As a French freelancer, Amazon seller, investor, or business owner earning income from the United States, you may need an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) issued by the IRS.

The U.S.-France Tax Treaty offers French residents valuable tax benefits, including reduced or zero U.S. withholding tax on dividends, royalties, and interest. However, to claim these treaty benefits or to receive payments smoothly from platforms like Stripe, Payoneer, Amazon, AdSense, Fiverr, or Upwork you must have a valid ITIN.

House of Bookkeepers is an IRS-Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA),we help people in France to obtain their ITIN securely and remotely, without sending their passports to the United States.

 

What Is an ITIN?

An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a 9-digit tax number (format: 9XX-XX-XXXX) issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to individuals who must 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 replacement for an SSN
  • Not authorization to work in the U.S.

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

 

Why French Freelancers and Business Owners Need an ITIN

If you are based in France and earn U.S.-source income, an ITIN allows you to:

  • Submit Form W-8BEN to claim U.S.–France tax treaty benefits
  • Reduce or eliminate the default 30% U.S. withholding tax
  • Avoid payment holds or account verification issues
  • Receive faster payouts from Stripe, Payoneer, and Amazon
  • File U.S. tax returns (Form 1040-NR) when required
  • Maintain long-term IRS compliance for U.S.-related business activities

Who in France Commonly Needs an ITIN

Freelancers & Digital Professionals

Designers, developers, consultants, writers, and content creators in France earning income through platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, Google AdSense, Amazon KDP, or Payoneer often need an ITIN to:

  • Submit Form W-8BEN and claim reduced withholding under the U.S.-France tax treaty

  • Prevent payment holds or account verification issues

  • File Form 1040-NR for U.S. tax compliance or to claim refunds

Amazon & E-Commerce Sellers

French sellers using Amazon FBA, Shopify, Stripe, or U.S.-based payment processors may require an ITIN to:

  • Correctly complete W-8BEN or W-9 forms

  • Avoid the default 30% U.S. withholding tax

  • Handle U.S. tax filings for marketplaces or U.S.-registered LLCs

Property Investors

If you rent out or sell U.S. real estate, the FIRPTA (Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act) mandates a 15% withholding on the gross sale price.

An ITIN allows you to:

  • File Form 1040-NR

  • Claim a refund on excess FIRPTA withholding

Filing Jointly with a U.S. Spouse

If your spouse is a U.S. citizen or green card holder, you will need an ITIN to:

  • File a joint U.S. tax return

  • Access family-related tax benefits and credits

LLC Owners & Entrepreneurs

If you own or manage a U.S. LLC from France, an ITIN is often required for IRS and banking compliance.

Common supporting documents include:

  • Articles of Organization

  • IRS EIN Confirmation Letter (CP575)

  • Operating Agreement (mandatory for multi-member LLCs)

Benefits of Having an ITIN from France

  • File U.S. tax returns legally and confidently

  • Avoid or reduce 30% U.S. withholding tax

  • Claim refunds on overpaid U.S. taxes

  • Apply U.S.-France tax treaty benefits

  • Reclaim FIRPTA withholding on property sales

  • Open and maintain U.S. business or payment accounts

  • Build long-term credibility for U.S.-based business operations

 

Tax Treaty Status for France

France has a tax treaty with the United States.

This allows French residents to benefit from lower or zero withholding tax on certain U.S.-source income.

Even when treaty benefits do not apply, French residents can obtain an ITIN for:

  • Platform reporting and withholding compliance
  • U.S. LLC or business tax filings
  • Banking, KYC, and FATCA requirements

Submitting Form W-8BEN with a valid ITIN ensures smooth payments and proper tax classification.

 

Income Type Default Rate Treaty Rate(Thailand)
Dividends 30% 15%(5% in specific cases)
Interest 30% 0%
Royalties 30% 0%

 

To claim treaty benefits, you need:

  • A valid ITIN
  • A properly completed Form W-8BEN
  • Form 8233 (for specific academic or research income)

How to Apply for an ITIN from France in 2026

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Common valid reasons include:

  • Filing a U.S. tax return (Form 1040-NR)
  • Claiming treaty benefits via W-8BEN
  • Owning or managing a U.S. LLC
  • U.S. rental or property sale (FIRPTA)
  • Filing jointly with a U.S. spouse
  • Financial or banking compliance (KYC / FATCA)

💡 Some applicants qualify under IRS exceptions and may not need to attach a tax return.

ITIN Eligibility Scenarios for French 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 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

  • Official IRS ITIN application form
  • Accuracy is critical — errors cause delays or rejection

 

Step 3: Gather Required Documents

  • Valid passport (scanned copy acceptable through a CAA)
  • U.S. tax return (if required)
  • Supporting documents (W-8BEN, income proof, LLC documents, etc.)

 

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

With House of Bookkeepers:

  • Passport stays in France
  • Identity verified locally
  • Certificate of Accuracy (COA) issued
  • Secure submission to the IRS

Why Choose House of Bookkeepers

  • IRS-Certified Acceptance Agent
  • No passport mailing to the U.S.
  • Higher approval rate
  • Full W-7 & IRS submission support
  • Real-time updates until CP565 approval letter
  • 100% Money-Back Guarantee (if rejected due to our error)

ITIN Processing Timeline (France 2026)

  • Standard: 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.

 

Quick FAQs – ITIN from France

Q1. Can I apply for an ITIN from France?

Yes. With House of Bookkeepers as your IRS-Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA), you can apply directly from France; there’s no need to send your passport to the U.S.

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

Yes. The U.S.-France tax treaty provides reduced withholding rates on dividends, interest, and royalties. You’ll need an ITIN to claim these benefits using Form W-8BEN.

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

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

Q4. Do I need a U.S. address?

A U.S. address is not required. The IRS can send your ITIN letter directly to your French address.

Having a U.S. residential or mail forwarding address may speed up delivery.

Alternatively, we can receive the letter at our office and provide a scanned copy (though this is not recommended).

Q5. How will you verify my identity?

We’ll ask for a selfie holding your passport’s photo page to ensure secure and fully compliant verification before submission.

 

Apply with Confidence

House of Bookkeepers, ensures your ITIN application process for France-based professionals simple, accurate, and fully IRS-compliant.

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

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

Start your ITIN application today and enjoy lower taxes, faster payouts, and stress-free U.S. compliance.