ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number)
Also known as: Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, tax ID number
A nine-digit IRS-issued identifier for people who file U.S. tax returns but do not have a Social Security number, including undocumented workers, certain non-resident aliens, and foreign nationals with U.S. tax obligations. Some lenders accept an ITIN in place of an SSN on a personal-loan application.
Full definition
The Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), issued by the IRS, allows people without a Social Security number to file federal taxes, claim certain credits, and (at participating financial institutions) open accounts and borrow. ITINs always begin with 9 and have 7 or 8 in the fourth digit, distinguishing them from SSNs. For personal-loan underwriting, ITIN-only applicants typically work with community development financial institutions (CDFIs), credit unions with explicit ITIN-friendly products, or specialised online lenders. The credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) accept ITIN-based files, so an ITIN holder can build a credit history through secured cards or credit-builder loans, then qualify for unsecured personal loans on the strength of that history.
- Written by
- Get Advance Loan Editorial Team
- Reviewed by
- Compliance Review
- Published
- January 15, 2026
- Last reviewed
- May 22, 2026
- Pre-qualificationA preliminary check that estimates the loan terms you might qualify for, based on a soft credit inquiry that does not affect your score.
- Pre-approvalA stronger lending check than pre-qualification, often involving a hard credit inquiry and a conditional commitment from the lender.
- UnderwritingThe lender's process of evaluating credit, income, identity, and risk before approving and pricing a loan.
- Co-signerA second person who agrees to repay your loan if you don't. A strong-credit co-signer can help you qualify or lower your APR.
- Co-applicantA second borrower who shares both the obligation to repay and access to the funds. Different from a co-signer.
- Promissory noteThe signed legal document in which a borrower promises to repay a loan according to specified terms. The promissory note is the loan's enforceable contract.
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