ITIN and EIN guide
No Social Security number is fine. An ITIN gets you into the U.S. tax system, an EIN gets your business its own tax number, and neither one needs an SSN. Here is how both work, straight from the IRS, explained by people in Pilsen who walk new founders through it every week.
The short answer
An ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) is a nine-digit number the IRS issues to people who need a U.S. tax number but cannot get a Social Security number. It always starts with 9. You apply on IRS Form W-7, usually attached to your federal tax return, and the IRS does not charge for it.
What it is
The IRS is clear that an ITIN is a tax processing number and nothing more. Knowing the limits up front saves a lot of confusion later.
Who needs one
You need an ITIN if you have a U.S. federal tax filing or reporting requirement and you do not have, and are not eligible for, a Social Security number. If you can get an SSN, the IRS says not to file Form W-7.
How to apply
Every person applying, including each family member, needs their own Form W-7. The form also comes in Spanish as Form W-7(SP).
If you are eligible for a Social Security number, apply for that instead. If the Social Security Administration has denied you, attach the denial letter to your W-7.
Check the box for your reason, write your name exactly as it appears on your documents, and sign. Spanish speakers can use Form W-7(SP).
Usually Form 1040 or 1040-NR, filed on paper with the W-7, with the SSN box left blank. Some applicants qualify for an exception, such as a bank that must report interest paid to you.
A valid passport works on its own. Without one, bring two documents from the IRS list, one with your photo. Originals or copies certified by the issuing agency only. Notarized copies are not accepted.
Mail it to the IRS in Austin, take it to an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center by appointment, or use a Certifying Acceptance Agent or a VITA site with ITIN services.
Notice CP565 means your ITIN was assigned. CP566 means the IRS needs more information. CP567 means it was rejected and you need to apply again.
Documents
The IRS accepts 13 documents. A passport is the only one that stands alone. Everything else is a combination of two, and at least one needs your photo.
| Document | Proves identity | Proves foreign status |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | Yes | Yes. Stands alone |
| USCIS photo identification | Yes | Yes |
| U.S. Department of State visa | Yes | Yes |
| National identification card | Yes | Yes |
| Foreign driver's license | Yes | No |
| U.S. driver's license or state ID | Yes | No |
| Foreign voter registration card | Yes | Yes |
| Foreign military ID card | Yes | Yes |
| U.S. military ID card | Yes | No |
| Civil birth certificate | Yes | Yes, if foreign. Required under 18 without a passport |
| Medical records (dependents under 6) | Yes | Yes, if foreign |
| School records (dependents who are students) | Yes | Yes, if foreign |
Where to apply
Mailing your passport to Texas is the step that worries people most. You do not have to. The in-person options review your W-7 and hand your documents back at the end of the appointment.
| Option | Cost | Checks your documents | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center | Free | Yes, all but dependents' school and medical records | By appointment at 844-545-5640. Chicago has a center with ITIN services, and booking can take several weeks. |
| VITA site with ITIN services | Free | Yes, most. For dependents, only passports and birth certificates | Limited locations. Some prepare your tax return for free if you qualify. |
| Certifying Acceptance Agent | Fees vary | Yes, most. For dependents, only passports and birth certificates | Private, IRS-authorized. Can help resolve issues with the IRS. |
| Acceptance Agent | Fees vary | No | Helps complete and mail the W-7, but your originals or certified copies still go to the IRS. |
| By mail | Postage | IRS reviews them in Austin | IRS ITIN Operation, P.O. Box 149342, Austin, TX 78714-9342. Use certified copies and tracked mail. |
Timeline and renewal
The IRS says to allow about 7 weeks for your letter. During tax season, January 15 to April 30, or if you applied from outside the U.S., allow 9 to 11 weeks. If nothing arrives by then, contact the IRS.
