freelance gig and itin in the u.s.

Hello,

I am a Canadian citizen, and was hired by a US university to come and lecture for a few days (3). They also got the J visa for me to enter the country.

I was told to fill in an ITIN form (I don't have a US social insurance number), which I did when when I visited the finance office at the university. I also filled in some info on a Glacier site. My accountant said I just need to sign a W8-BEN, but the university didn't agree.

When I finished my stint, I went back to Canada, handed back the I-94 form at the border.

Shortly afterward, I received a cheque in the mail. They paid me my fee ($1000) for the work, no taxes were deducted.

About ten weeks later I received a note from the IRS saying that the forms were missing some information, and the file was closed. I called the IRS and was again told the file was closed.

The university is bugging me to refile. Or do nothing.

I will file the income on my Canadian income tax forms. But it seems odd to be filing with the IRS for a mere $1000.

I need some advice. How should I proceed?

Many thanks.
a

There is nothing to file in US. You are fine.

But the university is still insisting that I reapply for the ITIN number.
Is this really necessary?

No. They don't seem to understand that ITINs are only issued, except in rare cases, at the time you file a return.