What is the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)

The Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a tax-processing number issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to ensure that people—including undocumented immigrants—pay taxes even if they do not have a Social Security number and regardless of their immigration status.

ITINs allow the IRS to bring in billions of dollars the federal government otherwise would have no way of collecting. This fact sheet explains what ITINs are, who has them, and the purposes for which they are used.

What is an ITIN?

• It was created for tax purposes. The ITIN was created by the IRS in July 1996 to allow foreign nationals and other individuals who are not eligible for a Social Security number (SSN) to comply with U.S. tax laws.
• ITINs are not SSNs The ITIN is a nine-digit number that always begins with the number 9 and has a 7 or 8 in the fourth digit; for example, 9XX-7X-XXXX.
• Many immigrants have ITINs. People who do not have a lawful status in the United States may obtain an ITIN. In addition, the following people are lawfully in the country and must pay taxes, but may not be eligible for a SSN and may obtain an ITIN:
  • A non-resident foreign national who owns or invests in a U.S. business and receives taxable income from that U.S. business, but lives in another country.
  • A foreign national student who qualifies as a resident of the United States (based on days present in the United States).
  • A dependent or spouse of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
• A dependent or spouse of a foreign national on a temporary visa.

ITINs do not provide legal status or work authorization.

• An ITIN does not provide legal immigration status and cannot be used to prove legal presence in the United States.
• An ITIN does not provide work authorization and cannot be used to prove work authorization on an I-9 form.

ITIN holders pay taxes.

• ITINs let more people pay into the system, which builds the tax base. According to the IRS, in 2015, 4.4 million people paid $23.6 billion in total taxes using an ITIN.
• ITIN holders are not eligible for all of the tax benefits and public benefits that U.S. citizens and other taxpayers can receive. For example, an ITIN holder is not eligible for Social Security benefits or the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). However, if that person becomes eligible for Social Security in the future (for example, by becoming a lawful permanent resident), the earnings reported with an ITIN may be counted toward the amount he or she is eligible to receive.
• Some ITIN holders are eligible for the Child Tax Credit (CTC) . According to federal legislation passed in December 2017, the CTC may be worth as much as $2,000 per qualifying child, depending upon the applicant’s income. Because ITIN holders are eligible for the CTC, over 4 million U.S.-citizen children benefit from the tax credit; however, if a child does not have a SSN, he or she is not eligible for the tax credit.
• Under the provisions of the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, signed into law on March 27, 2020, ITIN holders are not eligible to receive stimulus payments, even if they filed their 2019 federal tax returns. Individuals who file joint returns must provide valid Social Security numbers for both spouses in order to qualify for stimulus payments, unless one spouse is in the Armed Forces.

What other purposes can an ITIN serve?

• Opening an interest-bearing bank account. Individuals who do not have a SNN but do have an ITIN can open interest-bearing accounts.
• Securing a driver’s license. Some states have allowed the ITIN to be used instead of a SSN in order to receive a driver’s license, driver’s permit, or state identification card.
• Providing proof of residency. At some point in the future, an immigrant may need to prove how long he or she has been in the United States and having a tax return filed using an ITIN is one way to show that.

Is the ITIN a way for the government to track undocumented immigrants?

• The ITIN is not an immigration-enforcement tool. The application process is designed to facilitate tax payment, and the fact that the IRS does not share applicants’ private information with immigration enforcement agencies is key to tax compliance.
• Taxpayer privacy is an important cornerstone of the U.S. tax system. Because applicants provide the IRS with a great amount of personal information, privacy is critical to the success of the program. Section 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code states that the IRS is not authorized to release taxpayer information to other government agencies except for providing information to the Treasury Department for investigations that pertain to tax administration, or under a court order related to a non-tax criminal investigation. Expanding information-sharing beyond this would require a new law—an issue that arises often during legislative debates.

How does one apply for an ITIN?

• Applicants must fill out a W-7 application form and submit it to the IRS along with a completed tax return. Individuals do not need to apply in person. When the application is approved, ITINs are sent to applicants through the mail.
• Applicants are required to submit original documents verifying identity and “foreign status.” The IRS has issued a list of 13 documents that will be accepted for this purpose. Those documents will be returned to the applicant within 60 days of receipt and processing of the W-7 form.
• There are IRS Acceptance Agents and Taxpayer Assistance Centers available to help persons apply.

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