The Internal Revenue Service issues ITINs to foreign nationals who need taxpayer identification but aren’t eligible for a Social Security number. An ITIN won’t change your immigration status or make you eligible for Social Security benefits, but it will make applying for a credit card possible. You can file via Form W-7 with your federal tax return during tax season between January and April or any time you have a reporting requirement.
Individuals must have a filing requirement and file a valid federal income tax return to receive an ITIN unless they meet an exception. ITINs are issued regardless of whether you’re an illegal immigrant or not an illegal immigrant because both resident and nonresident aliens may have a U.S. filing or reporting requirement under the Internal Revenue Code. To apply for an ITIN, fill out the application, which you can find on the IRS website. You can mail in the application, or bring it to an IRS-approved acceptance agent or an IRS taxpayer assistance center, located in cities across the United States. You’ll need to include proof of identity and foreign status; a passport or visa satisfies both. After you submit your application, you’ll receive a letter from the IRS within six weeks containing your ITIN.
- Foreign credit doesn’t transfer to the United States, so you’ll need to start building credit from scratch.
- Once you receive your ITIN, the IRS requires you to revalidate it every five years.
- To prevent delays, make sure you’ve provided the correct information and sent all the required supporting documentation.
- To get Form SS-5 or to find out if you are eligible to obtain an SSN, go to Social Security Administration or contact an SSA office.
Outside of using original documentation, the only other option you have is to use certified copies. A certified copy requires you to go to where the original document was obtained and get them to get a copy for you. A certified document is one that the original issuing agency provides and certifies as an exact copy of the original document and contains an official stamped seal from the Agency. A CAA must have completed a course for fraud document recognition, have completed an IRS training program, know the tax laws and regulations for the ITIN application process and be accepted into the CAA program by the IRS.
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You can fill out an application form for an ITIN for you, your spouse, and your dependents when you prepare your tax return with us. The Taxpayer Advocate Service is an independent organization within the IRS that helps taxpayers and protects taxpayers’ rights. If you qualify for our assistance, which is always free, we will do everything possible to help you. You will need to complete Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security CardPDF.
If you receive this notice for yourself, a dependent, or a spouse, it is best to start the renewal process. If you receive the notice after you already submitted your renewal documents, then ignore it. If the circumstances have changed and you now qualify to obtain a Social Security Number, you should get that instead of an ITIN. If you do not apply at the same time as your immigrant visa, you will need to bring your approval notices and petition along with your immigration status and work authorization to a Social Security office in the U.S. The IRS clarifies that you need either an ITIN or an SSN to get the Child Tax Credit.
- Before proceeding further with the renewal process, knowing how to apply for the ITIN number makes sense.
- This is also relevant for NRIs in India who earn income in the US and need to file taxes there.
- No action is needed by ITIN holders who don’t need to file a tax return next year.
- To receive your Individual Tax Identification Number, you need to apply for it.
- • Anyone who needs to file a tax return and doesn’t have a Social Security number needs to obtain an Individual Tax Identification Number, or ITIN.
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To begin the process, you will need to complete an IRS form W-7 and include the required paperwork – documents that are used to prove your identity and foreign or alien status. Those submitting ITIN applications need to demonstrate a federal tax reporting or filing requirement when submitting their W-7. All extensions for filing must include payment of the estimated tax owed. Before proceeding further with the renewal process, knowing how to apply for the ITIN number makes sense. Normally, an ITIN application is accompanied by a federal income tax return form. 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).
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As previously mentioned, you need to file Form W-7 to apply for your ITIN. You can apply for your ITIN number at the same time you file federal taxes with the IRS. If you choose to do so, you would complete your U.S. tax return and attach your W-7 along with the other documents and send it to the IRS. The Individual Tax Identification Number, or ITIN, allows taxpayers who don’t have a Social Security Number (SSN) to file income tax returns. Unlike other forms of ID, ITINs only have one purpose—tax filing and reporting.
File taxes and claim benefits.
No action is needed by ITIN holders who don’t need to file a tax return next year. IRS issues ITIN 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). The IRS no longer issues cards with your new ITIN number when they accept your ITIN number application. They will now send you an official IRS ITIN Letter in the mail to you or both you and your agent if you are using one. It’s necessary to have an ITIN for your child if they don’t qualify for an SSN because you need this number to claim them as a dependent on your tax return.
Why Do I need an ITIN Number?
Certified Acceptance Agents are individuals specifically authorized by the IRS to review original documents and certify copies of the same. This service is critical to taxpayers who are legitimately concerned about sending original documents to the IRS (such as a passport) that may get lost. ITINs that have not been used on a federal tax return at least once in the last three years will no longer be valid for use on a tax return unless renewed by the taxpayer.
At USAIndiaCFO, we specialize in providing financial and legal services to assist Indian ventures with their US expansion. As a Certified Acceptance Agent of the IRS in India and the US, we have over 8 years of experience in the field and have successfully obtained more than 2500 ITINs for our clients. We understand the importance of obtaining an ITIN number in India for NRIs who earn income in the US and need to file taxes there. Our team has the expertise and experience to guide clients through the ITIN application process smoothly and efficiently. To renew your ITIN, you must complete an IRS Form W-7 and submit the required documentation, per the form’s instructions.
You can ONLY find your ITIN number on your official IRS ITIN Card/Letter that was issued to you from the IRS when you initially applied for an ITIN. IRS processes return showing SSNs or ITINs in the blanks where tax forms request SSNs. If you have an application for an SSN pending, do not file Form W-7. Complete Form W-7 only if the Social Security Administration (SSA) notifies you that an SSN cannot be issued. With an ITIN number, you can also open a U.S. bank account and apply for a mortgage loan.
Some advocates report problems with leaving the foreign address section blank even when they check that the taxpayer is a U.S. resident. If the taxpayer is in the United States, a U.S. address in box 2, and the name of the foreign city and country is sufficient for the foreign address. The foreign address is only used for applicants who reside outside of the U.S., such as dependents. This number is merely used as a label so the federal government can identify you and allow you to file taxes. This number serves no other purposes and can’t be used for much else. Technically, your Individual Tax Identification Number is pretty similar to an SSN.
Information on filing tax returns using an ITIN is available for tax professionals. Although an ITIN/SSN mismatch is created when electronically filing tax returns reporting wages for ITIN holders, programming changes allow acceptance of these returns. Additional information on this and other reminders for tax professionals is available on the ITIN Reminders for Tax Professionals page. Getting an ITIN does not change your immigration status or your right to work in the United States. Let’s say you’re working and earning money in the United States, but you don’t qualify for a Social Security Number (SSN). An ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, type of Tax ID or Taxpayer ID) will serve as your identification number for filing your tax returns.
At a minimum, you should complete Form W-7 when you are ready to file your federal income tax return by the return’s prescribed due date. If the tax return you attach to Form W-7 is filed after the return’s due date, you may owe interest and/or penalties. Tax professionals play an essential role for taxpayers and the nation’s tax system. There are many types of tax return preparers, including certified public accountants, enrolled agents, attorneys and many others who don’t have a professional credential. Preparers should be skilled in tax preparation and accurately filing income tax returns.
