If you’re a Spanish freelancer, Amazon seller, investor, or business owner earning money from the United States, you might need an ITIN. U.S. Individual Taxpayer Identification Number issued by the IRS.

Thanks to the U.S.-Spain Tax Treaty, Spanish residents can benefit from lower or even zero withholding taxes on dividends, royalties, and interest. Having an ITIN allows you to claim these benefits and get paid smoothly on platforms like Stripe, Payoneer, Amazon, AdSense, Fiverr, and Upwork.

House of Bookkeepers is an IRS-Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA), we help applicants from Spain 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 Spanish residents who want to legally receive payments from U.S. platforms such as Stripe, Upwork, Fiverr, Amazon KDP, Amazon Seller Central, Google AdSense, Etsy, Payoneer, and more require U.S tax return.

Why Spanish Residents Need an ITIN

If you’re a Spain-based freelancer, creator, remote worker, business owner, or investor earning U.S.-sourced income, having an ITIN helps you:

  • Submit Form W-8BEN to claim U.S.-Spain 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, and Amazon
  • File U.S. tax returns (Form 1040-NR) if required
  • Build long-term tax compliance for U.S.-related business operations

Who in Spain 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

Italian 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.-Spain 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 – Spain

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

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

 

US-Spain Tax Treaty Benefits

Income Type Default Rate Treaty Rate
Dividends 30% 15%
Interest 30% 0–10%
Royalties 30% 5–15%

To use treaty benefits, you need:

  • A valid ITIN
  • A correctly filled W-8BEN (for individuals) or Form 8233 (for researchers/educators)

 

How to Apply for an ITIN from Spain in 2026

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Valid U.S. tax reasons for Spain 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 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 Spanish Applicants

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 Spanish residents married to U.S. citizens or green card holders 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 (Stripe, Payoneer, Amazon), U.S. banking compliance, and LLC filings.
  • Always verify your specific situation with a tax professional, especially for FIRPTA, scholarships, and LLC ownership.

 

Step 2: Complete Form W-7

  • Official IRS ITIN application form
  • Accuracy is critical and even minor errors can delay or reject applications

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 remains in Spain. No need to mail 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: 8–13 weeks
  • Peak season (Jan–Apr): 13–16 weeks


Our CAA team usually retrieves your ITIN number within about 2.5 months, while the official IRS Letter CP565 may take a little longer to arrive by mail.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Incomplete or incorrect W-7 entries
  • Using uncertified passport copies (if not via CAA)
  • Forgetting to attach required tax return
  • Mailing originals via unreliable couriers
  • Assuming ITIN equals work authorization

 

Quick FAQs – ITIN from Spain

Q1. Can I apply for an ITIN from Spain?

Yes. With House of Bookkeepers as your IRS CAA, you can apply directly from Spain. No passport mailing required.

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

Yes. The U.S.-Spain tax treaty reduces withholding on dividends, interest, and royalties. An ITIN is required 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?

No. The IRS can send your ITIN letter to your Spanish address. A U.S. forwarding address can speed delivery, but we can also handle scanning safely.

Q5. How will you verify my identity?

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

 

Apply with Confidence

House of Bookkeepers makes ITIN applications for Spain-based professionals simple, accurate, and fully IRS-compliant.

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

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