Can an illegal immigrant get an ITIN number?
The IRS created the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) program in 1996 to provide a way for foreign nationals to pay taxes on money earned in the United States. But what about people who are not in the country lawfully? Even if you didn’t enter the country through legal means, you’re still required to report earnings and pay your fair share, and the way you do that is by filling out an ITIN application.
The ITIN Application Process
You may be wondering “what do I need to get an ITIN number,” and the first thing is a completed W-7 form. Once you’ve filled it out, submit it to the IRS, along with a completed tax return and an original, valid passport or a certified copy provided by a certified issuing agency. If you don’t have a current passport, you’ll need to verify your identity and foreign status with a combination of two originals from this list of documents required for ITIN:
- Visa issued by the United States Department of State
- United States driver’s license
- Foreign military identification card
- United States military identification card
- Foreign driver’s license
- State-issued identification
- Foreign voter’s registration card
- Civil birth certificate
- National identification card
- United States Citizenship & Immigration Services photo ID
You’ll get your documents back within 60 days, once your W-7 has been processed. What an ITIN Is and Isn’t Your ITIN exists solely to give you an identification number for tax purposes, but some states allow it to be used instead of a Social Security Number when applying for a driver’s license. You can also use it when opening an interest-bearing bank account and provide proof of residency. The ITIN does not provide work authorization or legal immigration status, although it isn’t used to enforce immigration laws. If you need help determining your ITIN status or you’re having difficulty with the W-7 form instructions, trust the experts at ITIN W-7 Application to help you through the entire process.
