Types of Tax Identification Numbers in the U.S.

February 17, 2022

The 2022 tax season started on January 24 according to the announcement made by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). With this in mind, each individual and business entity needs to know about the different types of tax identifications that are currently accepted in the U.S. This knowledge will help them fulfill their tax responsibilities, pay for their taxes according to their status, and file their tax return as per the incomes they accrued during the taxable year.


Many people are actually unfamiliar with this information, even though everyone is given a specific tax identification. Today, our certified tax preparers will explain all the different types of tax identifications allowed in the U.S. to help you settle whatever inconvenience that could slow down the process when it's time to file your own taxes.

There are 3 Types of Tax Identifications in the U.S.

As we stated earlier, the taxpayer's status will determine the id number assigned to them, either as a natural person or as a business, when it's time to file their taxes. Tax identifications are a requirement that all taxpayers must fulfill before listing all their tax information. To avoid miscalculations, you must know about each identification type, and the purpose they serve during the tax filing process.


These are the 3 types of identification currently accepted in the United States:

The first is the Social Security Number (SSN), a number that identifies each citizen and foreign resident in the United States. This is considered a person's primary identity document since it keeps a record of all the wages or earnings a person made through his/her work. The Social Security number is issued by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and isn't available for non-residents or for immigrants with no legal documentation in the U.S.

The SSN always serves to identify a natural person. So, what's the ITIN in the U.S.? This identification number is meant for individuals who reside within the country without legal documentation, with undocumented immigrants being the most common case.

The Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is the second tax identification for natural individuals. It is made of nine (09) digits that resemble the numeric format used to create the SSN. This identification, however, is issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) so that people who aren't eligible for the SSN can still fulfill their tax obligations in spite of their migratory status.


It's important to note that the ITIN is used exclusively for tax filing purposes. It doesn't serve any other purposes and doesn't provide any of the benefits that come with the SSN. This number is specially conceived to help foreigners and people who have no access to the SSN participate in the tax collection process.

Lastly, we have the Employer Identification Number (EIN), which is used to identify business entities so they can report their yearly income and expenses as they file their taxes. Every company that's operating within the U.S. must acquire this identification number; they are required to report and pay for their taxes, regardless of their type of business, the number of owners, or their nationality and whether or not they have residence inside the country. Otherwise, the company risk penalty to the point that it may lose the license that allows it to continue operations within the country.

How Do I Get a Tax Identification for Myself and My Business?

When you go to the IRS website, you'll find all the forms you need to fill out when requesting an identification according to your status, and the documentation you need to attach to said forms. The Forms, Instructions & Publications section has all the documents for each taxpayer (individual or business). These forms are all in English, so if you don't speak the language, providing the required information can be hard. In this case, we recommend asking for Spanish tax preparation services, and you'll get the assistance you need to complete the request.

Our Spanish-speaking Tax Preparers Help You Request Your Tax Identification Number

United Tax & Accounting Group has the best tax preparation professionals to help you apply for your tax identification number and file your taxes during the next tax season. Our tax preparer provides security and efficiency to help all types of taxpayers as they manage their tax obligations. We maximize the chances of earning credit benefits during the tax filing process and reduce the risks of mistakes or omissions on the forms.

You can count on our tax consultants to help you with your taxes, starting with the chance of getting your tax identification in a time-effective manner. Avoid risks and get your tax identification number with our help. All you have to do is call (786) 431-5576 or fill out our webiste's contact form, and you'll get the best service from any of our certified tax professionals.