What Is an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number)? Definition and Use

Definition

ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) - An ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) is a personal US tax ID the IRS issues to individuals ineligible for a Social Security Number who have a US tax obligation.

An ITIN is personal, distinct from the business EIN. A non-resident who owns a US LLC applies for one on Form W-7, attaching a certified passport copy or original, usually alongside a US tax return that creates the filing need. For example, a foreign owner who must file Form 1040-NR for US-source income, or whose bank or payment processor demands a beneficial owner's US tax ID, obtains an ITIN to satisfy that requirement.

The common misconception is that an ITIN grants work authorization or immigration status, or that every LLC owner needs one. It does neither and they do not. An ITIN is strictly a tax identifier issued so people outside the SSN system can meet US tax reporting duties. Many non-resident owners never need one because a single-member LLC can get its EIN with the responsible party marked Foreign, and the owner may have no personal US filing requirement.

For Anonymousllc.co customers in Wyoming, New Mexico, Delaware, and Nevada, an ITIN never appears on any public record, so it does not touch the LLC's state-level anonymity. It surfaces only when a bank, processor, or personal tax filing calls for it. Anonymousllc.co prepares ITIN applications at $299 standalone, handling the W-7 and certified identity documentation so non-resident owners can meet the requirement without a US visit.