Answers
One question per page, answered in the first few lines. Every answer cites the official page it comes from and links to the full guide when you want the details.
ITIN
11 answersCan I apply for an ITIN online?
Applying for an ITIN online isn't an option. The IRS lists only two ways to send Form W-7, by mail or in person, at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center, a VITA site with ITIN services or an acceptance agent. The tax return that goes with a first application can't be e-filed either. It travels on paper, attached to the W-7.Can I get an ITIN without filing a tax return?
Getting an ITIN without a tax return is only possible if you meet one of the five exceptions in the Form W-7 instructions. They cover income a third party reports or withholds tax on, such as some bank interest, treaty benefits, scholarships, a US mortgage or a US property sale. You send proof of the exception instead.How do I find my ITIN if I lost it?
A lost ITIN is still yours, so don't apply for a new one. Look on the IRS CP565 notice that assigned it or on a copy of a past tax return, where it sits in the SSN box. If you can't find either, call the IRS at 800-829-1040, or 267-941-1000 from abroad.How do I get an ITIN for an H-4 dependent?
An H-4 dependent gets an ITIN with a Form W-7 attached to the family's federal tax return, but only if they can't get an SSN. An H-4 spouse with a work permit (EAD) can get an SSN instead. Otherwise, a spouse qualifies through a joint return or their own return, and a child when claimed for a tax benefit.How do I get an ITIN for my spouse or child?
Getting an ITIN for your spouse or child means filing a Form W-7 for each of them, attached to your federal tax return. They qualify only if they can't get an SSN and you claim them for a tax benefit, such as a joint return or the credit for other dependents. Dependents usually also need proof of US residency.How do I know if my ITIN is active or expired?
An ITIN is active if it appeared on a US federal tax return in at least one of the last 3 tax years. An ITIN unused for 3 years in a row expires on December 31 of the third year, and one assigned before 2013 and never renewed has expired. Your IRS Online Account shows your tax records.How long does an ITIN number last?
An ITIN has no fixed end date. An ITIN stays valid as long as it appears on a US federal tax return at least once every 3 tax years. After 3 years in a row without use, it expires on December 31 of the third year. ITINs assigned before 2013 and never renewed have already expired.How much does it cost to get an ITIN number?
An ITIN costs nothing from the IRS. The IRS doesn't charge a fee to issue one, and its Taxpayer Assistance Centers and VITA sites with ITIN services help for free. Certifying Acceptance Agents and Acceptance Agents are fee-based, and fees vary from one agent to the next. You pay only if you choose an agent.What do I do with my ITIN after I get an SSN?
After you get an SSN, stop using your ITIN and use the SSN on every tax return. Then tell the IRS, by letter or at a local IRS office, so it combines your tax records under the SSN and voids the ITIN. Without that step, you may not get credit for all wages and withholding.What do ITIN numbers start with?
Every ITIN starts with the number 9. An ITIN has 9 digits and is formatted like a Social Security number, NNN-NN-NNNN. On a valid ITIN, the fourth and fifth digits fall in set ranges, 50–65, 70–88, 90–92 or 94–99. Yours is printed on the IRS CP565 notice that assigned it.What is an ITIN card?
An ITIN card isn't something the IRS hands out. The IRS sends your ITIN in an assignment letter, the CP565 notice, instead of a plastic card like a Social Security card. Keep a copy of that letter with your records. An ITIN also isn't valid identification outside the federal tax system, so it can't stand in for an ID card.
Banking
14 answersBank or credit union: where should I open an account?
A bank and a credit union are both safe places to open an account, and both offer checking and savings. Banks are insured by the FDIC and most credit unions by the NCUA, each up to $250,000 per owner and ownership category. The difference is that a credit union is member-owned and you must qualify to join.Can I keep my US bank account if I move abroad?
Yes, you can keep a US bank account after moving abroad if your bank agrees. Tell it your new address first. Wells Fargo, for example, asks you to call to change to an address outside the US. Banks can close accounts without your permission, and an account with no activity for years can go to the state.Can I open a bank account with a passport?
Yes, you can open a US bank account with a passport, but usually not with the passport alone. Federal rules let a non-US person give a passport number instead of an SSN or ITIN. Banks like Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo also ask for a second ID, and often a US address.Do I need a bank account?
A bank account is not the only way to get paid, but you usually need one. The CFPB says direct deposit of your paycheck and applying for a loan or mortgage usually require a bank or credit union account. An account is also safer than cash, with insured deposits protected up to $250,000.Do I need an SSN to open a bank account?
No, you don't need an SSN to open a US bank account. Federal rules let a bank take an ITIN instead, and a non-US person can give a passport number. Each bank sets its own policy, though. Wells Fargo and Huntington accept an ITIN, while BMO's online application asks for an SSN.Do I need money to open a bank account?
You don't always need money to open a bank account. Some accounts have no minimum opening deposit, such as Huntington checking, and Bank On certified accounts ask for $25 or less. Other banks require a minimum initial deposit when you apply. Also check the monthly fee and how to waive it.How do I open a bank account?
To open a bank account, pick a bank or credit union and an account, gather a photo ID, your SSN or ITIN and a US address, then apply online or in a branch and make the opening deposit. Without an SSN or ITIN, plan on a branch visit with your passport.How long does it take to open a bank account?
