Do I need an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number?
The
Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a tax processing number used by the US government’s tax division: the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). An ITIN is required for international students and scholars who do not have a Social Security Number and are receiving non-employment based income (such as scholarships, dividends, royalties, etc.).
If your need for an ITIN is related to your having received a scholarship, fellowship, or honorarium, please contact NYU's Global Payroll and Tax Compliance team at nyu.glacier@nyu.edu to determine the appropriate method for applying for the ITIN (in-person meeting, filing with your tax return, or visiting a taxpayer assistance center). For other ITIN applicants, you may make an appointment at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center to certify your documents. Please
contact your local center for their availability, or call the national call center at 844-545-5640, and let the operator know you are filing for an ITIN and give them your zip code.
Please note that OGS does not recommend mailing your physical passport or original I-20 to the IRS under any circumstances, as this could result in further delays including your documents getting lost in the mail with no guarantee that they will ever be returned to you. It may be possible to get your passport officially certified by the consulate or embassy of the country that issued your passport. This certified copy can be sent in lieu of a physical passport. Please contact your local consulate to see if this is an option for you.