{"id":32042,"date":"2026-03-19T09:24:15","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T13:24:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/household\/?p=32042"},"modified":"2026-03-19T16:32:47","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T20:32:47","slug":"employ-nanny-itin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/household\/employ-nanny-itin\/","title":{"rendered":"Can I Employ a Nanny who has an ITIN?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"employ-nanny-itin\"

What happens if your employee provides an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number instead of a Social Security Number? While an ITIN and an SSN may seem similar, they are vastly different. Employing a nanny who has an ITIN rather than an SSN can get you into trouble.<\/p><\/div>\n

After hiring a nanny and preparing to handle payroll and taxes<\/a>, your employee may provide an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)<\/a> instead of a Social Security Number (SSN).<\/p>\n

While an ITIN and an SSN may seem similar \u2013 both are nine-digit numbers formatted like NNN-NN-NNNN \u2013 they are vastly different.<\/p>\n

Employing a nanny who has an ITIN rather than an SSN can get you into trouble.<\/p>\n

What is an ITIN?<\/h2>\n

An ITIN is a tax processing number issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to individuals who are required to have a U.S. taxpayer identification number but do not have an SSN or are not eligible to obtain one.<\/p>\n

An ITIN will always start with the number 9.<\/p>\n

How is an ITIN used?<\/h2>\n

Having an ITIN helps individuals comply with U.S. tax laws and provides a means to efficiently process and account for tax returns and payments for those not eligible for SSNs.<\/p>\n

For example, a non-resident alien who is a college student or researcher may receive taxable payments, such as fellowships, scholarships, awards, and\/or honorariums. They need a way to report those payments to the IRS, even though they can\u2019t obtain an SSN.<\/p>\n

An immigrant in the U.S. who has applied for legal status to work in the country would need an ITIN to file a tax return while waiting for a decision on employment authorization.<\/p>\n

ITINs are issued regardless of immigration status, as both resident and nonresident aliens may have a U.S. filing or reporting requirement under the Internal Revenue Code.<\/p>\n

ITINs do not serve any purpose other than federal tax reporting.<\/p>\n

Most importantly, an ITIN does not authorize work in the U.S., provide legal immigration status, or prove an individual\u2019s legal presence in the country.<\/strong><\/p>\n

How is an SSN different from an ITIN?<\/h2>\n

An SSN is issued by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to individuals who were born in the U.S. or are authorized to work in the U.S. To obtain an SSN, you also must submit evidence of your identity, age, and U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status.<\/p>\n

SSNs are allotted to citizens and certain non-citizen residents, while ITINs are distributed to both resident and non-resident aliens.<\/p>\n

What can happen if I employ a nanny who has an ITIN?<\/h2>\n

When paying a nanny with an ITIN, Social Security contributions (both employer and employee) may not be credited to your employee because they don\u2019t have an SSN.<\/p>\n

In January, when filing Form W-2 with the SSA, you may receive notices and fines for filing a W-2 that didn\u2019t have an SSN.<\/p>\n

Also,\u00a0U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services says that<\/a> employing an undocumented worker can result in<\/span> civil fines and criminal penalties. USCIS could also initiate removal proceedings against your employee if it is determined that they are engaging in unauthorized employment. If found guilty, they could be deported.<\/p>\n

What should I do if my nanny has an ITIN?<\/h2>\n

If your nanny is authorized to work in the U.S., they should obtain an SSN as soon as possible. They can apply online<\/a>. Then use the SSN on all tax documents going forward.<\/p>\n

Again, if your nanny is not authorized to work in the U.S. and cannot get an SSN, you could face fines and criminal penalties by continuing to employ them.<\/p>\n

Hiring a nanny?<\/h2>\n

Download Your Guide to Hiring a Nanny. In this guide, we lay out the steps to hiring a nanny the right way and maintaining a strong relationship with your employee.
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