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Answered August 2026

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.

Fewer than 14 business daysstill early

Allow the IRS manual’s minimum 14-business-day period from the notice date. This is a minimum, not a guaranteed delivery date.

At least 14 business days—or date unknowncall now

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.

Address changed or was wrongfix address

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.

Read the full explanation

Watch out for

Fourteen business days is only a minimumThe IRS employee manual says to allow a minimum of 14 business days from the notice date when the address is correct; it does not promise delivery by day 14.
The seven-week rule is a different clockThe IRS public page gives 7 weeks for application-status notification, or 9–11 weeks for applications made during January 15–April 30 or from overseas. That is the overall application-status window, not an extra seven weeks after the notice was mailed.
Confirm the address before reissueFor a missing , the IRS manual tells the employee to verify the address of record and reissue the notice. Give both the address used on Form W-7 and your current address during the call.

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

Your assigned ITIN
The month the IRS gave you: July 2026
Any notes from your earlier IRS call

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

Information needed to authenticate your identity
The mailing address used on Form W-7
Your current mailing address
Your assigned ITIN

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

The reissue or notice date given by the representative
The confirmed mailing address

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

Your assigned ITIN
Your correct legal name

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

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.

Read the full text

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

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.

Read the full text

IRS ITIN page

The IRS tells a person with a missing CP565 to contact it and provides the domestic and overseas numbers.

 IRS ITIN page

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)

Read the full text

IRS ITIN page

This establishes the overall application-status notification window and its two exceptions.

 IRS ITIN page

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.

Read the full text

IRS Notice CP565

CP565 confirms assignment; the ITIN can be used for federal tax filings and the notice itself requires no response.

 IRS Notice CP565

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.

Read the full text

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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