Opening a bank account online takes about 5 to 10 minutes at banks like BMO and Huntington. A branch visit at BMO takes about 30 minutes. A mailed debit card can take a few business days. Identity checks, missing documents or a branch-only process for non-residents can slow it down.How many bank accounts can I have?
You can have as many bank accounts as you want. The CFPB says there are no restrictions on the number of checking or savings accounts you open or how many banks you use. Each bank can still set its own rules. FDIC insurance covers up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank, per ownership category.What do I need to open a bank account?
To open a bank account you need a government photo ID, your SSN or ITIN, your date of birth, a street address and sometimes an opening deposit. You usually need to be 18 to open one alone. Without an SSN or ITIN, a non-US person can give a passport number instead.What is a bank account?
A bank account is an account at a bank or credit union that holds your money, so you can deposit it and take it out. The main types are checking, for everyday payments, and savings, for money set aside. At an FDIC-insured bank, deposits are insured up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank, per ownership category.What type of bank account should I open?
A checking account is the type to open first, because it handles your debit card, bills and direct deposit. Add a savings account for money you want to set aside. If fees worry you, look for a Bank On certified checking account, which opens with $25 or less and has no overdraft fees.Which banks accept an ITIN?
Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Capital One, PNC and Huntington all list an ITIN as a tax ID you can use to open a checking account. Federal rules let any US bank accept an ITIN instead of an SSN, but each bank sets its own policy, and some only take an ITIN in a branch.Why can't I open a bank account?
A bank can refuse to open your account if it can't verify who you are, or if a checking account report from a company like Chex Systems shows unpaid negative balances, bad checks or suspected fraud. When a report is the reason, the bank must tell you which company made it, and you can get that report free.
Credit
3 answersCan I buy a house with an ITIN?
Buying a house with an ITIN is possible, usually with an ITIN mortgage from a lender that makes them. FHA loans are out, because HUD requires a valid SSN for every FHA borrower. First National Bank of America, for example, asks for at least 15% down and accepts borrowers with no credit history.Does a checking account build credit?
A checking account doesn't build credit. Experian, Equifax and TransUnion typically leave checking accounts out of credit reports, and debit card spending isn't borrowing. A checking account can still hurt your credit, though. An unpaid negative balance sent to a debt collector may show up as a collection on your credit report.How do I get my Equifax credit score?
Your Equifax credit score is free with a myEquifax account. Sign up, then choose "Get my free credit score" to join Equifax Core Credit, which shows a daily VantageScore 3.0 based on Equifax data. The sign-up form takes an SSN or ITIN. A credit report, such as the free one from AnnualCreditReport.com, doesn't include a score.
Cards
4 answersCan I get a credit card without a bank account?
Getting a credit card without a bank account is hard. Capital One lists checking or savings account information among what it requires to apply, and its secured card deposit must come from a bank account. Paying a card without one is easier. Capital One takes money orders by mail and may take cash at its locations.Do credit unions offer credit cards?
Credit unions do offer credit cards, usually only to their members. You can often join through your employer, your family, where you live or work, or a group you belong to. Federal credit unions can't charge more than 18% interest on loans through September 10, 2027. Some, such as WSECU and Consumers Credit Union, accept an ITIN.How do I get my first credit card?
Your first credit card usually comes from your bank or credit union, or as a secured card backed by a refundable deposit. Apply with your SSN or ITIN, a US address and your income. Under 21, you need your own income or a co-signer. Pay on time and your credit history builds from there.How does a credit card work?
A credit card lets you borrow up to a set credit limit to pay for things. Each month you get a statement with a minimum payment and a due date. Pay the full balance by the due date and most cards charge no interest on purchases. Pay less and the rest accrues interest at the card's APR.
Taxes
5 answersCan I drive for Uber, Lyft or DoorDash with an ITIN?
Uber, Lyft and DoorDash ask new drivers and couriers for a Social Security number to run their identity and background checks, and their requirement pages don't offer an ITIN instead. The IRS also says an ITIN doesn't authorize work in the US. To drive or deliver, you need US work authorization and, on these platforms, an SSN.Can the IRS see my bank account?
The IRS sees what your bank reports about your account. That means interest of $10 or more on Form 1099-INT and, for some nonresidents, deposit interest on Form 1042-S. In an audit or to collect unpaid tax, the IRS can also contact your bank, and it can levy the account after sending notices.Where can I find my TIN number?
Your TIN is printed on the paperwork that came with it. An SSN is on your Social Security card and W-2. An ITIN is on the IRS CP565 letter that assigned it. An EIN is on the IRS notice from when you applied. Past tax returns show it too. If you can't find it, call the agency that issued it.Where can I get my Tax ID?
Your Tax ID comes from the agency that issues it. Ask Social Security for an SSN if you're a citizen or allowed to work in the US. File IRS Form W-7 for an ITIN if you can't get an SSN but have a tax reason. A business gets an EIN from the IRS. SSNs and EINs are free.Where is my ITIN on a W-2?
Your ITIN shouldn't appear on a W-2. Box a of Form W-2 is for the employee's Social Security number, and IRS instructions tell employers not to accept an ITIN for W-2 reporting, because an ITIN doesn't authorize work. When you file your own return, your ITIN goes at the top of Form 1040.
Free
Free tools for life with an ITIN
Short calculators with sourced numbers. Each one opens with the answer, then lets you plug in your own figures.
Join ITIN Club — it's free
Ask members who've already done it, follow the first-year course step by step, and message other members directly. No SSN needed.
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