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Facts About ITINs for Illegal Immigrants: How to Apply and How to Bank Without One

Aug 4, 2023
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Your Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a personal number issued by the Internal Revenue Service for tax processing purposes. The IRS issues ITINs to individuals who are ineligible for a Social Security number (SSN) but must report their earnings to the IRS.

Illegal immigrants may apply for and obtain ITINs. Your ITIN will not expire as long as you send in your taxes to the IRS every year.

In the rest of this article, we dive into what an ITIN is used for, how to apply for one, and how to renew one if yours has expired. In the end, we provide a list of the best online banks for immigrants in the United States, who can bank with a US checking account without requiring an SSN or ITIN.

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Checking Accounts You Can Open Without ITIN 🇺🇸

  • Wise: Open a Wise Multi-Currency Account to access an American checking account, nine other foreign bank account details, and pots to hold 50+ foreign currencies. | Read the full review.
  • Revolut: Get Revolut even without an SSN or ITIN by providing your US visa. Get an account number and debit card to hold and spend US dollars, and deposit your salary. | Read the full review.

What is an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number?

Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) were created by the IRS in 1996 to allow foreign nationals and other individuals not eligible for social security numbers (SSNs) to comply with US tax law.

They are different from SSNs because only US citizens and those eligible to receive American social security may obtain an SSN. However, ITINs are formatted like SSNs: 9XX-XX-XXXX.

ITINs are 9-digits, always beginning with the number 9. The fourth and fifth digits will be within the following range: 50 to 65, 70 to 88, 90 to 92, and 94 to 99.

Can Immigrants Get ITINs?

Yes, many immigrants have ITINs. Even undocumented immigrants can get ITINs so that they may pay taxes to the US government. Individuals with lawful resident status in the US who can obtain an ITIN may include:

  • A foreign national legally residing in the US for a number a days and is filing a US tax return;
  • A foreign national who has student, professor, or researcher status in the US and is filing a tax return;
  • A dependent or spouse of a US citizen or permanent resident;
  • A dependent or spouse of a foreign national on a temporary US visa.

What Are ITINs Used For?

With an ITIN, you can do the following tax and income-related activities;

  • report your earnings to the IRS;
  • open interest-bearing bank accounts (read here for which ones);
  • conduct business in the United States.

ITINs Don't Give Work Authorization or Legal Status

In short, ITINs let people who do not qualify for SSNs to pay taxes. They do not provide legal immigration status so even if you obtain one, it will not give you the same status as a US green card.

ITINS also do not grant work authorization. For example, American employers fill out and send I-9 forms to US immigration services to authorize hired employees as eligible to work. Just because you have an ITIN does not mean that an employer can authorize you on an I-9 form.

How to Apply for an ITIN

  • Step 01

    Prepare W-7 Form With Valid ID

    Fill out Form W-7.

    File the Form at the same time as you send your federal income tax return. Include original documentation or certified copies from your ID issuing agency to prove your identity and foreign status.

  • Step 02

    Choose Your Application Method

    Option 1: Mail your W-7, tax return, proof of identity, and foreign status documents to:

    Internal Revenue Service
    Austin Service Center
    ITIN Operation
    P.O. Box 149342
    Austin, TX 78714-9342

    Option 2: Apply in person at an IRS Certifying Acceptance Agent.

    Option 3: Schedule an appointment at an official IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center.

  • Final step

    Receive Your ITIN in the Mail

    Once you get your ITIN, you won't have to go through this process again unless it expires. In subsequent years, simply use your ITIN number on your documents when you file your tax return.

What You Need to Know About ITIN Renewals

If a person obtains an ITIN but does not include it on a federal tax return for three years in a row, it will expire and will need to reapply for one.

ITIN renewal applications are done in the same way as ITIN applications. Simply submit a completed "Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number," a US federal tax return, and all other required identification documents (such as a Valid ID) to the IRS.

Examples of Expired ITINs

ITINs are formatted as follows: 9XX-XX-XXXX.

ITINs with the fourth and fifth digits, from “70” to “87” have expired. ITINs issued before 2013 and have middle digits “90,” “91,” “92,” “94,” “95,” “96,” “97,” “98,” or “99” have also expired.

Does the Government Track Illegal Immigrants With ITIN Numbers?

No, the US government is not authorized to track and find undocumented immigrants with ITIN numbers. The ITIN was designed to stimulate tax payment, not to enforce immigration.

More importantly, taxpayer privacy is central to the success and legitimacy of the US tax system. The IRS is forbidden by law to release taxpayer information to other government agencies, such as Homeland Security or local police departments. The IRS is only legally authorized to send taxpayer information to the US Department of Treasury for investigations related to taxes, or for federal court orders related to non-tax criminal investigations.

The Top US Online Banks With or Without ITINs

The following three companies are government-regulated and approved financial services that offer you access to the American banking system. Neither an ITIN nor an SSN is required to open an account, making these some of the most accessible options available to US residents and foreigners alike.

Check out the following options offering online banking without having to provide your ITIN:

1 — Wise

Wise offers a Multi-Currency Account, which allows you to hold 50+ foreign currencies and access them with a debit card. You will get an American ACH routing number, account number, and SWIFT/BIC code for free.

This is one of the fastest and easiest ways to open a US bank account as a non-resident so that you can hold money in US dollars, spend money on holidays abroad, or receive earnings from an American employer.

Account name: Wise Multi-Currency Account

Monthly fee: $0

Outgoing int'l wire cost: 0.35% - 2.85%

Int'l card payment cost: 0.35% - 2.85%

US residence required: No

SSN/ITIN required: No

More info: See our full Wise review.

2 — Revolut

Revolut is a powerful checking account that comes with a debit card, ACH routing number, American account number, and an international finance app.

You will need proof of identification and proof of a US visa on your passport, such as a student visa for studies in the United States, to quality. Then, you'll be able to hold US dollars in an American account and even receive your salary from an American employer.

Account name: Revolut

Monthly fee: $0

Outgoing int'l wire cost: No fee for first $1,000 per month

Int'l card payment cost: 0% - 1%

Eligibility: US visa required

SSN/ITIN required: No

More info: See our full Revolut review.

3 — Majority

Majority comes with an impressive suite of migrant-friendly features including free international calling to 20+ countries, airtime top-upswire transfers, and multi-language customer service. Their card comes with exclusive deals on partner brands too. You need a government-issued ID and proof of US residency to open an account.

Account name: Majority

Monthly fee: $5

Outgoing int'l wire cost: 0.2% - 2.5% (estimate depending on country)

Int'l card payment cost: 0%

US residence required: Yes

SSN/ITIN required: No

More info: See our full Majority review.

Other Guides on Banking in the United States for Immigrants

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The article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a source of law. The editors of the website make every effort to ensure that all published information is reliable and up-to-date, however, they do not constitute a binding interpretation of the applicable legal provisions.

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