What Other Uses Do Individual Tax Identification Numbers (ITINs) Have?

In a previous article (What is the ITIN?), we discussed that the ITIN program was created by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to facilitate tax payment for lawful and unlawful immigrants who are not eligible for a Social Security number (SSN).

What other uses do ITINs have?

In addition to facilitating tax payments for lawful and unlawful immigrants who are not eligible for a SSN, ITINs may serve the following purposes:

• Opening an interest-bearing bank account;
• Obtaining a driver’s license, driver’s permit, or state identification card in twelve  states (California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Vermont, and Washington), the District of Columbia, and Puerto;
• Providing proof of residency for future immigration benefits (tax returns filed with an ITIN may serve as evidence of continued residency); and
• Facilitating home mortgages for undocumented immigrants.

What benefits do ITINs NOT provide?

It is important to note that ITINs do NOT provide the following:

• An ITIN does not provide legal immigration status.
• An ITIN cannot be used as proof of legal presence in the United States.
• An ITIN does not provide work authorization.
• An ITIN does not provide valid identification.

If you should have any questions or need more information about ITINs or any other immigration matter, please contact the Law Offices of Azita M. Mojarad, P.C. by e-mailing us at azita@azitalaw.com or calling us at 312.641-0771.