What Is an ITIN Number?

An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a tax processing number issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It is a nine-digit number that begins with the number “9” and is formatted like this: XX-XXXXXXX.

An ITIN is assigned 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).

Examples of individuals who may need an ITIN include: nonresident aliens, U.S. citizens or residents who file tax returns only as dependents on someone else's return, certain types of foreign nationals working in the United States, and spouses and dependents of deceased