Article 01 · 6 min read
Why the CAA role exists
A Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA) is authorized by the IRS to help individuals obtain an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) and — critically — to authenticate approved identity documents on the IRS’s behalf. That authority is what allows an applicant to keep their original passport in hand rather than mailing it to a processing center for months.
The problem local verification solves
For many families, a passport is not just a travel document; it is their primary proof of identity for work, banking, and daily life. Being asked to surrender it during the ITIN process creates real hardship and real risk. A trained CAA reviews the document in person, certifies its authenticity, and submits a compliant package — removing the need to part with the original.
What the IRS expects of a CAA
The IRS holds CAAs to a high standard: suitability checks, mandatory training, a signed Acceptance Agent agreement, and ongoing oversight. A CAA must conduct a genuine, documented review of each applicant’s identity documents and maintain audit-ready records. This is a compliance role first — the forensic skill exists to make that compliance credible and defensible.
Raising the standard in 2026
As document fraud grows more sophisticated, the difference between a rubber-stamp review and a forensic one matters more than ever. The goal of Nexus training is to make every certification you sign something you could confidently defend in front of the IRS — protecting your practice, your clients, and the integrity of the program.