{"id":351557,"date":"2016-04-04T11:02:24","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T16:02:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/family\/adoption\/adoption-taxpayer-identification-number.html"},"modified":"2023-06-09T07:39:09","modified_gmt":"2023-06-09T12:39:09","slug":"adoption-taxpayer-identification-number","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/adoption\/adoption-taxpayer-identification-number.html","title":{"rendered":"Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number<\/h1>\n
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\n By Lisa Burden, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by John Mascolo, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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An Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number (ATIN) is a temporary taxpayer identification number that adoptive parents can request from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Parents request an ATIN if they are legally adopting<\/a> a child but can’t get a Social Security Number (SSN) before the deadline to file their tax return.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

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Do I Need an Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number?<\/h2>\r\n

You must have an IRS-issued identification number for a child if you wish to take any tax deductions and credits the government offers to help reduce the financial burden of raising kids.<\/p>\r\n

You can apply for an Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number (ATIN)<\/a> if the child has never had an SSN or if the child’s SSN is unknown.<\/p>\r\n

You can claim the adopted child on your tax return as a dependent<\/a> with the ATIN. If you are otherwise eligible, you can also use these tax credits once you have an ATIN:<\/p>\r\n