As an author published in the US I've had to procure a ITIN number from the IRS. Sounds simple enough right? Wrong! To tell you the truth it was more difficult than I imagined so I'm putting up on my website how I went about gaining an ITIN number (for those based in South Australia) that may be of use to others about to embark down this taxation road. So...here goes.
Download from the Department of Treasury - Internal Revenue Service the latest Instructions for Form W-7 along with the Application W-7 Form. Read through the instructions and fill out the W-7 Form as requested.
You'll need a lawyer who is registered with the IRS who can do a full range of notarial services required by a foreign jurisdiction. I used Connolly & Co. Level 2 Bertram House, 73 Grenfell Street, Adelaide, SA 5000. Ph 08 8223 7499. Here you'll need to take (as per W-7 instructions) ID to be notarised and binded by the lawyer. Connolly & Co will bind all your ID together along with a letter stating you are who you say you are so when you take it down to the Dept of Foreign affairs they'll only charge you the one off fee for all your notarised paperwork instead of charging you per notarised ID document. If you have a passport, this can be a stand alone document that can be notarised, but if you're like me and have a passport but an expired one, I had to use other means of ID. I photocopied my drivers license, marriage certificate, birth certificate, and my voters registration card. Make sure when you go in to have you ID's notarised that you've already done the leg work and photocopied all your ID and ensure you take the originals with you. This will save you time and money as lawyers charge a rate every 15 minutes. :o
Once all my ID was notarised and binded together, stamped and stamped with a seal you'll then need to take it down to the Department of Foreign Affairs. The Adelaide office is located 55 Currie Street, Adelaide SA 5000. Ph 08 8403 4899. The office for Authentications and Apostilles is located on level 5. Counter hours are from 8.30am - 1.00pm Monday to Friday. No appointment is necessary. Here the Dept of Foreign Affairs will have you fill out a form with your address and what you're requiring their services for. In this case you're after an Apostille to be attached to your notarised documents. The cost of returning the document by ordinary post is included in the fee but you can supply a self-addressed Registered or Express Post envelope if you want. You'll then be sent to a different counter where you can pay via visa, bank cheque or money order.
Within a couple of weeks you should receive in the mail your notarised and now Apostille stamped documents that are now ready to be posted to the US Department of Treasury - IRS. You can send your documents via Registered Post to.
Internal Revenue Service ITIN Operation PO Box 149342 Austin, TX 78714-9342
All up this cost me: $104.50 Lawyer Fee $80.00 Dept of Foreign Affairs $26.40 Registered Postage to the US - IRS $16.00 Car Parking in Adelaide
