What "TIN" means in Canada and the U.S.
A taxpayer identification number is a number a tax authority uses to identify you. The IRS defines a TIN as an identification number used in the administration of U.S. tax laws, issued by the Social Security Administration (an SSN) or by the IRS (all the others).IRS
Canada does not use the letters TIN in the same way. If you search "tax ID Canada" you are usually looking for your SIN or, for a business, your BN. If a U.S. payer, platform or bank asked for your "TIN", they mean a U.S. number, or the tax ID your country of residence gave you. For a resident of Canada, the IRS names the SIN as that number.IRS
SIN vs BN vs SSN vs ITIN vs EIN
| Number | Country | Identifies | Issued by |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIN | Canada | A person | Government of Canada.Canada.ca |
| BN | Canada | A business | Canada Revenue Agency.CRA |
| SSN | U.S. | A person eligible to work or live in the U.S. | Social Security Administration.IRS |
| ITIN | U.S. | A person who needs a U.S. tax ID but cannot get an SSN | The IRS.IRS |
| EIN | U.S. | A business entity, trust or estate | The IRS.IRS |
Our guides on ITIN vs SSN and ITIN vs EIN explain the U.S. ones.
Which number you need, by situation
| If you need to | Use |
|---|---|
| File a Canadian tax return | Your SIN.Canada.ca |
| Register a Canadian business with the CRA | A Business Number.CRA |
| File a U.S. return or claim a treaty benefit, with no SSN | An ITIN, applied for with Form W-7. See ITIN for Canadians.IRS |
| Give a U.S. payer your tax ID on a W-8BEN | Your SIN as foreign TIN, or an ITIN if the treaty claim requires one. See the W-8BEN guide. |
| Form a U.S. LLC or company and file U.S. taxes | An EIN. See EIN for Canadians.IRS |
Nolly.com charges US$199 for a Standard ITIN application and US$265 for Priority, one time. Most applicants also need a U.S. tax return: from $199, quoted before you pay. Money back if the IRS rejects your ITIN application. Terms apply. The IRS says to allow about 9 to 11 weeks when you apply from overseas or during tax season. Timing depends on the IRS.IRS
Your questions answered
Only if they have a U.S. federal tax purpose and cannot get an SSN, for example filing a U.S. return or claiming certain treaty benefits.IRS
Apply with Form W-7, a U.S. return unless you meet an exception, and a valid passport. You can use an acceptance agent.IRS Our ITIN for Canadians page has the steps.
The IRS charges nothing. Nolly.com charges US$199 for a Standard ITIN application and US$265 for Priority, one time. Most applicants also need a U.S. tax return: from $199, quoted before you pay. Money back if the IRS rejects your ITIN application. Terms apply.
More questions? See the full Nolly.com FAQ.
How we checked this
Every IRS fact on this page comes from IRS.gov or the other official pages listed below and was checked on October 2, 2026. Nolly.com's own prices are the only exception. Nolly.com is a private company and is not part of the IRS.
Nolly Services Inc, d/b/a Nolly.com, appears on the IRS page Acceptance agents – Canada. Nolly.com is a private company and isn't part of the IRS.
- Instructions for Form W-7 (Rev. 12-2024)https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iw7
- Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)https://www.irs.gov/individuals/individual-taxpayer-identification-number
- Get an employer identification numberhttps://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/get-an-employer-identification-number
- Taxpayer identification numbers (TIN)https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/taxpayer-identification-numbers-tin
- Social Insurance Number (SIN)https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/sin.html
- Business number and CRA program accountshttps://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/businesses/topics/business-registration/business-number-program-account.html
Checked against IRS.gov on October 2, 2026. General information, not tax advice.
