What is an ITIN?

For business owners that have incorporated or are planning to incorporate a US company, they would need to have their own US tax processing number issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for the purposes of federal tax reporting and complying with the tax laws. One of the tax types that the IRS issues out to individuals is the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).

An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is issued by the IRS to people who:

1. Do not have an SSN and are not eligible to get one, and
2. Have a requirement to furnish a federal tax identification number or file a federal tax return, and
3. Are in one of the following categories:
   • Nonresident alien who is required to file a U.S. tax return
   • U.S. resident alien who is (based on days present in the United States) filing a U.S. tax return
   • Dependent or spouse of a U.S. citizen/resident alien
   • Dependent or spouse of a nonresident alien visa holder
   • Nonresident alien claiming a tax treaty benefit
   • Nonresident alien student, professor or researcher filing a U.S. tax return or claiming an exception