Can a regular Acceptance Agent keep my passport in my hands?

No. A regular Acceptance Agent has no IRS authority to certify document authenticity. The applicant must mail original passports to the IRS ITIN Operation in Austin, Texas. Only a Certifying Acceptance Agent can verify the passport locally and submit a Form W-7 packet without forwarding the original.

Which is more expensive: CAA or regular Acceptance Agent?

CAA service typically costs $150 to $400 because document verification is performed in person. Regular Acceptance Agent service is cheaper, often $50 to $150, but does not include document verification, which means applicants face shipping fees and passport risk separately.

Do both CAA and AA submit Form W-7 to the IRS?

Yes. Both can complete and submit Form W-7. The difference is what travels with the packet. A CAA submits a packet with a Certificate of Accuracy (Form W-7 (COA)) attesting that documents have been verified. A regular AA submits a packet that must still include the applicant's original identity documents.

Is the IRS phasing out the regular Acceptance Agent role?

The IRS reduced new AA enrollments in 2022 and now favors the CAA designation because it eliminates document-shipping risk and reduces ITIN rejection rates. Existing AAs continue to operate, but the IRS recommends working with a CAA whenever the applicant has access to one.

Updated June 24, 2026

CAA vs Regular Acceptance Agent: Key Differences (2026)

What Are CAA and Regular Acceptance Agent in the IRS Program?

The IRS Acceptance Agent Program was established under IRS Publication 4520 to extend the agency's ITIN intake capacity. The program created 2 tiers of authorized intermediaries: regular Acceptance Agents and Certifying Acceptance Agents. Both work under an IRS agreement renewed every 4 years and both can complete Form W-7. The authority gap is what they can do with identity documents.

See the parent overview on the Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA) page and the program details on the IRS Acceptance Agent Program page.

What Are the Key Differences Between a CAA and a Regular Acceptance Agent?

Capability	Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA)	Regular Acceptance Agent (AA)
Verify original documents	Yes	No
Issue Certificate of Accuracy (COA)	Yes	No
Complete and submit Form W-7	Yes	Yes
Forensic training required	Yes (IRS-approved course)	No
Applicant ships original passport to IRS	No	Yes
Typical service fee	$150-$400	$50-$150

Why Does the Document-Verification Authority Matter?

The IRS requires original identity documents or issuer-certified copies when verifying an ITIN application. Notarized copies are rejected. That rule creates 3 problems for applicants working without a CAA.

Passport absence. Originals stay with the IRS for 60 to 65 days. International travel, visa renewals, and identity verification at banks are blocked during that window.
Document-loss risk. Mail loss has consequences that cost weeks of recovery. Embassies issue replacement passports but the IRS application restarts from zero.
Higher rejection rates. Self-mailed packets have a higher rejection rate because document quality, signature completeness, and reason-code accuracy are not pre-checked.

A CAA eliminates all 3 risks by verifying documents on-site.

When Should an Applicant Use a Regular Acceptance Agent?

A regular Acceptance Agent fits a narrow set of cases. The applicant must be willing to ship the original passport, the cost saving must offset the shipping risk, and no CAA must be reasonably accessible.

Applicant inside the US who can hand-deliver documents and prefers a low-cost form-completion assistant.
Applicant who already holds a second passport and can spare the primary passport for 60-65 days.
Applicant with an extremely simple filing case (single primary applicant, no dependents) where the form is easy enough that the certification scrutiny adds little value.

When Should an Applicant Use a Certifying Acceptance Agent?

A CAA is the default for almost every ITIN applicant outside the US. The verification authority means the applicant keeps the passport in hand and the packet is pre-checked before reaching the IRS.

Non-US applicants who cannot ship passports.
Applicants on active visa status (F-1, H-4, B-2) who need to travel during the 60-day window.
Families filing multi-applicant packets (primary + spouse + dependents); CAAs handle each linked applicant.
Foreign LLC owners filing Form 5472 who need an ITIN by a specific compliance deadline.

How Do You Find a CAA Instead of a Regular Acceptance Agent?

The IRS publishes a public directory of all authorized Acceptance Agents on irs.gov. The directory marks which agents hold CAA status. Filtering for CAA is the fastest way to find a verifier within a chosen country or region.

Full search walkthrough and what to verify before engaging an agent lives on the find a CAA guide.

Frequently Asked Questions About CAA vs Acceptance Agent

A Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA) is authorized by the IRS to verify the authenticity of original identity documents on behalf of the applicant. A regular Acceptance Agent (AA) can help complete Form W-7 but cannot verify documents; the applicant must still mail originals to the IRS. This single authority line is the practical difference.

Need a CAA who keeps your passport in your hands? Apply with a Certifying Acceptance Agent — $297 flat, ready in 7 days.