SSN, ITIN and EIN format checker
ITINs, SSNs and EINs all have 9 digits, but each follows its own pattern. This checks the pattern, so you can spot a typo before it reaches a form.
Reviewed by Alex Thomas · Updated Nov 5, 2026
912-70-1234 has the format of an ITIN: it starts with 9 and the middle digits (70) fall in an IRS ITIN range.
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This checks the format only. The IRS and the SSA don't offer a public lookup, so a number can pass here and still be wrong or belong to someone else.
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Questions
What does an ITIN number look like?
Can this tell me if an SSN or ITIN is real?
Why can one number match both ITIN and EIN formats?
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Read guide →- 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.
- 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.
- 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 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.
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