To answer that question, we have to know what an ITIN is and how it differs from a SSN or an EIN.Ī SSN is a nine-digit identifying number that is in the format xxx-xx-xxxx.Īny individual who is a U.S. On June 30, 2014, the Internal Revenue Service announced that effective immediately “Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) will expire if not used on a federal income tax return for five consecutive years.” Does that mean that an individual's Social Security Number (SSN) or a business's Employer Identification Number (EIN) will expire if it is never used? ITIN, SSN, or EIN – What Is the Difference?