If you’re a Dominican freelancer, Amazon seller, investor, or business owner earning from U.S. sources, you may need an ITIN Number from the IRS to stay compliant, receive full payments, and claim potential refunds.

While the United States and the Dominican Republic do not have an income tax treaty, having an ITIN is still essential. It allows you to file U.S. tax returns, reclaim over-withheld tax, and avoid unnecessary delays with global platforms like Stripe, Payoneer, Amazon, AdSense, Upwork, and Fiverr.

House of Bookkeepers is an IRS-Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA), we help applicants from Italy obtain their ITINs securely and remotely, without mailing passports to the United States.

What Is an ITIN?

An ITIN is a nine-digit number (format: 9XX-XX-XXXX) issued by the 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. visa or work permit

  • Not immigration status

  • Not a substitute for SSN

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

Why Dominicans Need an ITIN

Many Dominican professionals and entrepreneurs rely on U.S. clients and payment processors. Without an ITIN, U.S. payers must withhold 30% of your income for tax.

Having an ITIN helps you:

  • Submit Form W-8BEN to confirm foreign status and avoid excess withholding
  • Receive full payments through Stripe, Payoneer, Upwork, Amazon, Etsy, or AdSense
  • File a U.S. return (Form 1040-NR) to claim refunds on overpaid tax
  • Open or verify U.S. business bank accounts
  • Stay compliant with the IRS and digital platforms

 

Who in the Dominican Republic Commonly Needs an ITIN

  • Freelancers, Digital Creators & Remote Workers

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

    • File a W-8BEN form and reduce withholding

    • Receive faster, verified payments

    • File Form 1040-NR for tax compliance or refunds

  • Amazon & E-Commerce Sellers

Dominican sellers using Amazon FBA, Shopify, or Stripe Atlas can use an ITIN to:

    • Complete their W-8BEN or W-9 tax forms

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

    • Manage tax filings for U.S. LLCs or partnerships

  • Property Investors

If you sell or rent U.S. real estate, FIRPTA (Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act) requires withholding 15% of the sale price.
An ITIN allows you to file Form 1040-NR and claim refunds on any over-withheld amount.

  • 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 return and qualify for spousal credits.

  • LLC Owners or Business Managers

If you manage or own a U.S. LLC, you’ll need an ITIN to handle IRS filings.
Required documents typically 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 avoid penalties
✔ Claim refunds for overpaid or withheld taxes
✔ Reclaim FIRPTA withholding on U.S. property
✔ Be listed on a spouse’s or dependent’s tax return
✔ Build credibility for your U.S. business or LLC
✔ Connect with global processors like Stripe and Payoneer
✔ Avoid 30% default withholding on digital income

How to Apply for an ITIN from the Dominican Republic in 2025

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

You must have a valid U.S. tax purpose, such as:

  • 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
  • Managing or owning a U.S. LLC
  • Receiving U.S.-sourced scholarships, grants, or fellowship payments
  • Being required to provide a tax ID to a U.S. withholding agent, bank, or digital platform (e.g., Stripe, Amazon, Payoneer, AdSense, etc.)

💡 Note:
If you only need to file W-8BEN for platform withholding or reporting compliance, you may qualify under an exception and might not need to attach a full U.S. return.

ITIN Eligibility Scenarios for Dominican 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. tax 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 reporting
Bank or financial compliance U.S. banks, brokers, or payment processors require a U.S. tax ID for KYC or FATCA reporting h – Exception 1(d) ❌ No (exception category)
Refund claim for excess withholding Requesting refund on U.S. source income (e.g., 1042-S or 1099-MISC) b – Nonresident alien filing a U.S. return ✅ Yes (attach Form 1040-NR)

🟢 Exception 1(d) remains valid even though the Dominican Republic has no tax treaty.
It covers third-party withholding and platform reporting (Stripe, Payoneer, etc.), U.S. banks, and LLC filings.

 

Step 2: Complete Form W-7

This is the official IRS application form. Accuracy is critical and even small errors can delay or reject your filing.

Step 3: Gather Required Documents

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

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

  • Supporting documents, e.g., W-8BEN, income statements, property contracts, or scholarship letters

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

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

Why Choose House of Bookkeepers (IRS CAA)?

✅ Passport stays safe – verified locally
✅ Higher approval rate, fewer rejections
✅ End-to-end help: W-7, COA, and submission
✅ Official IRS-listed CAA
✅ Real-time tracking until your ITIN approval letter (CP565)
✅ 100% Money-Back Guarantee if rejection occurs due to our error

ITIN Processing Timeline in 2025

  • Standard processing: 8-13 weeks

  • Peak season (Jan-Apr): 13-16 weeks
    Our CAA team often retrieves your ITIN number within ≈ 2.5 months, even before the official letter arrives.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

🚫 Incomplete or inaccurate W-7
🚫 Uncertified passport copies (if not via CAA)
🚫 Forgetting to attach return (if required)
🚫 Mailing originals via unreliable courier
🚫 Assuming ITIN provides work or immigration rights

Quick FAQs – ITIN from the Dominican Republic

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

Q2. Does the Dominican Republic have a tax treaty with the U.S.?
No. There is no tax treaty, so you cannot claim treaty benefits (a + h).
However, Exception 1(d) still applies for third-party withholding (e.g., Stripe, Amazon, Payoneer).

Q3. How will I know if my ITIN is approved?
The IRS issues Letter CP565 once your ITIN is assigned. If you don’t receive it within 13 weeks, contact us — we’ll check and update you immediately.

Q4. Do I need a U.S. address?
A U.S. address is not mandatory. The IRS can send your ITIN letter to your foreign (Dominican) address.
However, using a U.S. mail forwarding service can speed up delivery.
Alternatively, we can receive it at our address and email you a scanned copy (not recommended though).

Q5. How will you verify my identity?
You’ll be asked to provide a selfie holding your passport’s information page for a quick and secured step to verify your identity.

Apply with Confidence

At House of Bookkeepers, we make ITIN applications simple, secure, and fully IRS-compliant for Dominican professionals and investors.

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

Start your ITIN application today — and unlock the benefits of faster payments, refunds, and seamless IRS compliance.