What is an ITIN?

An ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) is a tax processing number used by the IRS. It is only available for certain nonresident and resident aliens, their spouses, and dependents who cannot get a Social Security Number (SSN). It is a 9-digit number, beginning with the number "9", formatted like an SSN (NNN-NN-NNNN).

The IRS issues ITINs to efficiently process and account for tax returns and payments for those not eligible for Social Security numbers. They are issued regardless of immigration status, because both resident and nonresident aliens may have a U.S. filing or reporting requirement under the Internal Revenue Code. ITINs do not serve any purpose other than federal tax reporting.

An ITIN does not:

• Authorize any individual to work in the U.S;
• Provide eligibility for Social Security benefits;
• Qualify a dependent for Earned Income Tax Credit Purposes.

Please note that ITINs may expire if left unused. For example, all ITINs that had not been used for federal tax returns in 2020, 2021, or 2022 expired at the end of 2023. You can find more information about ITIN expiration dates on the IRS website.

Once you have an ITIN, you can expedite your EIN application and complete it online. For that reason, we recommend getting your ITIN before applying for an EIN.