How to Get a Tax ID in Pennsylvania

Tax identification numbers are used by the IRS to identify an individual or business entity.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) uses a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), or tax ID number, to identify individuals and business entities. Tax ID numbers are issued by the IRS and the Social Security Administration (SSA), and the kind of tax ID you must obtain (depending upon if you are an individual or business entity) determines which federal agency issues your tax ID number.

Instructions

1. Determine which kind of tax identification number you will need based upon your specific circumstances--there are several different kinds of taxpayer identification numbers, and the kind you require is based upon whether you file as an individual or a business entity.

2. Visit the SSA website or your local SSA office in Pennsylvania if you require a Social Security number to use as your tax identification number (for those filing as an individual rather than as a business). Be prepared to furnish appropriate proof of identity, age, and citizenship status, including but not limited to a birth certificate, as a part of the application process.

3. Download and complete the Application For A Social Security Card form (Form SS-5) from the SSA website or pick it up at your local SSA office. Mail it in or return it to an SSA office along with the required supplementary documentation.

4. Obtain the appropriate forms that match your specific circumstance either by visiting any of the local IRS offices in Pennsylvania or by downloading the forms from the official IRS website (see Resources) if you require any of the other kinds of taxpayer ID numbers (not a Social Security number). These forms include Form SS-4 for an Employer Identification Number (EIN), Form W-7 for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), Form W-7A for an Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number (ATIN), and Form W-7P for a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN).

5. Be prepared to furnish satisfactory proof of identification in order to establish your identify during the application process when you apply online or in person at a Pennsylvania IRS office.

References

• IRS: Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN)
• Social Security Administration: Requesting an Original Social Security Number

Resources

• IRS: Contact My Local Office in Pennsylvania
• Social Security Administration: Application for a Social Security Number (Form SS-5)
• IRS: Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) Online