New group of Individual Tax Identification Numbers expiring

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Jan. 25, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For 2018, H&R Block (NYSE:HRB) is offering free ITIN application renewals with the IRS for close to a million taxpayers who have an expiring individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). Taxpayers are eligible when they file a federal tax return(This year, as a result of the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act enacted in December 2015, a new group of ITINs have expired.  For those who have not used their ITIN on a tax return for the last three years (2014, 2015, and 2016) or their ITIN has the middle digits of 70, 71, 72 or 80, then it has expired as of the end of 2017.

H&R Block Free ITIN

Those interested in renewing their ITIN number with H&R Block should do so immediately as the process involves multiple forms of identification, a paper application and up to 14 weeks for processing. It is also needed to file a tax return, due less than 12 weeks from now and if someone is owed a tax refund, he/she does not want to miss it. The average IRS tax refund is about $2,700.

“Taxpayers who aren’t eligible for a Social Security number and still need to file a tax return do so with an ITIN. It enables them to meet their filing and reporting requirements, and get the refunds to which they’re entitled. It also helps individuals build a history of tax compliance to prove residency, open a bank account, or in some states, receive a driver’s license,” said Kathy Pickering, executive director and vice president of The Tax Institute at H&R Block.

H&R Block can help with the 2018 ITIN renewal process. H&R Block has approximately 18,000 bilingual tax professionals and client service professionals as well as more than 2,000 Certified Acceptance Agents (CAA) located across the country that can help with every step of ITIN renewal. CAAs undergo specialized training and are approved by the IRS to assist with the ITIN process. At H&R Block, CAAs can help by preparing the ITIN application, verifying supporting documents and then submitting the ITIN application to the IRS. Because a CAA can verify the supporting documents, the applicant does not need to send their original identification documents to the IRS.

Taxpayers can make an appointment online or call 1-800-HRBLOCK.

About H&R Block
H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE:HRB) is a global consumer tax services provider. Tax return preparation services are provided by professional tax preparers in approximately 12,000 company-owned and franchise retail tax offices worldwide, and through H&R Block tax software products for the DIY consumer. H&R Block also offers adjacent Tax Plus products and services. In fiscal 2017, H&R Block had annual revenues of over $3 billion with 23 million tax returns prepared worldwide. For more information, visit the H&R Block Newsroom.

H&R Block does not provide immigration services. CAAs are not available at every location.

For Further Information

Susan Waldron, 816-854-5522, susan.waldron@hrblock.com

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