Guide · Money, Taxes & Banking
How to File Taxes With an ITIN
Filing with an ITIN works almost like filing with a Social Security number — with a few credits you can't claim, and free help nearby.
Once you have an ITIN, filing your federal return looks like anyone else's: same Form 1040, same deadline, same rules for income and deductions. The number just goes wherever the form would otherwise ask for a Social Security number. The differences that actually matter are which credits you qualify for — and the fact that, in New York City, you almost certainly don't have to pay anyone to prepare the return for you.
📄 Filing your federal return with an ITIN
You file Form 1040 like any other taxpayer, reporting your income and claiming the deductions you're eligible for. The federal deadline for your 2025 return is April 15, 2026; if you need more time, Form 4868 gets you an automatic extension to file until October 15 — though it doesn't extend the deadline to pay what you owe.
✅ What you can — and can't — claim
If you have a dependent with an ITIN who doesn't qualify for the Child Tax Credit, you can generally claim the $500 Credit for Other Dependents. What you can't claim: the Earned Income Tax Credit, which requires a valid Social Security number for the filer and every qualifying child, and — under current rules — the Child Tax Credit itself, since the filer now needs a valid SSN even if the child has one. Rules on these credits shift with tax legislation, so confirm your specific case each filing season.
🏙️ Free filing help: NYC's VITA network
NYC Free Tax Prep — the city's IRS-certified VITA and TCE program — prepares returns at no cost, including for ITIN filers, at more than 140 sites across all five boroughs. It's generally available to households earning roughly $68,000 or less without dependents, or up to around $97,000 with dependents; confirm the current-year limit when you book. Some sites can also help you apply for an ITIN through the same visit.
Do this first: find your nearest NYC Free Tax Prep site at nyc.gov/taxprep or the IRS's national locator at irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep before paying a storefront preparer for a return you likely qualify to get done for free.
Official source: NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, "NYC Free Tax Prep" (nyc.gov/taxprep), and IRS.gov.
Sources
1. NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, "NYC Free Tax Prep," nyc.gov, accessed August 2026. 2. Internal Revenue Service, "Who Qualifies for the Earned Income Tax Credit" and Child Tax Credit guidance, irs.gov, accessed August 2026.
Criollo News guides are practical explainers, not tax or legal advice — every case is different, and rules change. Confirm your situation with the IRS, a certified tax preparer (like NYC Free Tax Prep), or an accountant.