If you’ve worked a regular job in the last year, your Taxpayer ID—in this case, your Social Security Number—is plastered right on your W-2 form. It’s that little box labeled “b,” which stands for “employer’s ID,” but your SSN is right next to it in box “a.” It’s like the phone number of your financial life: always there, always waiting.
The same goes for any 1099 forms if you’re a freelancer. You know, those envelopes you find in January that make you feel like a legitimate business owner until you realize you have to pay taxes. Your ITIN or SSN will be printed right there, usually in a little square that makes you wonder why you didn’t just memorize it.
If you can’t find a W-2, check your employer’s online portal. Most companies have a “Tax Documents” section that’s better hidden than the secret menu at In-N-Out. But it’s there—I promise.
