Quick Answer
Yes — you can transfer your ITIN credit history to a new SSN. First notify the IRS so it voids the ITIN and combines your tax records, then ask all 3 bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — to merge your ITIN file into the SSN. The move usually takes 30 to 60 days, your credit-history start date is preserved, and your score should not drop.
Can You Transfer Credit History From an ITIN to an SSN?
Yes. The credit you built under an ITIN can move to a new SSN, and the merge usually takes 30 to 60 days. Your accounts, payment history, and credit-history start date carry over, so your score should stay roughly the same. The transfer is not automatic, though — you must notify the IRS and then each of the three bureaus.
This matters because lenders, landlords, and card issuers increasingly pull files keyed to your SSN. If your years of on-time payments stay stranded under the ITIN, you can look like a brand-new borrower with no history. Relinking the file protects the credit you worked to build. If you are still establishing that record, our guide on how to build credit with an ITIN covers the groundwork.
How Do You Tell the IRS About Your New SSN?
Send a certified letter to the IRS ITIN Operation in Austin, Texas, stating that you were assigned an SSN and want your tax records combined. Include your full name, mailing address, your ITIN, a copy of your SSN card, and a copy of your CP565 ITIN assignment notice. The IRS then voids the ITIN and links your prior tax records to the SSN.
You can also handle this in person at a local IRS office, but mailing creates a paper trail. The IRS explains the rule on its additional ITIN information page: once you are eligible for an SSN, you must use it and stop filing with the ITIN. Follow these steps:
- Write a short letter stating you received an SSN and want your IRS records combined.
- Include your full legal name and current mailing address.
- List your ITIN, and enclose a copy of your Social Security card and your CP565 notice.
- Mail it certified to: Internal Revenue Service, ITIN Operation, P.O. Box 149342, Austin, TX 78714-9342.
- Keep the certified-mail receipt and a copy of everything you sent.
How Do You Link Your ITIN Credit File to Your New SSN?
Contact all 3 bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — separately and ask each to move your ITIN credit history to your new SSN. Send every bureau a copy of your ITIN, your SSN card, and any confirmation letter the IRS sends you. Because the bureaus keep independent files, notifying only one leaves the other two unlinked and incomplete.
You can reach each bureau by mail or through its customer-dispute channels; sending documents in writing gives you a record. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's credit reports and scores resources explain how to request corrections and how files are maintained. After the merge, pull all three reports to confirm the history carried over — our walkthrough on how to check your credit score with an ITIN shows where to look, and if something is wrong, see disputing credit report errors.
How Long Does It Take to Merge the Files?
Plan on roughly 30 to 60 days from the time each bureau receives your documents. The IRS step happens first and takes its own several weeks, then each of the three bureaus processes your request separately. Timelines vary by bureau and by how complete your paperwork is, so submitting clean copies up front speeds the merge.
During this window, your old ITIN file and your new SSN file may briefly coexist. That is normal. Track each request, and if a bureau has not responded after about 60 days, follow up in writing and reference your original submission date.
Does Your Credit History Start Date Stay the Same?
Yes. When the bureaus merge your ITIN file into the SSN, your account-opening dates and the overall age of your credit are preserved. Length of credit history is a major scoring factor, so keeping those original dates is the whole point — a card opened years ago under your ITIN still counts as years old after the transfer.
This is why relinking beats simply opening new accounts under the SSN. New accounts reset your average account age and start your history over. Moving the existing file keeps the seasoning intact, which is far more valuable than a fresh start. For the bigger picture on how the two numbers differ, see our ITIN vs. SSN comparison.
What Happens If You Don't Link Your Old ITIN File?
If you don't relink, your new SSN starts as a blank, thin file with no history attached. Lenders pulling your SSN see little or no track record, which can temporarily drop your score and lead to denials or higher rates. Your ITIN history isn't deleted — it's just stranded under a number you're no longer supposed to use.
The fix is to follow up and confirm the merge with each bureau rather than assume it happened. Keep checking your reports until the accounts appear under the SSN. Treat the transfer as a project with a checklist, not a one-time letter you forget about.
Should You Keep Using Your ITIN After Getting an SSN?
No. The IRS allows only one taxpayer identification number per person, so once you receive an SSN you must use it for taxes and stop using the ITIN. Using both is improper. After you notify the IRS, it voids the ITIN and associates your prior tax records with the SSN going forward.
Update your records everywhere the ITIN appears — employers, banks, and any account tied to the old number — so future activity reports under the SSN. If your ITIN was set to expire, switching to an SSN also makes renewal moot; our ITIN renewal guide covers who still needs to renew and who does not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I lose my credit score when I switch from an ITIN to an SSN?
You should not lose your score if you relink your file. When the bureaus merge your ITIN credit history into your new SSN, your accounts, payment history, and credit-history start date carry over, so your score stays roughly the same. The risk is failing to relink: a brand-new SSN starts a blank file, which can temporarily drop your score until the merge completes.
Do I have to contact all three credit bureaus separately?
Yes. Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion keep separate files, so you must contact each bureau on its own and ask it to move your ITIN credit history to your new SSN. Send each one a copy of your ITIN, your SSN card, and any confirmation letter the IRS sends you. Notifying only one bureau leaves the other two files unlinked.
How long does the IRS take to rescind my ITIN?
There is no fixed deadline, but the IRS typically processes the request within several weeks after you mail your letter to the ITIN Operation in Austin, Texas. Once processed, the IRS voids the ITIN and associates your prior tax records with your SSN. Send the letter by certified mail so you have proof of the date and can follow up.
Can I have both an ITIN and an SSN at the same time?
No. The IRS allows only one taxpayer identification number per person. Once you are eligible for and receive an SSN, you must use it for tax filing and stop using the ITIN. Using both is improper. You notify the IRS so it can void the ITIN and combine your records under the SSN.
What documents do the credit bureaus need to merge my files?
Each bureau generally wants a copy of your Social Security card, a copy of your ITIN or CP565 assignment notice, and any IRS letter confirming the ITIN was combined with your SSN. Many bureaus also ask for proof of address. Send copies, never originals, and keep the certified-mail receipts for your records.