Allow at least 14 business days from the date; if that time has passed—or you do not know the exact July date—call the IRS now to verify your address and have the notice reissued.
“How long does it take for the physical ITIN letter to arrive? I called and got my number, and they said the ITIN was sent in July 2026, but I haven't received the letter yet.”
Summary
The IRS has already assigned your ITIN, so the missing paper is a delivery problem rather than an unfinished application. The IRS says you may use the assigned ITIN for federal tax returns or tax-reporting documents, and the notice itself requires no response.
Your next move depends on how many business days have passed since the IRS notice date and whether the IRS has your correct address.
Allow the IRS manual’s minimum 14-business-day period from the notice date. This is a minimum, not a guaranteed delivery date.
Call the IRS about the missing . The IRS manual directs employees to verify your address and reissue the notice when it was never received or was lost.
Tell the representative both the old address used on Form W-7 and your current address. The IRS manual requires address verification before the notice is reissued.
The separate application-status window is normally 7 weeks, or 9–11 weeks during January 15–April 30 or for applications from overseas.
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Watch out for
Next steps
These steps confirm whether the letter is overdue and start an official reissue if needed.
First
Confirm the exact notice date
Use the date recorded in the IRS system as the notice date. The IRS manual says to allow a minimum of 14 business days from that date when the address is correct; if you do not know the exact date, move directly to the call in step 2.
Requirements
If 14 business days passed—or the date is unknown
Call the IRS and request reissue
From the United States, call 800-829-1040 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. local time. From abroad, call 267-941-1000; it is not toll-free. Say that your ITIN was assigned, the CP565 was mailed in July 2026 but never arrived, and ask the representative to verify the address of record and reissue the notice; that is the procedure in IRS Manual 3.21.263.8.3.1.
Requirements
After reissue
Count 14 business days from the new notice date
Write down the new notice date and allow at least 14 business days for receipt. If it still does not arrive after that minimum, call the same number again because the IRS public guidance says to contact it when the mailed CP565 cannot be found.
Requirements
You do not need the paper first
Use your ITIN while you wait
You may use the assigned ITIN to file federal tax returns or tax-reporting documents. IRS CP565 guidance says the assignment notice itself does not require a response.
Requirements
Legal sources
This answer is based on the IRS ITIN pages, Notice CP565 guidance, and Internal Revenue Manual 3.21.263.
IRM 3.21.263.8.3.1
IRS employees are instructed to check the address and reissue a missing ITIN assignment notice.
IRM 3.21.263.8.3.1
Verify the correct address of record with the applicant and reissue the notice; see IRM 3.21.263.9.4.3.
IRM 3.21.263.8.3.1
The post-notice receipt guidance is at least 14 business days when the address is correct.
IRM 3.21.263.8.3.1
Applicant should allow a minimum of 14 business days from the ITIN RTS notice date for receipt if the address is correct.
IRS ITIN page
The IRS tells a person with a missing CP565 to contact it and provides the domestic and overseas numbers.
If you lost your ITIN assignment notice; Contact us
If you can't find the CP565 Notice we mailed with your assigned ITIN, contact us. Individuals (U.S.) 800-829-1040 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time Individuals (abroad) 267-941-1000 (not toll-free)
IRS ITIN page
This establishes the overall application-status notification window and its two exceptions.
After you apply
Allow 7 weeks for us to notify you about your ITIN application status. It can take 9-11 weeks if it's tax season (January 15 to April 30) or if you applied from overseas. If you don't receive a notice from us within this timeframe, contact us.
IRS Notice CP565
CP565 confirms assignment; the ITIN can be used for federal tax filings and the notice itself requires no response.
What you need to do
We gave you an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). Use your ITIN to file federal tax returns or tax reporting documents. It’s not necessary for you to respond to the notice, so no further action is required.
These are the official IRS rules as published on the cited dates; rules can change.
This is general information about official processes, not legal advice, and SettleKit is not a law firm.
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