How to Find a Certifying Acceptance Agent Near You (2026)

Where Does the IRS Publish the Certifying Acceptance Agent Directory in 2026?

The IRS hosts the Acceptance Agent Public Directory on irs.gov at irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/acceptance-agent-program. The directory is the only authoritative list. Third-party sites republish the data but often lag the IRS update cycle by several months.

Each directory entry contains: agent name, business name, mailing address, country and state, authorization status (AA or CAA), and authorization expiration date. For background on the program, see IRS Acceptance Agent Program.

How Do You Search the IRS Directory for a CAA in 2026?

1. Open the directoryon irs.gov. The page lists countries alphabetically; US states are nested under “United States.”
2. Select the country or state nearest the applicant. The IRS does not offer ZIP-code-radius search; choose the broadest reasonable region.
3. Filter for CAA entries.Look at the “Status” column; entries marked CAA hold certification authority. Entries marked AA cannot verify documents.
4. Verify the authorization expiration date. Authorizations renew every 4 years. Avoid agents within 60 days of expiration to prevent mid-application authority lapse.
5. Contact the agent directly. Confirm pricing, turnaround, and rejection policy before mailing or scheduling.

What Should You Verify Before Hiring a Certifying Acceptance Agent?

5 verification items cover credential, authority, and service quality.

• Active IRS authorization. Authorization number on file with the IRS; expiration date at least 6 months out.
• Professional credential. CPA, Enrolled Agent (EA), or attorney; the IRS requires one of these for CAA eligibility.
• Forensic-document training certificate. IRS-approved 12-hour course required for CAA designation.
• Written fee disclosure. Flat fee or itemized cost, refund policy, and rejection-handling terms.
• Acceptance Agent agreement on file. Form 13551 with IRS Stakeholder Partnerships, Education, and Communication (SPEC) office.

How Do CAAs Work With Applicants Outside the United States?

CAAs verify documents under IRS Publication 4520, which permits remote verification for non-US applicants. The standard workflow uses a secure courier shipment for original documents plus a video call for biometric verification. The CAA inspects the original passport, completes Form W-7 (COA), and returns the original to the applicant before mailing the packet to the IRS. The applicant's passport never reaches the IRS Austin office.

For the procedural overview of how a CAA submission compares with other channels, see the parent CAA overview and the CAA vs Regular AA comparison.

What Red Flags Indicate a CAA to Avoid?

• Refusal to share IRS authorization number. Legitimate CAAs share their number on request.
• Guarantee of ITIN approval. No CAA can guarantee IRS approval; the IRS controls the decision. Money-back guarantees on the service fee are fine; ITIN-issuance guarantees are red flags.
• Demand for payment in cryptocurrency or wire to a personal account. Professional CAAs operate through business accounts.
• Promises of significantly faster IRS processing. CAA submissions follow standard 7-11 week IRS timelines. Faster promises imply expedited processing the IRS does not offer.
• No physical office or business address. The IRS directory requires a verifiable address; agents without one are not properly listed.