Freelancers & Digital Professionals

Designers, developers, consultants, writers, and creators earning through Upwork, Fiverr, AdSense, Amazon KDP, or Payoneer often need an ITIN to:

  • File W-8BEN and apply treaty rates
  • Avoid payment holds or account verification issues
  • File Form 1040-NR for compliance or refunds

Amazon & E-Commerce Sellers

Romanian sellers using Amazon FBA, Shopify, or Stripe Atlas need an ITIN to:

  • Complete W-8BEN or W-9 forms correctly
  • Avoid 30% default withholding
  • Handle tax filings for U.S. marketplaces or LLCs

 Property Investors

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

Filing Jointly with a U.S. Spouse

If your spouse is a U.S. citizen or green card holder, you’ll need an ITIN to file a joint return and access family-related tax benefits.

LLC Owners & Entrepreneurs

If you own or manage a U.S. LLC, an ITIN is often required for IRS filings.
Typical documents include:

  • Articles of Organization
  • IRS EIN Confirmation Letter (CP575)
  • Operating Agreement (mandatory for multi-member LLCs)

 

Benefits of Having an ITIN 

  • Legally file U.S. tax returns (Form 1040-NR)
  • Claim reduced tax rates under the U.S.-Romania Tax Treaty
  • Avoid the automatic 30% withholding on U.S.-sourced income
  • Receive refunds for over-withheld tax
  • Verify accounts on Stripe, Payoneer, Amazon, and U.S. banks
  • Build long-term compliance and credibility for U.S. business, LLC, or investment activities

 

Tax Treaty Status (Romania)

Romania does have a tax treaty with the United States, so residents can benefit from reduced withholding rates on certain types of U.S.-source income.

Even if a situation falls outside treaty benefits, Romanian residents can 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 Romanian applicants can file Form W-8BEN to certify foreign status, claim treaty benefits, and receive payments efficiently from U.S. platforms.

 

 

 

How to Apply for an ITIN from Romania in 2026   

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Valid U.S. tax reasons for Romania residents include:

  • Filing a U.S. tax return (Form 1040-NR)
  • Claiming withholding relief 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.

 

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. tax return ✅ Yes (attach Form 1040-NR)
Claiming treaty benefits via W-8BEN Providing ITIN for compliance and avoiding account holds on Stripe, Amazon, Payoneer, AdSense h – Exception 1(d): Third-party withholding ❌ No (treaty exception category)
U.S. rental or sale (FIRPTA) Reporting real estate sale or rental income b (if filing) or as 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 reporting or EIN activation 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. funds 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. tax return ✅ Yes (attach Form 1040-NR)

Note: Exception 1(d) applies to platform withholding, U.S. banking compliance, and LLC filings.

 

Step 2: Complete Form W-7

Form W-7 is the official IRS ITIN application. Accuracy is critical—errors can delay or reject your application.

 

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:

  • Passport stays in Romania . No need to mail it to the U.S.
  • Identity verified locally
  • Certificate of Accuracy (COA) issued
  • Application submitted securely to the IRS

 

Why Choose House of Bookkeepers (IRS CAA)

✅ Passport stays safe – 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  (2026)

  • Standard processing: 8–13 weeks
  • Peak season (Jan–Apr): 13–16 weeks

In many cases, we can retrieve your ITIN number within ~2.5 months, although the official IRS letter (CP565) may arrive 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 – ITIN from Romania

Q1. Can I apply for an ITIN from Romania?

Yes. With House of Bookkeepers as your IRS CAA, you can apply directly from Romania. No need to send your passport to the U.S.

Q2. Does Romania have a tax treaty with the U.S.?

Yes. The U.S.-Romania tax treaty reduces withholding on dividends, interest, and royalties. You’ll need an ITIN to claim these benefits via Form W-8BEN.

Q3. How will I know if my ITIN is approved?

You’ll receive IRS Letter CP565 once your ITIN is assigned. We notify you as soon as it’s issued.

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 (Romanian) address.

  • A U.S. residential or mail forwarding address can ensure faster delivery
  • Alternatively, we can receive the letter at our address and send you a scanned copy (not recommended)

Q5. How will you verify my identity?

We’ll request a selfie holding your passport’s photo page, ensuring secure and compliant verification before submission

Apply with Confidence

House of Bookkeepers, ensures to make your ITIN applications for Romania-based professionals simple, accurate, and fully IRS-compliant.

📍 IRS-Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA) – Romania Service

🌍 Website: https://www.houseofbookkeepers.com

Start your ITIN application today and benefit from U.S.-Romania treaty advantages, faster payments, and complete IRS compliance.