TIN - Taxpayer Identification Number

moncs

Hi

We have a relative from the USA and she plans to leave part of her estate to us when she passes on.

She suggested that we/I need to request a TIN number from the US government in order to save hassle with taxes etc when she passes.

Has anyone had to do this before and if so, is it an easy process?


TIA
Scott

moncs

A small update.

I called the Philadelphia International Customer Service Site as advised by my local consulate, however they said I don't a TIN until I plan to have a tax payment to make.

Does not make sense to me, it means that I have to wait until my family member passes on and then apply for this.

ViolaLass

This is a UK site, we won't be best placed to advise you.

moncs

ViolaLass wrote: »

This is a UK site, we won't be best placed to advise you.

I know, I live in Scotland. I just wondered if any UK based people have had the need to request a TIN from the US and what there experiences were.

Ci_bach

Strangely - I am in the process of inheriting an Investment Bond and have today received an Individual Self Certification Form from the Wealth Management Company (based in England).

It asks me to list all countries that I am resident in for tax purposes & the associated Tax Identification Number.

I am resident in England and have never lived or paid any kind of tax abroad. The deceased was resident in England and had never lived or paid tax abroad for some 50 + years (Australia).

Therefore, I have no TIN to produce

So, under the column headed Country/Countries of Tax residency - I put Great Britain. The column for TIN - I have left blank.

I have sent off the form and will see what happens.

The form states that 'if you are a US citizen you must include United States in this table along with your US Tax Identification Number'

My thought is that if you are a UK citizen and you are resident in the UK for tax purposes, you wont have a TIN.

The form refers to International Tax Compliance Regulations and states that the Wealth Management firm are obliged to share information even if they are UK tax residents investing in their products. Although I am a UK resident for tax purposes, I suppose the Company aren't to know this until I tell them??

Hope this has shed a bit of light on your query. Still a bit puzzled myself!

Perhaps your relative in the US could ask her advisors regarding the situation for someone who is not a US resident for tax purposes.

Hopefully someone will be along shortly with more information

BobQ

Have you read the IRS website. At least you can prepare to make the application by understanding the process

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/obtaining-an-itin-from-abroad

p00hsticks

Ci_bach wrote: »

Strangely - I am in the process of inheriting an Investment Bond and have today received an Individual Self Certification Form from the Wealth Management Company (based in England).

It asks me to list all countries that I am resident in for tax purposes & the associated Tax Identification Number.

FYI, this has been discussed previously over on the Cutting Tax board https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5440564
The first post on that thread suggests that for UK citizens the 'TIN' is your NI number, but I'm not sure if that is really the case.

Ci_bach

Thanks BobQ and p00hsticks

Interesting reading on the links you both gave.

Why is it assumed the respondents would have a TIN and why is there no substitute for those who don't have a TIN? (just some idle musing of mine)

The form did not ask for my NINO - so I did not give it!

BobQ

Ci_bach wrote: »

Thanks BobQ and p00hsticks

Interesting reading on the links you both gave.

Why is it assumed the respondents would have a TIN and why is there no substitute for those who don't have a TIN? (just some idle musing of mine)!

I do not think it is assumed.

As I read it the TIN is a generic name for a number of different reference numbers: Social Security Number "SSN"; Employer Identification Number "EIN" etc. Most US citizens and residents will have one of these numbers.

One form of TIN is the I-TIN which is what you will need.Regarding the I-TIN It says alien taxpayers "who need one" can apply in some other countries implying that you do not always need one. It is the I-TIN that is relevant to non-resident or resident aliens. And yes you are an alien as far as they are concerned.

The form did not ask for my NINO - so I did not give it

The TIN is the term used in international law, each nation refers to its own name for it. in the UK NI Number and Universal Tax Code are examples. But they only apply to tax paid in the UK.

I found this on the West Bromwich Building Society site:

A Tax Identification Number (TIN) is an identifying number used for tax purposes. Most countries / jurisdictions issue these to identify their taxpayers and facilitate the administration of their national tax affairs. Each country / jurisdiction will have its own structure (combinations of letters / numbers / symbols and digit length) and refer to it by its own terminology such as National Insurance Number, Social Security Number, Employer Identification Number or Personal Identification Number.

In order to comply with new international tax agreements, financial institutions such as the West Brom are required to collect and record the countries or jurisdictions in which customers are tax resident plus Tax Identification Number(s) for customers who are tax resident outside the UK.

Financial institutions must then provide HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) with annual reports containing certain account information (including tax residencies and TINs) for its customers who:

(i) have one or more tax residencies outside the UK; and

(ii) where the country / jurisdiction in which they are tax resident has entered into the international tax agreements.

HMRC will, in turn, provide this information to the relevant country’s / jurisdiction’s tax authority.