If you are a Mexican citizen earning income from U.S. sources, investing in U.S. property, or planning to file taxes jointly with a U.S. spouse, you may need an ITIN number issued by the IRS.

The good news: Mexico has a tax treaty with the U.S., which means an ITIN can help you reduce withholding taxes and claim treaty benefits.

At House of Bookkeepers, an IRS-Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA), we help applicants in Mexico obtain their ITIN letters securely and efficiently, without mailing passports to the U.S.

What Is an ITIN?

An ITIN is a nine-digit tax processing number (format: 9XX-XX-XXXX) given by the IRS to individuals who:

  • Need to file or report U.S. taxes

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

Who Commonly Needs an ITIN?

  • Nonresident aliens earning U.S.-sourced income

  • Property investors selling U.S. real estate under FIRPTA

  • Spouses and dependents of U.S. taxpayers

  • Mexican students or researchers receiving U.S. scholarships

  • Freelancers, contractors, and Amazon sellers paid by U.S. clients or platforms

Who in Mexico Should Apply for an ITIN?

Here are common cases for Mexican citizens:

  • Freelancers and Digital Workers
    If you earn through Upwork, Fiverr, Amazon, PayPal, Stripe, or AdSense, your payments may face 30% default withholding. An ITIN allows you to file a tax return and reclaim excess tax.

  • Property Investors
    Selling or renting U.S. real estate triggers FIRPTA withholding (15% of the gross sale price). An ITIN is required to file taxes and request a refund if the withholding exceeds your actual tax liability.

  • Filing Jointly with a U.S. Spouse
    If your spouse is a U.S. taxpayer, you’ll need an ITIN to be included on their return and to claim family-related benefits.

  • Investors in U.S. Stocks or Companies
    Thanks to the U.S.–Mexico tax treaty, dividends and royalties may be taxed at reduced rates. An ITIN ensures you can file properly and access these savings.

  • Responsible Party of a U.S. LLC
    If you own a U.S. LLC, you may need an ITIN to manage tax obligations. Required documents often include your Articles of Organization, Operating Agreement, and IRS EIN Confirmation Letter (CP 575 Notice).

Benefits of Having an ITIN

  • File U.S. tax returns legally

  • Claim refunds for overpaid withholding taxes

  • Access reduced rates under the U.S.–Mexico tax treaty

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

  • Comply with FIRPTA for property sales

  • Build credibility with U.S. banks, payment processors, and institutions (when paired with EIN/LLC)

 

US-Mexico Tax Treaty Benefits

The US–Mexico tax treaty provides significant tax savings for Mexican residents. Instead of the flat 30% withholding tax normally applied to foreign individuals, treaty benefits can reduce rates.

Here are some common treaty provisions:

  • Dividends:

    • Standard withholding: 30%

    • Treaty rate: 10% or 15%, depending on ownership percentage in the U.S. company

  • Interest:

    • Standard withholding: 30%

    • Treaty rate: Often reduced to 10% (sometimes exempt for government bonds or bank interest)

  • Royalties:

    • Standard withholding: 30%

    • Treaty rate: Reduced to 10% for certain intellectual property royalties

  • Students & Researchers:

    • Scholarship or fellowship income may be exempt for a limited time under the treaty, provided the student maintains Mexican residency.

👉 To claim these treaty benefits, you need:

  • An ITIN (to include on forms and tax returns)

  • The correct IRS form (such as Form W-8BEN or Form 8233) submitted to the U.S. payer

 

Step-by-Step: How to Apply for an ITIN from Mexico in 2025

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Valid U.S. tax reason such as:

  • Filing a U.S. return

  • Claiming treaty benefits via W-8BEN

  • U.S. rental/sale income

  • Filing jointly with U.S. spouse

Note:

If you only need to submit W-8BEN for withholding relief, you may qualify under a treaty 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, real estate, or other U.S. income b – Nonresident alien filing U.S. tax return ✅ Yes (attach Form 1040-NR)
Claiming tax treaty benefits via W-8BEN Avoiding U.S. withholding on platforms like Amazon, AdSense, Payoneer, Stripe, Upwork a + h – Treaty benefit exception ❌ No (treaty exception category)
U.S. rental or sale (FIRPTA) Property rental income or claiming refund on FIRPTA withholding b (if filing return) OR a + h (if claiming treaty exception) Depends
Filing jointly with a U.S. spouse Foreign spouse joining U.S. tax return e – Spouse of U.S. citizen/resident ✅ Yes (joint U.S. tax return)

Step 2: Complete Form W-7

The official IRS application form for an ITIN. Accuracy is essential to avoid rejections.

Step 3: Gather Required Documents

  • Valid passport (scan copy works if applying through a CAA; otherwise, IRS needs original or certified copy)

  • US Visa or Border Crossing Card (if you have one you must submit)

  • U.S. federal tax return (Form 1040 or 1040-NR), unless an exception applies

  • Supporting documents (U.S. income statement, property sale contracts, or scholarship letters)

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

With House of Bookkeepers, you don’t need to mail your original passport to the IRS. As a CAA, we verify your documents locally in Mexico and submit your application directly.

ITIN Processing Timeline in 2025

  • Standard processing: 8–13 weeks

  • Busy season (Jan–Apr): up to 13–16 weeks

  • We can often retrieve your ITIN number within ~2.5 months by contacting the IRS directly

    • Note: The official ITIN letter (CP565) will still take the full processing time to arrive by mail

 

Why Use House of Bookkeepers (IRS CAA)?

  • ✅ Passport stays safe — verified locally in Mexico

  • ✅ Higher approval success rates, fewer rejections

  • ✅ End-to-end service: W-7 form, COA, tax return, and submission

  • ✅ Official IRS authorization (listed CAA)

  • ✅ Real-time updates until your ITIN approval letter (CP565) arrives

  • ✅ 100% Money-Back Guarantee if rejected due to our process error

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting incomplete or inaccurate Form W-7 (e.g., missing reason codes)

  • Using uncertified passport copies without a CAA

  • Forgetting to attach a tax return (unless exempt)

  • Mailing sensitive documents via unreliable couriers

  • Believing ITIN = U.S. immigration or work rights (it does not)

 

Quick FAQs – ITIN from Mexico

Q1. Can I apply for an ITIN from Mexico?
Yes. With House of Bookkeepers as your IRS CAA, you don’t need to travel or send your passport abroad.

Q2. Do I need an ITIN to invest in U.S. stocks?
Yes. It allows you to file taxes and access reduced rates under the U.S.–Mexico tax treaty.

Q3. How long does it take to get an ITIN?
8–13 weeks. The ITIN number can often be retrieved earlier (~2.5 months), but the letter CP565 still requires full processing time.

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 (non-U.S.) address as listed on your application. However, having a U.S. residential address or a reliable mail forwarding service is beneficial, as it can help ensure faster and more secure delivery of your IRS correspondence.

Alternatively, we can also receive the letter at our address and send you a scanned copy by email.

Q5. How will you verify my identity?
As part of the IRS verification process, we’ll ask you to provide a selfie of yourself holding the passport’s information page. This simple step confirms that the passport belongs to you and helps us complete your identity verification securely.

Apply with Confidence

At House of Bookkeepers, we make ITIN applications safe and simple for Mexican applicants.

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

Start your ITIN application today, and enjoy the benefits of compliance, refunds, and treaty savings.