If you do not live in the United States but want to have access to its credit system, it is possible to do so by obtaining an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).

This is a 9-digit number issued by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for federal tax purposes.

An ITIN is issued if you are not eligible for a Social Security Number (SSN), and it is specific to foreign nationals.

TheITIN.com

Applying for an ITIN is a relatively simple process but can be tedious for anyone unfamiliar with the U.S. tax system (which should be your case if you are reading this), which is why we tried to find alternatives that offer an effective process, with little friction and at a reasonable cost to be able to recommend it to our audience. TheITIN.com meets those 3 requirements.

Here is what you need before filling out the application to obtain the ITIN

If you have a registered business in the United States, you need:

• Basic company details and documents

• Employer Identification Number (EIN)

• Scanned valid passport

If you do not have a registered business in the United States, you need:

• Scanned valid passport

Between 8 and 14 weeks

The ITIN application and issuance process takes between 8 and 14 weeks. During tax season, it can take between 10 and 14 weeks. Tax season begins in mid-January and ends in mid-April.

Once you have your ITIN, keep it active

To keep the ITIN active, you must use it on a federal tax return at least once every three years; otherwise, it will expire due to inactivity.

It is recommended to file taxes every year. It does not mean you are going to pay taxes in the United States, simply file. You can file $0 in income, if that is the case. The important thing is to file the tax return to keep the ITIN active.