ITIN: what it is and what you can actually do with it.
An ITIN is the 9-digit number the IRS issues to people who have to file U.S. taxes but don’t qualify for a Social Security number — a spouse, a dependent, an international student, a foreign investor, or anyone earning income here. This page covers what it lets you do, what it doesn’t, and how it gets issued. If you’d rather not handle it alone, we file and renew ITINs in Austin as an IRS Certified Acceptance Agent.
With an ITIN you can…
- File your taxes every year.
- Open a bank account.
- Form an LLC in Texas.
- Start building a credit history.
What is an ITIN, and what is it for?
An ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) is a 9-digit identification number issued by the IRS, formatted 9XX-XX-XXXX. It exists so that anyone with a U.S. tax obligation can file taxes and comply with the law, whether or not they have a Social Security number.
If you work for yourself, you have income in the U.S., or you’re the spouse or dependent of someone who files, the IRS needs a number to identify you on that return. That number is your ITIN.
An ITIN is a tax number, not an immigration document. It doesn’t authorize you to work in the U.S. — that comes from USCIS — and it doesn’t replace a Social Security number for employment or federal benefits. Its purpose is tax compliance, and everything else it opens up (a bank account, an LLC, a credit file) follows from having a number the system recognizes.
| What it is | A 9-digit tax ID issued by the IRS, formatted 9XX-XX-XXXX |
|---|---|
| Who issues it | The IRS (not the SSA, not USCIS) |
| Who it’s for | Anyone with a U.S. tax obligation who doesn’t qualify for an SSN |
| What it does | Lets you file taxes, and from there open a bank account, form an LLC and build credit |
| What it does not do | It doesn’t authorize work, it isn’t an immigration status, and it doesn’t qualify you for Social Security or Medicare benefits |
An ITIN opens more doors than most people expect.
One number, and you’re inside the U.S. tax and financial system.
File your taxes
Federal and state returns, and the refund when you’re owed one — same as with an SSN.
Form an LLC
Texas doesn’t require a Social Security number to register a company. Your ITIN or your passport is enough.
Build credit
Select cards and lenders accept an ITIN instead of an SSN, and that’s where a credit history starts.
Open a bank account
Most U.S. banks accept an ITIN as your tax identification to open an account.
Qualify for a mortgage
Some lenders offer ITIN mortgages — and your filed tax returns are a central part of that file.
Insurance options
With an ITIN you can look at private plans and some programs available to your family.
What an ITIN doesn’t do: it doesn’t authorize you to work in the U.S. (that requires authorization from USCIS), it doesn’t qualify you for Social Security or Medicare benefits, and it doesn’t replace a visa or any immigration status.
Who can apply for an ITIN?
You don’t need a settled immigration status. If you have a U.S. tax obligation and you don’t qualify for a Social Security number, you can apply.
- People who need to file U.S. taxes and don’t qualify for an SSN.
- Spouses and dependents of someone with an ITIN or a visa.
- International students with U.S. income.
- Foreign investors with passive U.S. income.
- Workers without immigration status who earn money in the U.S.
How do you get an ITIN?
Three things go to the IRS. Our job is that they’re right the first time.
Form W-7
The official ITIN application, filled out without the errors that send it back.
Valid ID
Your passport is the cleanest option — it’s the document that moves fastest at the IRS.
Your tax return
In most cases the IRS processes your ITIN together with that year’s return.
We do this as an IRS Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA).
We verify your identity and certify your documents ourselves, so your passport never goes to the IRS — only our certification does. Come to our Austin office and it doesn’t leave your hands at all. Live in another state? It travels to us and ships back within 24 hours.
Does my ITIN expire?
Yes. If you don’t use it on a tax return for 3 consecutive years, your ITIN expires. The IRS also renews certain ITINs in groups based on their middle digits, even if you’ve been using yours.
Renewing before you file is what keeps a return from being delayed — an expired ITIN doesn’t stop you from filing, it stops the return from being processed on time.
ITIN vs. SSN — what’s the difference?
They’re not the same thing, and confusing them costs time or money.
| ITIN | SSN |
|---|---|
| For taxes and tax compliance | For legal employment and federal benefits |
| Anyone with a U.S. tax obligation | Citizens, residents and people authorized to work |
| Issued by the IRS | Issued by the SSA (Social Security Administration) |
| Doesn’t authorize work | Authorizes legal employment |
What your ITIN connects to.
How the ITIN fits into each thing we do.
Frequently asked questions about the ITIN.
The ones that come in over the phone and across the desk — answered without the jargon.
Is it legal to have an ITIN?
Can I apply on my own, or do I need an agent?
How long does the IRS take to issue an ITIN?
How much does it cost to get an ITIN?
Can my spouse and my children get an ITIN?
Does an ITIN work for a Texas driver’s license?
Does the IRS share my information with immigration?
What happens to my ITIN if I get an SSN later?
Does an ITIN qualify me for Obamacare?
Apply for your ITIN with a Certified Acceptance Agent.
Without mailing your passport anywhere. Tell us your situation and you get a straight read on it, the price in writing, and a plan built for your case. The consultation is free.
