SSN vs ITIN vs EIN: Which US Number Do You Need?

Almost every US financial application asks for a "taxpayer identification number". US residents use their Social Security Number (SSN). As a non-resident you usually can't get an SSN, and people often confuse the two alternatives: the ITIN (for individuals) and the EIN (for businesses).

This guide explains who can get each number, how to apply without travelling to the US where that's possible, and what each number actually unlocks. Short version: you can open many USD accounts with just a passport. An ITIN helps with credit cards and tax filing, and an EIN is only for a business such as a US LLC.

#The three numbers at a glance

#SSN: Social Security Number

An SSN is issued to US citizens, green-card holders and non-citizens authorized to work in the US, such as H-1B holders, and F-1 or J-1 students with a qualifying job. Tourists on a B-1/B-2 visa or ESTA can't get one. You have to apply in person with the Social Security Administration while you're in the US on an eligible status.

What it unlocks: practically everything. That includes every major bank and card issuer, full credit-bureau reporting, brokerages that serve US residents, and US payroll.

#ITIN: Individual Taxpayer Identification Number

The ITIN exists for tax purposes only. The IRS issues it to people who need to file a US tax return or claim a tax-treaty benefit but aren't eligible for an SSN. It does not give you a right to work or any immigration status.

#Who qualifies

You need a genuine federal tax reason. Common examples:

• You have US-source income (rental income, US freelance income treated as US-source, or gambling winnings) and must file Form 1040-NR.
• You claim a tax treaty benefit that requires an ITIN.
• You're the spouse or dependent of a US citizen or resident who is filing.
• You meet one of the exceptions listed in the Form W-7 instructions. These cover certain third-party withholding situations, such as some bank-interest and partnership reporting cases.

#How to apply (Form W-7)

1. Complete Form W-7. Check the box that matches your reason, for example "b" (nonresident alien filing a US tax return).
2. Attach your federal tax return (usually Form 1040-NR). If you're claiming an exception, attach the exception documents instead.
3. Prove identity and foreign status. A passport on its own covers both. Other document combinations are allowed but more complex.
4. Submit it in one of three ways:
   • By mail to the IRS ITIN Operation in Austin, Texas, with your original passport or a certified copy from the issuing agency. The IRS returns originals, but you'll be without your passport for weeks.
   • Through a Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA). A CAA can verify your passport and send the IRS a certificate of accuracy with copies, so your original never leaves your hands. CAAs charge a fee, usually a few hundred US dollars. The IRS publishes a list of acceptance agents, including some outside the US.
   • In person at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center (appointment required) while you're in the US.
5. Wait. The IRS says to allow about 7 weeks, or 9–11 weeks if you apply from abroad or during tax season (January 15 to April 30). You'll get notice CP565 if approved, CP566 if more information is needed, or CP567 if rejected.

#What an ITIN unlocks

• Filing US tax returns and claiming treaty benefits.
• Some credit cards. American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase and Citi have been reported to accept an ITIN instead of an SSN on at least some products. Discover, Barclays and Synchrony generally don't. Policies change, so check each issuer's application form. See our credit-card guides.
• Some bank accounts and brokerages that ask for a US tax ID.
• An ITIN does not unlock work authorization, Social Security benefits, or every fintech. Many apps still require an SSN.

#EIN: Employer Identification Number

An EIN is a tax ID for a business entity: a US LLC or corporation, a partnership, an estate, or a sole proprietor with employees. Foreign-owned US LLCs need one, both to open a business bank account and to file their annual Form 5472.

#Getting an EIN without an SSN or ITIN

The IRS's online EIN application only works if the responsible party has an SSN or ITIN. Non-residents without one use Form SS-4:

• By phone: international applicants can call +1 267-941-1099 (not toll-free), Monday–Friday, 6 a.m.–11 p.m. Eastern time. Fill out the SS-4 first. The agent reads your answers and assigns the EIN during the call.
• By fax: send the signed SS-4 to the EIN International fax line, +1 304-707-9471 from outside the US (855-215-1627 from inside the US). Waits of a few weeks are common.
• By mail: to the address in the SS-4 instructions. This is the slowest option.

Formation services such as Stripe Atlas, Firstbase and doola will file the SS-4 for you as part of their package. See US LLC for non-residents.

#What an EIN unlocks

A business bank account (Mercury, Relay, Wise Business and others), payouts from Stripe and marketplaces, and the ability to file the LLC's US tax forms. An EIN is not a personal tax ID. You can't use it for personal credit cards or a personal bank account.

#Which one should you pursue?

#Common mistakes

• Applying for an ITIN with no tax return. This is the most common reason for rejection.
• Mailing your only passport when a CAA could certify it.
• Mixing up the W-7 and W-8BEN. The W-8BEN is the form you give a bank or broker to certify foreign status. It is not an ITIN application.
• Letting an ITIN lapse and then being declined for credit.
• Using an LLC's EIN on personal applications.

Also follow your home country's rules. A US ITIN doesn't change your tax residency, and income you report to the IRS may also be taxable at home.

#Sources

• IRS: How to apply for an ITIN, https://www.irs.gov/tin/itin/how-to-apply-for-an-itin
• IRS: Instructions for Form W-7, https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iw7
• IRS: ITIN Acceptance Agent Program, https://www.irs.gov/individuals/itin-acceptance-agent-program
• IRS: Instructions for Form SS-4, https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iss4
• IRS: Employer identification number, https://www.irs.gov/businesses/employer-identification-number
• Social Security Administration, https://www.ssa.gov/number-card
• Bankrate: Credit cards and ITIN (issuer overview, Nov 2024), https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/advice/apply-for-credit-card-itin/