My Individual
Taxpayer Identification Number From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An Individual Taxpayer
Identification Number (or ITIN) is a United States tax processing number
issued by the Internal Revenue Service.
It is a nine-digit number that begins with the number 9 and has a 7 or 8
in the fourth digit, example 9xx-7x-xxxx or 9xx-8x-xxxx. The IRS issues
ITINs to individuals who are required to have a 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 Federal tax return and payment
responsibilities under the Internal Revenue Code. Individuals must have
a filing requirement and file a valid federal income tax return to
receive an ITIN, unless they meet an exception.
In 2006 1.4 million people used ITIN when filing taxes. Federal tax law
prohibits the IRS from sharing data with other government agencies
including the INS, ensuring illegal immigrants that the tax information
will be confidential and not be used to deport them.
