Many immigrants who work steadily in the U.S. do not have Social Security numbers. However, it may be against the law not to file an income tax return even though the government will not allow the person to have an SSN. Fortunately, it is possible to obtain an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Many people don't want to pay taxes! However, there are several benefits of getting an ITIN and paying them: you can claim a tax refund from the IRS; you can claim the child tax credit and file a joint tax return with a spouse; and it allows you to obtain tax exemptions for minor children. In addition, having a record of having paid taxes can be a major advantage if you ever become eligible to apply for an immigration status: it shows that you are of good moral character, and documents ... Read more