Your Taxpayer ID Number (TIN) is basically the social security number of the adulting world—except for your taxes. For most people in the U.S., it is your Social Security Number (SSN). But if you’re a business, a nonprofit, or an alien (from another country, not Mars), you might have an Employer Identification Number (EIN) or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Surprising fact: The IRS issued over 4 million new EINs last year alone. That’s more EINs than the number of people who actually enjoy doing their taxes—which is roughly zero.
The Wallet Shuffle: The Most Obvious Place to Look
Start with the classic hiding spot: your physical wallet. If you carry a Social Security card (which you probably shouldn’t, but no judgment here), you’ll find the number right there, printed in charmingly tiny font. If that’s not an option, check your driver’s license—wait, that only has your license number, not your TIN. Sorry, that was a red herring. But your pay stub? Bingo. Your employer’s payroll department loves to plaster your SSN on those little white slips of despair.
Even funnier: your old W-2 forms from previous years are gold mines. If you’ve filed taxes before, just dig through that shoebox labeled “Important Stuff I’ll Forget About.” Inside, you’ll find a treasure trove of numbers, including your TIN, alongside receipts for a 2017 pet rock you tried to deduct as a dependent.
