What’s in an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number? 

An ITIN is a nine-digit number beginning with the number 9 issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to individuals who are required to have a taxpayer identification number for federal tax purposes but who do not have and are not eligible to get a social security number (SSN). ITINs are often, but not exclusively, used by undocumented taxpayers wanting to meet their federal tax obligations.Filing for an ITIN can open new doors for taxpayers who are not eligible for an SSN and/or their family members. An ITIN is more than just a 9-digit number; it’s an IRS tax processing number.  It was created to help individuals to file their taxes. Many families across the United States, regardless of immigration status, use ITINs to file taxes & access numerous benefits. One such benefit is the Child Tax Credit. The Child Tax Credit is available for individuals with children under 17 years old who have social security numbers. With an ITIN, you can file for taxes and automatically qualify to receive money for your children regardless of immigration status. That means if you’re not filing your taxes, you could be missing out on money for your family!