How do I get an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number ITIN?

itin number form

They are shared across multiple governmental departments (including Immigration and Customs Enforcement). The discussion of allowable tax benefits has been expanded. power and utility entities revenue recognition task force For more information see Allowable Tax Benefits in the Instructions for Form W-7 PDF.

Why ITINs are important

  1. IRS issues ITINs to help individuals comply with the U.S. tax laws, and to provide a means to efficiently process and account for tax returns and payments for those not eligible for Social Security numbers.
  2. They are shared across multiple governmental departments (including Immigration and Customs Enforcement).
  3. Her work has been featured in Business Insider, Money Under 30, Best Life, GOBankingRates, and Shopify.
  4. Be sure to take a selfie for sentimental purposes (optional step).
  5. As a rule, you can’t submit your W-7 package without attaching it to a tax return.

We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. You don’t need to have your ITIN to submit a tax extension. Simply write “ITIN TO BE REQUESTED” in the tax ID box. If you need more time to file, though, you can always submit a tax extension giving you six additional months to file.

Bring it to your local IRS office, or use an acceptance agent (colleges, financial institutions, or accounting firms that are authorized by the IRS to assist applicants in obtaining ITINs). They’ll review the W-7 and documentation before sending it to the IRS. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to individuals who are required for U.S. federal tax purposes to have a U.S. taxpayer identification number but who do not have and are not eligible to get a Social Security number (SSN). The above article is intended to provide generalized financial information designed to educate a broad segment of the public; it does not give personalized tax, investment, legal, or other business and professional advice.

Who doesn’t need an ITIN

itin number form

You can file Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), with your federal income tax return. You must also include original documentation or certified copies from the issuing agency to prove identity and foreign status. IRS issues ITINs to help individuals comply with the U.S. tax laws, and to provide a means to efficiently process and account for tax returns and payments for those not eligible for Social Security numbers.

The IRS issues ITINs to individuals who are required to have a U.S. taxpayer identification number but who do not have, and are not eligible to obtain, a Social Security number (SSN) from the Social Security Administration (SSA). ITIN holders must verify their identity through the video chat process and will need a valid email address, proof of ITIN, one primary document and one secondary document. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. If neither option supplies an answer, you might have to resubmit your application and tax return.

Best Tax Software: November 2024

You must have a PTIN if you, for compensation, prepare all or substantially all of any federal tax return or claim for refund. To obtain an ITIN, you must complete IRS Form W-7, IRS Application for Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. The Form W-7 requires documentation substantiating foreign/alien status and true identity for each individual. You may either mail the documentation, along with the Form W-7, to the address shown in the Form W-7 Instructions, present it at IRS walk-in offices, or process your application through an Acceptance Agent authorized by the IRS. Form W-7(SP), Solicitud de Número de Identificación Personal del Contribuyente del Servicio de Impuestos Internos is available for use by Spanish speakers. An ITIN may be assigned to an alien dependent from Canada or Mexico if that dependent qualifies a taxpayer for a child or dependent care credit (claimed on Form 2441).

Credits & Deductions

You can use an ITIN to prove you live somewhere or get a driver’s license. But when it comes to loans, it’s not widely accepted in place of an SSN. Only a Social Security Number qualifies you to receive Social Security and other government benefits. For citizens (and some eligible residents or foreign nationals), that number is their Social Security Number — often assigned at birth.