No. The ITIN and Social Security Number are not the same things and many individuals unfortunately confuse both numbers.
The ITIN is a tax processing number issued by the Internal Revenue Service, that was created in order to ensure that people, including undocumented immigrants, pay taxes, even when they do not have a social security number. It is important to note that, the ITIN does not provide you with legal immigration status. The ITIN does not provide work authorization.
If you are an immigrant without legal status, do not despair. You may obtain an ITIN in the U.S. You might be asking yourself what is the benefit of having an ITIN if you cannot work with it nor it provides legal status. You might be surprised of the advantages of having an ITIN. You can open an interest-bearing bank account in the U.S. Depending on the state where you live, you might be able to obtain a driver’s license, driver’s permit or even a state identification card. It can also serve as proof of your residence in the U.S. In some cases, an immigrant may need to prove how long he or she has been in the U.S. to be eligible for certain immigration remedies, and having a tax return filed using an ITIN is one way to show continuous residency in the U.S. Furthermore, with an ITIN, you will be able to pay taxes, and doing so might help you prove your “good moral character” which is required for many immigration applications and remedies.
In the other hand, if you are in the U.S. legally and are required to pay taxes, but you are not eligible to receive a social security number, you can obtain an ITIN. The following individuals can receive an ITIN in order to be able to pay their taxes:
Non-resident foreign national who owns or invests in a U.S. business and receives taxable income from that business, and lives in another country;
Foreign national student who qualifies as a resident of the U.S.;
A dependent or a spouse of U.S. Citizen or Legal Permanent Resident;
A dependent or spouse of a foreign national on a temporary visa.
If you need assistance with your immigration process or need additional information to make a decision about your case, contact us for a case evaluation via online or at (407) 634-4757.
