Check your Social Security card first. If you’re an SSN holder, that card is the holy grail. Lost it? Don’t panic—your SSN is probably on your last year’s tax return or your W-2 from work. Look for that little box that says “Employee’s social security number.”
If you’re hunting an ITIN, check your IRS CP565 notice. That’s the official letter they mailed you when they assigned it. (Spoiler: it’s usually a yellowish paper you threw in “the important pile.”) Dig through your filing cabinet or that shoebox labeled “Tax Stuff 2019.”
No luck? Check your bank statements or loan documents. Lenders and banks often ask for your Tax ID number, so it’s printed right there. (Just don’t confuse it with your account number—I almost did once. Awkward.)
