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Closer look deactivating accounts that have a ITIN number

January 02, 2024 11:00PM
Has anyone else been deactivated by a closer look because you have a ITIN number as your equivalent for a social security number? I am British and have been married to an American for 8 years, I am a permanent resident and have been issued an ITIN number for tax and work purposes. I use my ITIN number with all of the other companies that I’ve done shops with, some pay via my PayPal and some direct to bank and I’ve had issues with none. Today i was unable to log into a closer look without updating details for their new E pay, I entered my details and was then shown a message saying that can not accept an ITIN and to contact chat support. I contacted them and was told they can not accept and ITIN and that I must use my social security number, they did not get it when I explained a foreign permanent resident does not have a SSN they get given an ITIN. They then sent me a email saying that they have unassigned my upcoming shops and deactivated my account and to feel free to contact them when I can provide a SSN. It’s very disappointing that they are doing this, I actually enjoyed a lot of the assignments I did for them. I hope I won’t have issues being paid for all of the work I’ve done up to now.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/02/2024 11:03PM by Sshops77.
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More About Deactivation
January 05, 2024 11:05PM
I have known many non Americans working here in the US. If your status allows you to work in this country there should be no reason why you cannot get an SSN. I live in Los Angeles where a huge percentage of workers here are not US citizens but if they are legally working they have an SSN. Perhaps you need to contact the social security people and find out what the issue is in your case. I did take a look by googling and found that an ITIN does not take the place of a SSN and cannot be used for working in most cases.
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January 06, 2024 12:12AM
OP: This is from the IRS website: "The IRS issues ITINs for federal tax purposes, and ITINs should be used for tax reporting only. ITINs do not authorize a person to work in the U.S. or provide eligibility for Social Security benefits."

If you are indeed entitled to work in the US, then you are eligible to obtain an SSN. An ITIN does not authorize you to work in the US. Ask the Social Security Administration for an SSN.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
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January 06, 2024 02:25AM
@Sshops77 wrote:

Has anyone else been deactivated by a closer look because you have a ITIN number as your equivalent for a social security number? I am British and have been married to an American for 8 years, I am a permanent resident and have been issued an ITIN number for tax and work purposes. I use my ITIN number with all of the other companies that I’ve done shops with, some pay via my PayPal and some direct to bank and I’ve had issues with none. Today i was unable to log into a closer look without updating details for their new E pay, I entered my details and was then shown a message saying that can not accept an ITIN and to contact chat support. I contacted them and was told they can not accept and ITIN and that I must use my social security number, they did not get it when I explained a foreign permanent resident does not have a SSN they get given an ITIN. They then sent me a email saying that they have unassigned my upcoming shops and deactivated my account and to feel free to contact them when I can provide a SSN. It’s very disappointing that they are doing this, I actually enjoyed a lot of the assignments I did for them. I hope I won’t have issues being paid for all of the work I’ve done up to now.

An EIN number is almost as good as an SSN. You would have to figure out your own taxes, though.
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