An ITIN does not last forever. If it is not used on a federal tax return for three tax years in a row, it expires on December 31 of that third year. ITINs issued before 2013 that were never renewed have already expired. You renew with the same Form W-7, checking the renewal box. If you later get a Social Security number, use the SSN and do not renew the ITIN.
ITIN vs SSN vs EIN
People mix these up constantly, and banks and forms do not always explain which one they mean. Here is the plain version.
| SSN | ITIN | EIN | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Issued by | Social Security Administration | IRS | IRS |
| Who gets it | Citizens and people authorized to work in the U.S. | People who need a tax number and cannot get an SSN | Businesses, and individuals who run one |
| What it is for | Work, Social Security benefits and taxes | Federal tax returns only | Business taxes, bank accounts, payroll |
| How you apply | At a Social Security office | Form W-7, usually with a tax return | Form SS-4, online, by fax or by mail |
| Cost from the government | Free | Free | Free |
| Starts with | Any digit except 9 | Always 9 | A two-digit prefix, written 12-3456789 |
EIN without an SSN
An EIN is your business's federal tax number. Banks ask for it before they open a business account, and you need it to hire anyone. You can get one without an SSN. The route depends on whether you already have an ITIN.
Put your ITIN on Form SS-4 as the responsible party. If your business has a U.S. address, the IRS online application works with an ITIN and gives you the number at the end of the session.
The online application is closed to you, but the paper route is not. On line 7b of Form SS-4 the IRS says to write "foreign" or N/A when the responsible party does not have and cannot get an SSN or ITIN.
Whether you should apply for an ITIN first or file the SS-4 without one depends on your own tax situation. A tax professional or a free VITA site can tell you. If you want us to handle the EIN filing, our EIN filing without an SSN is $145, one time.
The path
Most people who sit down at our front desk already have an ITIN from filing taxes. From there, opening a business takes four steps, and none of them needs a Social Security number.
Your personal tax number. If you file U.S. taxes without an SSN, you probably have one already. If not, start with the steps above.
How to get an ITINIllinois charges $150 to file Articles of Organization. The form asks for names and addresses, not a Social Security number. You need an Illinois registered agent at a street address.
Form your Illinois LLCOnce the state approves your LLC, apply for the EIN with your ITIN, or on paper without one. The name on the SS-4 must match your approved filing.
See filing packagesBring the approved filing, the EIN letter and your ID. Federal bank rules let banks verify a non-U.S. person with an ITIN or passport number, but each bank sets its own policy, so call first.
What banks ask for¿Prefieres leer en español? Lee qué es una LLC y cómo abrir la tuya en Illinois y el número ITIN: qué es y cómo sacarlo. The whole path, start to finish, is in our article From ITIN to EIN to your own business.
Why people come to us
Lobi Space is a staffed business center in Pilsen, one of the largest Mexican-American neighborhoods in the country. We work with people who are new here, in English and Spanish, at a real front desk you can walk into. We file the business side for you: the LLC, the EIN and the registered agent. For the ITIN application itself, we can walk you through your options, including the free IRS ones in Chicago.
Filing services
Our formation, EIN and registered agent bundle without an SSN is $345 plus state fees, and covers formation in any state, the EIN filing and a year of registered agent service. For Illinois, the three formation packages are below. Prices come straight from our pricing page.
$345plus state fees
$145one time
For international founders and owners without an SSN.
$145one time, plus state fees
Your LLC or corporation filed in any state, with your EIN, by a team you can call.
$195one time, plus state fees
Everything in Starter, plus the documents your bank asks for and a registered agent.
$275one time, plus state fees
Everything in Pro, plus your first annual report filed and the documents to run the company.
Prices are our service fees. State fees are passed through at cost and confirmed before filing. Lobi Space is not a law firm and does not give legal advice; we prepare and file documents at your direction.
FAQ
Still unsure where you fit? Ask us in English or Spanish. It costs nothing to ask.
Call (312) 248-7020 or stop by the front desk in Pilsen. Bring your questions and your papers, in English or Spanish.
