The Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) and the Social Security Number (SSN) are unique numbers issued by the United States administration. Legally, a person cannot have both an ITIN and an SSN.
These two are similar in many aspects like both function as tax identification numbers yet they are very different when it comes to scope and acceptability.
Even though, both ITIN and SSN are nine digit numbers; a person can differentiate between the two just by looking at the numeral figures only. The ITIN would always begin with number 9 and you will find a 7 or 8 on the fourth digit place. However, the SSN never begins with number 9.
There are some other glaring differences like the ITIN is issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) while the SSN is issued by the Social Security Administration and it comes in the form of a Social Security Card. Earlier, the ITIN also came in card format but now to avoid any confusion, the Internal Revenue Service issues a letter to mark a person's ITIN.
SSN is issued to all US citizens and green cardholders and is regarded as an acceptable form of identification for many purposes in the country. The fact that an employer cannot pay wages to people who do not have an SSN mandates its requirement for working people.
But what about the identification number for all those people who aren't eligible for SSN but need to file their federal tax return owing to their income earned in US? The concept of ITIN was, thus, introduced in 1996 and was meant for taxpayers other than those possessing an SSN. ITINs are issued both to both resident and nonresident aliens irrespective of their immigration status. All US resident aliens and dependent or spouse of legal immigrant on a temporary visa need ITIN among many other people.
It is very important to understand that ITINs do not provide legal immigration status nor they provide work authorization but they can be used as an identification proof while opening an interest-bearing bank account or for securing a driver's license, driver's permit, or state identification card.
Once you get your SSN, you must notify the appropriate IRS office who will then link your account established with your ITIN to your new SSN. But till then, a person should always keep ITIN letter safely with him or her as an authentic proof of tax identification number.
These two are similar in many aspects like both function as tax identification numbers yet they are very different when it comes to scope and acceptability.
Even though, both ITIN and SSN are nine digit numbers; a person can differentiate between the two just by looking at the numeral figures only. The ITIN would always begin with number 9 and you will find a 7 or 8 on the fourth digit place. However, the SSN never begins with number 9.
There are some other glaring differences like the ITIN is issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) while the SSN is issued by the Social Security Administration and it comes in the form of a Social Security Card. Earlier, the ITIN also came in card format but now to avoid any confusion, the Internal Revenue Service issues a letter to mark a person's ITIN.
SSN is issued to all US citizens and green cardholders and is regarded as an acceptable form of identification for many purposes in the country. The fact that an employer cannot pay wages to people who do not have an SSN mandates its requirement for working people.
But what about the identification number for all those people who aren't eligible for SSN but need to file their federal tax return owing to their income earned in US? The concept of ITIN was, thus, introduced in 1996 and was meant for taxpayers other than those possessing an SSN. ITINs are issued both to both resident and nonresident aliens irrespective of their immigration status. All US resident aliens and dependent or spouse of legal immigrant on a temporary visa need ITIN among many other people.
It is very important to understand that ITINs do not provide legal immigration status nor they provide work authorization but they can be used as an identification proof while opening an interest-bearing bank account or for securing a driver's license, driver's permit, or state identification card.
Once you get your SSN, you must notify the appropriate IRS office who will then link your account established with your ITIN to your new SSN. But till then, a person should always keep ITIN letter safely with him or her as an authentic proof of tax identification number.