Where is my ITIN on a W-2?
Short answer
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.
By Alex Thomas · Founder of ITIN Club
Updated
What box a should show
Box a is "Employee's social security number." The W-2 instructions tell employers not to accept an ITIN in place of an SSN for employee identification or for work, and not to auto-fill an ITIN into box a.
| Your situation | What box a shows |
|---|---|
| You have an SSN | Your SSN, as shown on your Social Security card |
| You applied for an SSN and it hasn't arrived | "Applied For" on a paper W-2, or zeros if the employer e-files |
| You only have an ITIN | Not your ITIN. An ITIN is only for people who aren't eligible for US work |
Where your ITIN does go
Your ITIN is for your own federal tax return. The IRS tells tax preparers to put the ITIN as the identifying number at the top of Form 1040. When a return with an ITIN reports wages, the W-2 details are entered with the SSN exactly as the employer printed it.
If you lost the number, look for the IRS notice that assigned it or on past returns. An ITIN doesn't qualify you for the Earned Income Tax Credit.
If you get an SSN later
Someone with an ITIN who becomes eligible to work in the US must get an SSN. Once you have it, stop using the ITIN and tell the IRS so it can combine your records. Your employer then reports your wages under the SSN.
Free tool
Want the full picture?
ITIN number vs SSN: which taxpayer number you need
Updated 5 min read
Read guide →Related questions
Sources
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.