The Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a tax processing number issued by the Internal Revenue Service 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. ITINs are issued regardless of immigration status because both resident and nonresident aliens may have U.S. tax obligations under the Internal Revenue Code.
An ITIN lets people pay taxes and interact with parts of the financial system even when they cannot get a Social Security number. When officials treat ITIN use as suspicious by itself, they risk punishing tax compliance rather than wrongdoing.
People often think an ITIN gives someone lawful immigration status or work authorization. It does not. It is a tax-processing number, not an immigration document.
An ITIN lets people pay taxes and interact with parts of the financial system even when they cannot get a Social Security number. When officials treat ITIN use as suspicious by itself, they risk punishing tax compliance rather than wrongdoing.
People often think an ITIN gives someone lawful immigration status or work authorization. It does not. It is a tax-processing number, not an immigration document.