I need to file taxes without a Social Security number
Get an ITIN, weigh the risk and get free help.
5 steps
Step 1 of 5: Get or renew your ITIN
You need it to file.
- Get or Renew an ITINNo Social Security number? You can still pay taxes the right way. An ITIN is your tax number from the IRS, and you can get one free. Here is what it is, what to bring, how to renew it, and when you might need an EIN instead.Guide
- ITIN checklistPrint it and fill it in by handChecklist
Step 2 of 5: Weigh the risk honestly
Read what changed before you decide.
- Is Filing with an ITIN SafeWe won't pretend there is no risk. In 2025 the IRS agreed to share some taxpayer information with immigration enforcement, and it handed over thousands of addresses before courts stepped in. Today, courts are blocking most of that sharing. Here is what is true right now, what is still unsettled, and how to decide with someone you trust.Guide
- Before I decide about filingPrint it and fill it in by handChecklist
Step 3 of 5: File for free
Trained volunteers file returns with an ITIN.
- Free Tax Help ITINYou can get your taxes done for free with an ITIN. IRS trained volunteers do it every year, and some of them can also help you get or renew your ITIN. Here is how to find a site near East Palo Alto, what to ask when you call, and how to spot a preparer you should not trust.Guide
- What to ask when you call a tax sitePrint it and fill it in by handChecklist
Step 4 of 5: Claim money back
Some credits are open to ITIN filers.
- Tax Credits with an ITINYes, you can get cash back with an ITIN. File a California tax return and you may get the California Earned Income Tax Credit, the Young Child Tax Credit and the Foster Youth Tax Credit. This is money you earned. Here is who qualifies, how much it can be, and how to claim it for free.Guide
- Take this to your tax appointmentPrint it and fill it in by handChecklist
Step 5 of 5: Get help from a person
You do not have to do this alone. Ask about cost, languages and current openings before you share documents.
- IRS tax preparation helpLearn about volunteer tax preparation programs and how to find a participating site.Organization
- IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)The IRS page on ITINs, a tax number for people who need to file or be claimed on a federal tax return but are not eligible for a Social Security number. An ITIN is for tax purposes only and does not change immigration status or authorize work.Organization
This page puts DNLH guides in a useful order. It is general information, not legal advice. Each guide shows its sources and the date its facts were checked.
Not quite your situation?
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