Tax guides
How to file taxes with an ITIN
Reviewed by Ahmad Odeh, Enrolled Agent ·
If you don't have a Social Security number but you have income in the United States, you can still meet your obligations to the IRS using an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number). This guide explains who has to file with an ITIN, which credits you can get and which you can't, and how to file your 2025 return.
Free to start. Nothing is charged until you check out.
What is an ITIN?
An ITIN is a nine-digit number the IRS issues to people who need to file taxes but can't get a Social Security number. It starts with the number 9 and is used only for taxes: it doesn't authorize you to work and doesn't change your immigration status.
To get an ITIN, you file Form W-7 with the IRS. If you already have your ITIN, you can use it to prepare and file your return online.
Who has to file with an ITIN?
The rules for whether you have to file are the same with an ITIN as with a Social Security number: they depend on your filing status, your age, and your income. If you were self-employed, for example in construction, cleaning, or as a driver, you generally have to file if your net earnings were $400 or more.
Filing also helps you show your income and your history of complying with the IRS, and it's the only way to get a refund of the taxes that were withheld from your pay.
Which credits you can get with an ITIN in 2025
- Credit for Other Dependents: up to $500 for each qualifying dependent. You can get it with an ITIN.
- Child Tax Credit ($2,200 per child in 2025): requires that you, or your spouse if you file jointly, have a Social Security number valid for work. If only one spouse has one, a joint return can still get it. The child must also have a Social Security number; a child with an ITIN counts toward the $500 credit instead.
- Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): you can't get it if you file with an ITIN.
- The standard deduction does apply: for 2025 it's $15,750 for single filers, $31,500 for married couples filing jointly, and $23,625 for heads of household.
How to file your return with an ITIN online
With Vordana Tax, you tell us you're filing with an ITIN and the software applies these rules for you: it gives you the credits you're entitled to and doesn't offer the ones the law doesn't allow, so your return isn't rejected and you aren't asked to pay money back later. The whole interview is available in English or Spanish, and your return gets a free review before you file it.
Questions
Can I file with an ITIN if I'm married to someone who has a Social Security number?
Yes. You can file jointly. If your spouse has a Social Security number valid for work, your joint return can get the Child Tax Credit for children who have Social Security numbers.
Does filing with an ITIN affect my immigration status?
An ITIN is only a number for tax purposes and doesn't change your immigration status. For immigration questions, talk to an immigration attorney.
Can my ITIN expire?
Yes. An ITIN that isn't used on a federal tax return for three years in a row expires and has to be renewed with Form W-7.
Free to start. Nothing is charged until you check out.
Start my return →