Three numbers, three jobs. The SSN is for US persons and comes from the Social Security Administration. The ITIN is the IRS's number for individuals who need a US taxpayer identification number but are not eligible for an SSN: nine digits, starts with a 9. The EIN identifies a business, not a person. For a non-US resident building an American setup the answer is almost always the pair: ITIN for you, EIN for your company, and the SSN simply is not your number to get.
The three cards
Each number, in its own words
ITIN · yours
The individual taxpayer number
Per the IRS: a 9-digit number issued when you need a US taxpayer identification number for federal tax purposes but are not eligible for an SSN. Available to certain nonresident and resident aliens, their spouses and dependents, regardless of immigration status.
In First Class Citizen's framing, the working translation: the equivalent of an SSN for non-residents, the number that opens bank accounts and starts credit history.
In the IRS's words: a federal tax ID number for businesses, tax-exempt organizations and other entities. It is what banks, payment processors and filings recognize as the company.
The online IRS tool requires the responsible party to hold an SSN or ITIN; from outside the US, the route is phone, fax or mail, or it simply arrives with a done-for-you LLC.
Issued by the Social Security Administration via Form SS-5, for US citizens, residents and green card holders. If you are none of those, this number is simply not on your menu, and that is fine.
The entire point of the ITIN is that not having an SSN is the qualification, not the obstacle. That story is its own guide in this series.
The IRS states it in one clean list. An ITIN does not qualify you for Social Security benefits or the Earned Income Tax Credit, does not provide or change immigration status, does not authorize you to work in the US, and does not serve as identification outside the federal tax system.
Inside its lane, though, it is the key that matters: a TIN must be furnished on returns, statements and other tax related documents, and that same number is what plugs a non-resident into American banking and credit.
"You have the record for the fastest ITIN we have ever processed. We did it in 37 days."
Davide Vignoli
Client
"My ITIN was delivered in 1 month and 2 weeks. Really happy with the process and I am gearing up for my trip to Miami now."
Thor M.
Client
"Got my ITIN within 6 weeks thanks to you and the whole team. I just filled out a form and waited and it came to my mail."
Chris M.
Client
"I got the ITIN as promised, FASTER than I was promised. I got the corporation and everything is done, and whenever I have a question I get my answers right away."
Michael Niziolek
Client
"Got my ITIN in 40-50 days and now I have 2 credit cards already. The experience has been amazing with hands-on support from the team."
Andrew Menechian
Client
"The LLC is fine, the EIN was fine, the ITIN's all good, got the bank accounts remotely, so everything went pretty good."
Neil Ateem
Client
"The process was super quick and easy. Whoever is behind the scenes in your team, they are on it, very communicative."
Povilas
Client
"I have a company in Lithuania doing $5-6m in ad spend through my debit card. I didn't know AMEX existed until I met Miquel and he explained how I was leaving money on the table."
Antonio Leao
Client
"You have the record for the fastest ITIN we have ever processed. We did it in 37 days."
Davide Vignoli
Client
"My ITIN was delivered in 1 month and 2 weeks. Really happy with the process and I am gearing up for my trip to Miami now."
Thor M.
Client
"Got my ITIN within 6 weeks thanks to you and the whole team. I just filled out a form and waited and it came to my mail."
Chris M.
Client
"I got the ITIN as promised, FASTER than I was promised. I got the corporation and everything is done, and whenever I have a question I get my answers right away."
Michael Niziolek
Client
"Got my ITIN in 40-50 days and now I have 2 credit cards already. The experience has been amazing with hands-on support from the team."
Andrew Menechian
Client
"The LLC is fine, the EIN was fine, the ITIN's all good, got the bank accounts remotely, so everything went pretty good."
Neil Ateem
Client
"The process was super quick and easy. Whoever is behind the scenes in your team, they are on it, very communicative."
Povilas
Client
"I have a company in Lithuania doing $5-6m in ad spend through my debit card. I didn't know AMEX existed until I met Miquel and he explained how I was leaving money on the table."
Yes, in the sense that matters: you hold the ITIN personally while your company holds the EIN. A non-US founder running a US LLC typically ends up with exactly that pair.
Does an ITIN turn into an SSN later?
No. They are separate systems. The ITIN exists precisely for people not eligible for an SSN; if you ever become SSN-eligible, the Social Security Administration is the path for that number.
Is an ITIN valid identification outside of taxes?
The IRS is explicit about what an ITIN does not do: it does not serve as identification outside the federal tax system, does not authorize work in the US, does not provide or change immigration status, and does not qualify you for Social Security benefits.
What does an ITIN look like?
It is a 9-digit number beginning with 9, formatted like an SSN. That format is also why US forms and systems process it so smoothly.
How is each number obtained?
SSN: through the Social Security Administration with Form SS-5. ITIN: through the IRS with Form W-7, or done for you in a two minute form with a passport scan. EIN: from the IRS for the business, included with First Class Citizen's LLC service.
Which number does First Class Citizen get me?
The ITIN, done for you, quoted at 45 to 60 days. If you are building the company side too, the EIN arrives with the US LLC service. The SSN is the one number that is not theirs or yours to request as a non-resident.
Know your number in one call
Freelancer, founder, investor or spouse: the assessment call tells you which numbers your situation actually needs, in what order. Free, qualified, clear.
