Apply for ITN Canada

What is an Individual Tax Number (ITN)? 

If you are not qualified for a Social Insurance Number, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will use your Tax Number (ITN) to identify you for tax reasons (SIN).

If any of the following apply to you as an international student who is not qualified for a SIN:

If you receive a scholarship from any university

To ensure the university can produce your T4A tax forms, you must input a SIN or ITN into your Student Service Centre (SSC) before January.

You need to submit your tax return

Depending on your circumstances, you might need to submit a tax return as an international student who is currently residing in Canada.

It is recommended to apply for ITN if: 

• file a tax return in Canada
• Dispose of taxable Canadian property by applying to waive or decrease 
• Canadian withholding tax on payments that you receive.

Even if your circumstances change, an ITN can only be issued once. It is worthwhile to apply for an ITN since not having one might result in paying more withholding tax than necessary or preventing you from receiving some tax breaks.

Suitable Candidates

No matter what their immigration status is, both residents and nonresidents can get an ITIN. If a person is not qualified for an SSN, they can apply for an ITIN on behalf of themselves, their spouses, and any dependents. Who could require an ITIN?

non-resident aliens who must submit tax returns

Dependents or the spouse of a U.S. citizen or resident alien Resident aliens who must submit a tax return owing to the number of days they have spent in the country Nonresident alien visa holders’ dependents or spouses

An ITIN can also be obtained by taxpayers who reside overseas.

The Application

The ITIN is a nine-digit number with an SSN-like structure. You must complete IRS Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, to request an ITIN. To complete this one-page application, you must:

Name, birth name, and place of birth, if different

Identification proof, such as a passport, driver’s license, or other government-issued identification, should be included with the application. Foreign immigration or status documents, either in original form or certified copies

If you’ve already used an ITIN, you must disclose that number on your application.

Final message

Individual Tax Number (ITN) is a crucial number for your documents and is especially important during tax season. It is a nine digit number that Canadians, non-residents, and residents can take. In case of any difficulty, reach out to the CRA or any expert for better understanding.