What an ITIN is for
An ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) lets people who can't get a Social Security number file a US tax return. You get one with Form W-7. Filing matters because if tax was withheld from your pay, filing is how you claim any refund you're owed.
The myth: "ITIN filers get nothing back" is false. You recover any over-withheld tax the same as anyone else, and some credits still apply.
What ITIN filers CAN claim in 2026
- Your refund — all federal tax withheld above what you owe.
- The $500 Credit for Other Dependents (ODC) — available for qualifying dependents, including ITIN dependents.
- California's CalEITC — California's earned income credit explicitly accepts ITIN filers (up to a few thousand dollars, depending on income and family size).
What now requires an SSN
After the 2025 law, the Child Tax Credit requires the filer to have a work-valid Social Security number, and the federal EITC requires an SSN for the taxpayer, spouse and children. So an ITIN filer generally can't claim the federal CTC or EITC — but the $500 ODC for dependents still applies, and state credits like CalEITC don't follow the federal SSN rule.
Bottom line: file. Between your refund, the $500 ODC and state credits, ITIN filers routinely leave money unclaimed by not filing.
See what you're owed with an ITIN →
Free tool: your refund and credits as an ITIN filer, with the post-2025 rules applied correctly.