SEE-1 - Preliminary Work and Taxpayer Data (16% of the exam) - Section 1.3

Identify taxpayer identification number requirements, including Social Security Numbers and ITINs, and document requirements for deductions and credits.

Identify when a taxpayer requires a Social Security Number, an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), or an Employer Identification Number, and recognise the preparer's own PTIN obligation. Understand that a paid preparer must satisfy due diligence requirements when claiming credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, including retaining supporting documentation.

SSNITINPTINPreparer due diligence

Practice question for this objective

Free samplePreliminary Work and Taxpayer Dataeasy

Priya Venkataraman files as head of household and claims a qualifying child who has only an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Priya herself holds a valid Social Security Number. For tax year 2024, what is the effect of the child's ITIN on Priya's eligibility to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) based on that child?

AThe child still qualifies for the EITC because the taxpayer claiming the credit holds a valid Social Security Number.
BThe child qualifies for the EITC once the ITIN has been renewed and is no longer in expired status.
CThe child cannot be a qualifying child for the EITC, because a qualifying child must have a valid Social Security Number issued for employment. Correct
DThe child qualifies for the EITC because an ITIN is treated as equivalent to a Social Security Number for refundable credits.

Recognise that the Earned Income Tax Credit requires a valid Social Security Number for the taxpayer, spouse, and each qualifying child, never an ITIN. The EITC statute conditions the credit on each relevant person having a Social Security Number valid for employment. Because an ITIN is issued only to people ineligible for an SSN, a child holding an ITIN can never be a qualifying child for EITC, regardless of the parent's own SSN or whether the ITIN is current.

Why A is wrong: It is tempting because the taxpayer's own SSN is necessary, but the rule also requires each qualifying child to have a valid SSN, so the parent's SSN alone does not make the child a qualifying child for EITC.

Why B is wrong: Renewing the ITIN keeps it valid for filing purposes, but an ITIN of any status can never substitute for the SSN that the EITC requires for a qualifying child, so renewal does not help.

Why C is correct: The EITC requires that the taxpayer, the spouse on a joint return, and any qualifying child each have a valid Social Security Number; an ITIN does not satisfy this requirement, so the child cannot support an EITC claim.

Why D is wrong: An ITIN is issued for federal tax reporting by people who cannot get an SSN, but it is not equivalent to an SSN and does not unlock SSN-only refundable credits such as the EITC.

See more SEE-1 practice questions, answers explained.

Exam traps in Preliminary Work and Taxpayer Data

Answers that look right on this material and are not. Each one is a distractor from a different question in the SEE-1 bank for this domain.

Form W-7, the application used to request an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
Why it is wrong: Form W-7 is how an individual applies for an ITIN; it has nothing to do with documenting a preparer's due diligence on the EITC, so it is the wrong form.
He should apply for a Social Security number using Form SS-5, because every person listed on a return must have one.
Why it is wrong: Applying for a Social Security number is tempting because it is the primary identifier, but a Social Security number is issued only to those authorised to work or otherwise eligible, and the son does not qualify, so this route is not open to him.
She continues to use her own Social Security number as the employer identifier, because she is an individual rather than a company.
Why it is wrong: Using her own Social Security number is tempting because she is not a business, but an employer must use an Employer Identification Number to report wages and employment taxes, even when the employer is a private individual.

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