How Long Does It Take To Get An ITIN? What You Need To Know
Having an ITIN will make many aspects of financial life easier for new immigrants to the U.S. We’ll explain what an ITIN is, if you can get an ITIN without a tax return, how to apply for an ITIN without an SSN, and how long it takes to receive an ITIN.
What is an ITIN?
ITIN stands for Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. An ITIN is a tax-processing number issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to identify taxpayers, including undocumented immigrants.
And despite what some people believe, undocumented immigrants do indeed pay taxes. It’s estimated that about 6 million undocumented immigrants, 50% to 75% of them, pay billions in taxes each year and have since the IRS created a program more than 25 years ago that would allow them to do so without a Social Security number.
Despite that, these working people are not eligible to receive Social Security benefits despite having paid into the system just as their naturalized or native-born tax-paying counterparts have.
How to apply for an ITIN
An SSN is not required to apply for an ITIN; in fact, the ITIN was created so those without an SSN could file their taxes each year. An ITIN is not only a way for undocumented immigrants to file their taxes, but it can help to show “good moral character” and help your case if you plan to one day adjust your immigration status or are at risk of being deported.
AN ITIN will also help prove that you will not become a public charge because it demonstrates that you’ve been working in the U.S. and can support yourself.
People who fall into one of the categories below qualify for an ITIN:
Undocumented immigrants without legal status in the U.S.
Non-U.S. residents living outside the U.S. who receive income from holding investments or owning a business in the U.S.
International students who qualify as residents
Spouses and dependents of LPRs, U.S. citizens, or foreign nationals in the U.S. on a temporary visa
People who need an ITIN include:
Nonresident aliens required to file a U.S. tax return
U.S. resident alien filing a tax return
Spouse or dependent of a resident alien or U.S. citizen
Spouse or dependent of a nonresident alien visa holder
Nonresident alien claiming a tax treaty benefit
Nonresident alien professor, student, or researcher filing a U.S. tax return or claiming an exemption
These are the steps to apply for an ITIN, and there is no fee:
Fill out a W-7 application form and submit it to the IRS along with a completed tax return
Submit documentation verifying identity and foreign status*
Once the IRS approves the application, the ITIN will be sent to the applicant through the mail
If an applicant obtains an ITIN but doesn’t include it on their federal tax return for three years in a row, the ITIN will expire and have to be revalidated.
*The following documents can be used to verify identity and foreign status:
Passport
USCIS photo ID
Visa issued by the U.S. State Department
U.S. driver’s license
U.S. military ID card
Foreign driver’s license
Foreign military ID card
National ID cards (must include name, photo, address, DOB, and expiration date
U.S. state ID card
Foreign voter registration card
Civil birth certificate
Medical records (only valid for dependents under the age of 6)
School records (only valid for student dependents under the age of 18)
You can apply for an ITIN without filing a tax return if you meet the criteria for one of the exemptions.
ITIN processing time
It generally takes between 7 and 11 weeks for the IRS to process and send the applicant their ITIN, but as with a lot of federal agencies, there may be a backlog due to the pandemic, and the wait could be longer.
Upwardli can help
Like the ITIN, Upwardli was created to help immigrants navigate the U.S. financial system! Upwardli has dozens of resources to help teach you everything from how credit scores work to how to build credit when you have a thin credit file. Think of Upwardli as your roadmap to U.S. personal finance!
