ITIN question

[eddiecarter]

I know that ITIN, is only used to pay for taxes, and for people who cannot obtain an SSN. well currently i am not in school, i was wondering if obtained an ITIN, would there be a way for me to work, i mean i could use that to pay for taxes right? i guess if i was to ask a company if i could use that instead of an SSN?

[djones9714]

A ITIN number does not provide any right for you to work and employers will NOT accept this number in place of a real social security number.

You can use it to pay taxes but not to work.

[christytorres]

Ok, I have a friend of mine who is also in the process. and before her husband went back to Mx. he lived with her for like 7-8 months, she told me that the IRS said she could claim him, because he did not work, well without any papers or SSN, he did not work, so she supported him. Can she do this. I thought you could only claim like your child, elderly parents, step child, nieces, nephews...etc...can she get into trouble. and will the IRS accept his ITIN number...thanks...

[Laura]

I mean, theoretically, you could give it to an employer in place of a social security number, but it's not authorization to work, and most employers are going to actually need to see the card. The ironic part is that the IRS knows that many people who apply for ITINs are essentially working illegally in the U.S., probably with a made-up social security number.

Christy - my husband claims his father and his youngest sister who is in Mexico. They have ITIN numbers - he had to get ID and whatnot to fill out the paperwork, but yes, I mean, your friend can definitely claim her husband. It's the same as a working husband claiming his stay-at-home-mom wife, or something like that.

[christytorres]

Ok, I see what you mean, so she can claim him, with the ITIN number, good to hear, I thought she would get into trouble, ...