ITIN, which stands for Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, is a number that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issues to people who need to report their income on their tax returns.
If you’re not eligible to receive a Social Security Number (SSN) from the Social Security Administration, an ITIN is issued in its place, allowing you to file your taxes.
At Remitly, we’re here to provide you with everything you need to know about filing taxes in Pennsylvania with an ITIN.
How to file your Pennsylvania taxes with an ITIN number
When you file your Pennsylvania state taxes, you’ll complete Form PA-40 and include your ITIN in the box that says “SSN or ITIN.”
All taxpayers must file an income tax return in Pennsylvania, even if they qualify for special tax forgiveness (SP). This means you’ll need to submit a signed tax return first so that the state can determine whether or not you meet SP eligibility standards.
Some people who receive an ITIN are also eligible to receive the Child Tax Credit (CTC), depending on a few factors, including income. To receive the credit, your child must have an SSN, be a U.S. citizen, a U.S. national, or a U.S. resident alien, and not reach 17 by the end of the tax year.
If you can’t get a Social Security number, you may apply for an ITIN via several different methods, including Form W-7 or the Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). You can fill out the form on the IRS website and mail it in. Once you complete the form, submit it along with the required documentation and your annual income tax return.
Residents of Pennsylvania may also schedule an in-person appointment with an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center near you. Lastly, you can contact an IRS-authorized Certifying Acceptance Agent, which is an individual or entity authorized by the IRS to help immigrants obtain their ITIN. These two options prevent you from having to mail your proof of identification and foreign status documents with your return.
Here are some tips to help you file your Pennsylvania taxes with an ITIN number:
- Enter your ITIN number anywhere it asks for an “SSN or ITIN.”
- Gather your W-2, 1099, and any other forms you’ve received that show the amount of income you’ve earned for the year.
- Have a photo ID for yourself and your spouse (if applicable) on hand and a copy of your prior year’s tax return if you filed.
- Enter your bank account and routing number to receive your refund via direct deposit.
Who has to file state income tax in Pennsylvania?
- Every adult who lives and works in Pennsylvania for all or part of the year
- Those who received any income from any source in the state
Filing with Pennsylvania’s MyPATH system
You may file your Pennsylvania taxes virtually online or manually on paper. If you’d like to file them online, you may do so free of charge using the state’s myPATH system. You can also use a professional tax service like H&R Block. If you’re expecting a refund, filing your Pennsylvania state taxes online is a faster way to receive the refund.
You must file your taxes in paper form or using a different online method than the myPATH system if you have any income, expenses, or credits that myPATH does not permit or if you are a first-time filer and are not a resident of the state (i.e., you do not have a Pennsylvania driver’s license or state-issued photo ID).
Important 2024 tax deadlines for Pennsylvania residents
The final due date to file your Pennsylvania state tax return (and your federal return) and pay any outstanding balance is April 15, 2024.
Those outside the country automatically qualify for a two-month extension until June 15, 2024. If you receive an extension, the last date to send in your mailed tax form is October 15, 2024. Refer to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue website to learn more about important 2024 tax deadlines.
Eligibility requirements for getting an ITIN
Both resident and non-resident immigrants are eligible to receive an ITIN, regardless of their immigration status. It typically takes up to seven weeks to receive your ITIN from the IRS after you apply. Here are some examples of the eligibility criteria for obtaining an ITIN:
- You are a foreign national legally living in the United States who is filing a U.S. federal income tax return.
- You are an immigrant student, professor, or researcher living in the United States but don’t qualify for an SSN.
- You’re a dependent or spouse of a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident who must file a tax return, or you’re a dependent or spouse of a foreign national living on a temporary visa.
- You are a non-resident immigrant who is claiming a tax treaty benefit.
The benefits of obtaining an ITIN
Getting an ITIN does not automatically provide legal immigration status, and you can’t use it to prove you have a legal presence in the United States. It also doesn’t provide work authorization and is not used to prove work authorization on an I-9 form.
However, obtaining an ITIN allows you to file and/or pay your taxes without needing a Social Security Number. According to the IRS, 4.4 million ITIN filers paid over $23.6 billion in total taxes in 2015 alone. While you won’t be eligible to receive all of the tax and public benefits that U.S. citizens and other taxpayers get, you may be able to use the earnings you reported with your ITIN to count toward future benefits once you’re eligible for an SSN.
In addition to being able to file your state and federal income taxes, there are some other benefits to getting an ITIN, including:
- Some banks will let you use an ITIN in place of an SSN if you want to open a personal checking or savings account. This provides a safe and reliable place to keep your money while you’re in the United States.
- Getting a bank account may help you start building credit, which might allow you to receive a credit card, take out a personal loan, or buy a home in the future.
- Having an ITIN allows you to purchase health insurance for your U.S.-born children through the country’s Health Insurance Marketplace.
- You may be eligible to receive the Premium Tax Credit, or PTC, with an ITIN, which can help lower the insurance cost, although you must file your taxes using the ITIN to get the credit.
- Getting your ITIN allows you to conduct business and pay business taxes in the United States as a foreign national.
More tax resources in Pennsylvania
Here are some more tax resources for ITIN holders in the state of Pennsylvania:
- This link provides a list of IRS Acceptance Agents located in the state of Pennsylvania.
- The National Immigration Law Center has more information about ITINs and how to get one.
- VITA (Voluntary Income Tax Assistance) programs in the state help some households that earn less than $64,000 per year, older adults, people with disabilities, and non-English-speaking residents file their taxes free of charge.