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Tax Preparation · Taxes with ITIN

Taxes with an ITIN: file your return without a Social Security number

You’re far from alone: in 2022, close to 3.8 million returns nationwide included an ITIN (National Taxpayer Advocate, IRS). It’s legal, it meets your tax obligation, and in many cases money comes back to you. We walk you through it — whether you already hold an ITIN or need one for the first time.

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Leo, Right Step’s expert in tax preparation for ITIN filers in Austin, TX

What your free consultation covers

  • Whether your ITIN is active or needs renewing.
  • Exactly which documents apply to your case.
  • A refund estimate before you commit to anything.
  • Price and scope in writing — no surprises.
Step by step

How filing taxes with an ITIN works

An ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) is issued by the IRS to people who work or have income in the U.S. but don’t qualify for a Social Security number. It exists for filing taxes — it doesn’t authorize employment, but the IRS issues it to anyone who needs to meet their tax obligations. Learn more about the ITIN here.

Filing with an ITIN applies to you if any of these sound familiar:

  • You work and earn money in the U.S., whatever your immigration status.
  • You’re the spouse or dependent of someone on a work visa.
  • You’re a foreign investor with U.S. income.
  • You’re an international student with income.
  • You hold an ITIN from years back that needs renewing.
1

Free consultation

We review your full situation, at no cost.

2

We check your ITIN

We confirm whether it’s active or needs renewal.

3

We file it if needed

New ITIN or renewal — we handle it with you, as Certified Acceptance Agents.

4

We prepare your return

Claiming every legal deduction you’re entitled to.

Your money, without the fear

Your refund arrives even without a Social Security number

With an ITIN you can qualify for the standard deduction and, if you work for yourself, for the same self-employment deductions as any other taxpayer. Dependents on an ITIN filer’s return qualify for the Credit for Other Dependents — up to $500 each. The only way to know your exact refund is to run the numbers: we estimate it for free on your first consultation.

“If I file taxes, immigration will come after me.”What the law says: Internal Revenue Code §6103 requires the IRS to keep your return information confidential, and the IRS does not routinely share it with USCIS. The law itself allows only narrow exceptions, such as a court order.
“Paying taxes means admitting I’m here illegally.”False. The IRS doesn’t ask your immigration status. The ITIN exists precisely because the system recognizes that many people without an SSN owe taxes.
“I’ve never filed — better not to start now.”The opposite. Every return is a record that you met your tax obligation, and that history is among the documents banks ask for most when you apply for a mortgage or a loan.
Before your appointment

What to have ready

With this we can get started. Missing something? We sort it out together on the free consultation.

  • Your current ITIN (the IRS letter) or, if you don’t have one yet, valid identification — ideally your passport.
  • Your W-2, 1099 or any record of the year’s income.
  • Receipts for deductible expenses: office rent, equipment, mileage and the like.
  • Bank information for direct deposit of your refund.
  • If you have dependents with ITINs, their documents too.
Frequently asked

Taxes-with-ITIN questions, answered

Is it legal to file taxes with an ITIN?
Completely. The IRS created the ITIN precisely so people without a Social Security number can meet their tax obligations. And your return information is confidential by law: Internal Revenue Code §6103 requires the IRS to protect it, and the IRS does not routinely share it with USCIS — apart from the narrow exceptions the law itself allows, such as a court order.
Can my ITIN expire? How do I renew it?
Yes. An ITIN expires if it goes unused on a tax return for three consecutive years, or if the IRS flagged it for renewal by issue date. On your free consultation we check whether yours is still active and, if it needs renewing, we file the renewal together with your return so your refund doesn’t wait. See how ITIN renewal works.
Can I claim my children on my taxes with an ITIN?
Yes — as the Credit for Other Dependents, worth up to $500 per qualifying dependent. When the filer has an ITIN, dependents fall under that credit rather than the full Child Tax Credit. We review your whole case to make sure you claim every credit you’re entitled to.
What deductions can I take with an ITIN?
The same ones as any other taxpayer: the standard deduction, and if you’re self-employed, your real work expenses — mileage, tools, phone, home office. Holding an ITIN instead of an SSN does not limit the deductions you’re entitled to.
Can you do my taxes if I live in another state?
Yes. We prepare federal returns for ITIN clients in any state — the whole process runs over WhatsApp, video calls and a secure document portal. You don’t need to be in Austin to work with us. And if you still need the ITIN itself, we handle that by mail too.
How much do you charge for taxes with an ITIN?
It depends on your situation: a simple W-2 is not the same as a return with self-employment income or an ITIN application attached. That’s why we don’t publish a generic rate that won’t match your case. On your free consultation we review your documents and give you an exact price in writing, before you decide to work with us.

Need the ITIN itself first? See how to get your ITIN, how to renew it, or how it works entirely by mail from any state.

File your taxes with your ITIN — done right

Free consultation, price in writing, and if your ITIN needs applying for or renewing, we handle that in the same engagement as Certified Acceptance Agents.

Book a free consultation