UNTIL I was with a client earlier who has been here in the US for years, I didn’t realize there is a great need to educate the public about the Individual Tax ID Number, often shortened to simply ITIN. He thought that by getting an ITIN for his spouse and dependent children, who were here in the US, he would be “violating” the law.
A great and costly misconception, indeed!
An ITIN is a type of tax identification number in the US for individuals who need to file and pay federal Taxes. While most US residents have a Social Security number, which acts as a tax ID number for taxpaying purposes, resident and non-resident aliens are not eligible for an SSN. Instead, non-citizens can get an ITIN number to file and pay income taxes.
It is worth noting that US citizens and permanent residents who do not have a Social Security number, but who are eligible for one, do not qualify to get an ITIN. Instead, they will need to apply for a Social Security number from the Social Security Administration.
ITINs are also used by real estate brokers to facilitate mortgages for unauthorized immigrants.
In addition to use by unauthorized immigrants, ITINs are used by foreign investors in United States real estate. Such investors need ITINs to file federal and state tax returns to report rental income.
For taxpayers supporting dependents in Mexico and Canada, the ITIN allows them to claim dependents to whom they send more than 50% of the money they need to live.
A non-resident alien filing a tax return; a dependent of a US citizen, resident alien or non-resident alien holding a US visa; a spouse of a US citizen, resident alien, or non-resident alien holding a US visa; a student, professor or researcher filing a tax return or claiming exemption are some of the individuals qualified to apply for an ITIN.
My office will be glad to assist anyone who needs an ITIN. You can call us at (323)550-1869 or you can visit our website at www.evangelinegiron.net.
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Evangeline is a California registered tax preparer, a legal document assistant for the general public, and a freelance paralegal offering assistance to various attorneys. She can be reached at her office at 2451 Colorado Blvd. #2, Eagle Rock, CA 90041 or at her marketing location inside the Eagle Rock Plaza. Her phone number is (323) 550-1869 or you can check her website at: www.evangelinegiron.net. She is a member of the court-endorsed California Association of Legal Document Assistant (CALDA) and an Associate Member (Non-attorney) of the LA County Bar Association (LACBA).
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Note: Evangeline is not an attorney nor does she provide legal advice. She is a bonded and registered Legal Document Assistant and prepares legal documents per the specific direction of clients.
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