CP565 Notice: Your ITIN Assignment Letter Explained

What Does a CP565 Notice Look Like?

The CP565 is a short letter on IRS letterhead. The IRS summarizes it in one line: “We gave you an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN).” These are the parts to check when it arrives:

• Notice number and date:“CP565” and the notice date appear in the upper-right corner. The notice date matters because the IRS returns your original documents within 60 days of it.
• Name and mailing address: as entered on Form W-7. The IRS asks you to confirm that the name and date of birth it has on record are right.
• Your ITIN: a 9-digit number that starts with 9, in the format 9XX-XX-XXXX. See the ITIN number format guide for what the digits mean.
• Contact details: a toll-free number for US callers, plus 267-941-1000 (not toll-free) for callers outside the US.

You don't need to reply to a CP565. If anything on it is wrong, call the number printed on the notice.

Is a CP565 Notice a Valid, Unexpired ID?

No. A CP565 proves your ITIN, but it isn't photo identification. When a bank asks for a “valid, unexpired” ID, it means a passport, national ID card or driver's license. Bring that together with your CP565.

The CP565 answers a different question: it shows which taxpayer identification number belongs to you. The photo ID shows that you are the person named on it.

Is the CP565 Notice the Same as an ITIN Card?

The IRS does not issue an ITIN card. The CP565 letter is the official document that shows your ITIN. Anything sold online as a plastic “ITIN card” is not an IRS document, and banks will not accept it in place of the letter.

An ITIN is a tax-processing number only. It doesn't prove immigration status or authorize work, which is another reason the IRS sends a letter rather than an identity card.

What Should You Do If You Lost Your CP565 Notice?

The IRS does not reissue the CP565. Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 (or +1-267-941-1000 from outside the US) to have your ITIN confirmed. Have your full name, date of birth and mailing address ready, exactly as they appeared on your Form W-7.

• Check your own records first. Your ITIN is on any federal tax return you filed with it, and on 1099 or 1042-S forms issued to you.
• Never received it at all? The IRS says to allow 7 weeks after applying, or 9 to 11 weeks during tax season (January 15 to April 30) or if you applied from abroad. Past that, call the same numbers.
• Expired ITIN? A confirmed number that has expired must be renewed with Form W-7 before you file. See the ITIN renewal page.

The full recovery walkthrough is on the lost ITIN page.

What Should You Do After You Receive Your CP565 Notice?

1. Check the details. Confirm your name and date of birth are right, and that the ITIN has 9 digits starting with 9.
2. Store the original safely. Keep it with your passport and other identity documents.
3. Make a copy. Many institutions accept a clear scan or photo, but the original paper letter is the authoritative proof. Store the original somewhere safe and keep at least one digital backup.
4. Watch for your documents.If you mailed an original passport or certified copies, the IRS returns them within 60 days of the notice date. Call the number on your notice if they don't arrive.
5. Use the ITIN on your next federal return.The CP565 itself does not expire. The ITIN it assigns expires if you don't use it on a federal tax return for 3 consecutive tax years. It expires on December 31 of the third year.
6. Switch if you get an SSN. The IRS asks you to tell it if you later receive a Social Security number, and to file with the SSN from then on. See ITIN to SSN.

Expiration rules in detail are on the ITIN expiration guide.

How Do You Use a CP565 Notice to Open Accounts?

Banks and brokers that accept an ITIN usually ask for three things: the CP565 (or the ITIN written on the application), an unexpired photo ID such as a passport, and proof of address. Bring the original letter to a branch appointment and expect the bank to keep a copy.

• Ready to open a bank account with an ITIN? Start with the banks that accept it.
• Want to invest? See how to open a brokerage account with an ITIN.
• Building credit next? Compare the credit cards that accept an ITIN.

How Is the CP565 Notice Different From CP566 and CP567?

All three are IRS notices about a Form W-7, but they mean different things.

• CP565: your ITIN was assigned.
• CP566: your application was suspended for missing or insufficient documents or incorrect information. You have 45 days from the notice date to respond.
• CP567:your application was rejected, for example because you didn't meet the eligibility rules or didn't answer a CP566 in time. You must reapply with a new Form W-7.

Rejection reasons and fixes are on the ITIN rejection guide. Waiting on a decision? Check the ITIN processing time.