Apostille for IRS Documents — What You Can and Cannot Do

This guide explains:

Which IRS documents are apostillable
Which ones are not — and why
What to ask the IRS for
What foreign authorities actually expect
And what real clients are asking us

IRS Documents That Can Be Apostilled

Only a few official IRS letters are eligible for apostille through the U.S. Department of State. The most common are:

1. Form 147C — EIN Verification Letter

Proves your EIN officially
Often required to open foreign bank accounts or register businesses overseas
Must be mailed to you by IRS — no printouts or PDFs accepted

If you’re specifically trying to apostille an EIN certificate, make sure you’re working with the correct document — IRS Form 147C.

2. Form 6166 — U.S. Tax Residency Certification

Used to claim tax treaty benefits abroad
Common for American expats and companies with foreign income
Must be requested via IRS Form 8802
Processing by IRS takes 4–6 weeks, so plan ahead

3. IRS Letters of Tax Compliance or Rulings (rare)

In some cases, IRS issues formal letters or determinations with official signature and seal
These can qualify if they meet the authentication criteria

What You CANNOT Apostille from the IRS

The following cannot be apostilled, no matter what:

Tax returns (Form 1040, 1120, 1065)
W-2, 1099, 940, 941
Form 1165 (not a recognized apostillable form)
Anything downloaded or printed from IRS website
IRS letters without signature or seal

🔹 Real client question: “Can you apostille Form 1165 for a non-U.S. resident multi-member LLC?”
Answer: No. Form 1165 is not a valid document for apostille. For LLC registration abroad, the correct document is Form 147C (EIN letter), issued by IRS.

What Foreign Banks, Registries, and Tax Offices Really Want

They typically ask for:

✅ Proof of EIN — request Form 147C
✅ Proof of tax residency — request Form 6166

Don’t send tax returns or downloaded PDFs — they won’t be accepted internationally.

What People Actually Ask Us

Here are real examples from client emails:

“Can this IRS document be apostilled, and what do I need to submit with it?”
“If this document can’t be apostilled, do you know how to apostille an EIN certificate?”

➡️ We always guide clients toward the correct request — usually Form 147C or Form 6166.

Real Case Example: EIN Apostille for Foreign Bank

One of our clients needed to open a business bank account in Spain. They submitted a scanned EIN letter, but the bank rejected it. We helped them request an official Form 147C from the IRS, processed the apostille in Washington, D.C., and shipped the certified document abroad — accepted without delay.

Most Common IRS Apostille Requests

Document	Purpose Abroad	Apostillable?
Form 147C (EIN)	Business registration, bank account	✅ Yes
Form 6166 (Residency)	Tax treaty benefits	✅ Yes
1040 / Tax Return	Personal tax record	❌ No
Form 1165	Informational filing (not valid)	❌ No
1099 / W-2 / 941	Income reports / payroll	❌ No

How to Avoid Common IRS Apostille Mistakes

Don’t submit downloaded or printed PDFs — they are not accepted internationally.
Confirm your IRS letter has an official seal or signature.
Be sure the receiving country is part of the Hague Apostille Convention — requirements differ.

Not Sure If Your IRS Document Qualifies?

It’s okay — many people send us the wrong thing. Just upload a scan or photo. We’ll check it and tell you if:

It’s apostillable
It needs to be reordered from the IRS
Or if there’s a better alternative

Get Your IRS Apostille Started

We specialize in apostille IRS documents that are valid for international use. Whether you’re forming a company abroad or filing for tax relief under treaty law, we’ll make sure your paperwork is done right.

✅ Apostille service for Form 147C and Form 6166
✅ Serving all 50 states
✅ Apostilles accepted in 100+ countries
✅ Multilingual support: English, Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian.