Some individuals who live, study, or conduct business in the United States obtain an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to comply with U.S. tax laws. However, a common misconception persists — that having an ITIN allows someone to work legally in the United States.

The truth is: an ITIN does not provide work authorization.

What Is an ITIN?

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issues ITINs for federal tax purposes. It allows individuals who are not eligible for a Social Security Number (SSN)—such as certain nonresidents, dependents of U.S. citizens, or undocumented immigrants—to file tax returns and meet their tax obligations.

What an ITIN Does Not Do

While the ITIN may be a tax compliance tool, it does not grant any immigration or employment rights. Specifically:

  • It does not authorize individuals to work in the United States.
  • It cannot be used to complete Form I-9, the employment eligibility verification required by all U.S. employers.
  • It does not make individuals eligible for Social Security benefits or change their immigration status.

Employers who hire individuals with only an ITIN and no work authorization risk serious penalties, including fines for hiring unauthorized workers and exposure to immigration enforcement.

Who Can Work Legally in the US?

To work lawfully, a non-immigrant must have:

  • A valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD) issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS); or
  • A work-authorized visa (such as H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN, or E-2, among others).

Each of these paths requires a separate application and approval process distinct from obtaining an ITIN.

Why It Still May Make Sense to Get an ITIN

Even though it does not authorize work, having an ITIN allows nonresidents and certain undocumented individuals to:

  • File tax returns and demonstrate compliance with U.S. tax laws;
  • Receive certain tax refunds or credits (if eligible);
  • Build a financial record that may be useful in future immigration or legalization efforts.

Key Takeaway

An ITIN is a tax identification tool, not a work permit. Before accepting employment or engaging in business activities, individuals may wish to consult an experienced immigration attorney to explore their options for obtaining lawful work authorization.

Tags: employment authorization, GT Insight, immigration
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Photo of Kate Kalmykov Kate Kalmykov

Kate Kalmykov is based in our New York and New Jersey offices and has over two decades of experience in business immigration matters. Kate currently Co-Chairs the Global Immigration & Compliance Practice at Greenberg Traurig. In this role, she works with employers of

…

Kate Kalmykov is based in our New York and New Jersey offices and has over two decades of experience in business immigration matters. Kate currently Co-Chairs the Global Immigration & Compliance Practice at Greenberg Traurig. In this role, she works with employers of all sizes across a variety of industries in understanding and complying with the immigration laws relating to the hiring and retention of foreign talent. Specifically, her practice focuses on supporting clients and advising them on temporary and permanent residency immigration options for multi-national executive, business, scientific, and information technology personnel. In addition, her practice provides support to companies in the global transfer of personnel. Known by her clients for her out-of-the-box thinking, responsiveness and hands-on approach, Kate is often called upon to assist in developing immigration options and strategies in the most unique circumstances and to respond to complex Requests for Evidence (RFEs), Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs) or to appeal denied cases. Likewise, she has also been instrumental in developing employer compliance programs for DOL related filings including H-1Bs and PERMs, as well as for I-9 employment eligibility verification. To this end, she develops and conducts nationwide I-9 compliance trainings and policy manuals for human resources personnel, advises on best practices for E-Verify employers, provides guidance on avoiding immigration-related unfair employment practices claims and has defended and minimized penalties in immigration-related government audits. Kate regularly works with professionals from the firm’s labor, employment, tax and benefits groups, to provide strategic planning on immigration issues within a cross-border framework.

Kate also has deep experience working on all aspects of the EB-5 immigrant investor program. Kate has worked with real estate developers, private equity funds, and other organizations on applications to designate new EB-5 Regional Centers, applications for pre-approval of EB-5 projects; having projects adopted by existing EB-5 Regional Centers; structuring projects to be EB-5 compliant, the sale of existing EB-5 Regional Centers, preparing template I-526 petitions and advice on structuring direct EB-5 projects. Pursuant to the requirements introduced under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act, Kate works with EB-5 Regional Centers, EB-5 Projects, Overseas Migration Agents and Broker/ Dealers to develop internal programs for ongoing compliance and to prepare USCIS I-956, I-956F, I-956,G, I-956H, I-956K submissions. Kate has represented thousands of investors in obtaining their green cards through EB-5 regional center projects, as well as direct EB-5 investment opportunities. She also represented and structured the largest EB-5 offering in the Program’s history and has over the course of her career structured over $12 billion in EB-5 deals.

Within the field of immigration law, Kate is a well-known speaker and author. She is often called upon by various media outlets to comment on topics of business immigration law including the Real Deal, the Wall Street Journal, and Law360. Kate has appeared on numerous TV programs related to immigration law including CNN, the Stoler Report, Vietface TV, and China Business Network. Kate is also a prolific writer on the topic of immigration and has been published in immigration practice handbooks for the American Bar Association, American Immigration Lawyers Association, ILW, and in news periodicals that include the New Jersey Lawyer, the New York Law Journal, the New Jersey Law Journal, USA Today, GlobeSt.com, and the Commercial Observer. At the request of the American Bar Association, Kate co-authored the book “What Every Lawyer Needs to Know About Immigration Law,” a guide for non-lawyers on immigration law practice. She has sat on numerous bar association related committees including the American Immigration Lawyers Association EB-5 Practice Committee, the New Jersey Business Immigration Coalition and has chaired the American Bar Association’s, Committee on Immigration and Naturalization, Section of Administrative Law since 2011. Kate has been recognized in various legal surveys including Chambers Global, New York Super Lawyers, the New Jersey Law Journal who ranked as her as a “New Leader of the Bar,” (formerly 40 under 40) in 2012, NJBIZ “Best 50 Women in Business,” 2019, National Law Review, “Go-To Thought Leader: Immigration Law,” 2022, and Lawdragon 500, Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyers, 2020-2022.

Kate is devoted to pro bono matters and has spent extensive time helping clients fleeing conflict and persecution with asylum applications, applying for and obtaining Temporary Protected Status and Humanitarian Parole.

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