ITIN, EIN and BOI — What's the Difference?

First, one point: ITIN and EIN both relate to US tax matters, while BOI relates to corporate compliance. They are not exactly in the same field.

ITIN — Individual Taxpayer Identification Number

• Who it's for: foreign residents, non-resident aliens, and foreign investors without an SSN.
• What it's for: tax matters such as filing and refunds — and it can also be used for US credit cards, refund credits, and opening TikTok and Amazon stores.

EIN — Employer Identification Number

• Who it's for: businesses of all kinds — corporations, partnerships, sole proprietors, non-profits, trusts and estates.
• What it's for: tax filings, opening business bank accounts, paying employment taxes, business loans, and more.

BOI — Beneficial Ownership Information

• Who it's for: shareholders who own more than 25% of a company or hold control over it.
• What it's for: anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing, and corporate compliance reporting.

Most individuals with US tax obligations but no SSN will need the first one on that list. If that's your situation, you can apply for an ITIN tax number online without a US address.