Request for Taxpayer ID Number

Reason for the request of your taxpayer identification number:

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires Cornell University to annually contact students for whom it does not have a taxpayer identification number on file, i.e., a U.S. social security number (SSN) or U.S. individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) and ask the individual to report it to the university.

This request is not related to whether you received wages from a job you held at Cornell or whether you received financial aid (fellowship/scholarship). It is based on receiving a charge for tuition and/or paying interest on student loans.

The taxpayer identification number is needed for the tax informational forms, i.e. the 1098-T (Tuition Statement) and 1098-E (Student Loan Interest Statement) that Cornell University is required to supply to the IRS and to the individual.

"The information about your tuition will help to determine whether you, or the person who can claim you as a dependent, may take either the tuition and fees deduction or claim an education credit" on their annual tax return. "The information about your student loan interest will help to determine your deduction for such interest."

For further information refer to IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education. Note that this link may not contain information about the newest Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed in December 2017.

Details of the Request

Please provide to The Office of the University Registrar your U.S. social security number (SSN) or individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN).

If you already have an SSN or ITIN, you may use one of the following options to report your tax payer Identification number:

1. In person – students may visit the Office of the Registrar at 245 Day Hall, Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. or 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Please bring a copy of your original social security card or U.S. ITIN documentation and your Cornell Student ID card.
2. Secure File Transfer – send a copy of your socal security card or U.S. ITIN documentation as an image file or PDF to Sherri Masterson (sm922) through Cornell's Secure File Transfer System (Cornell NetID login required). Sending only the number is not acceptable to update your record. You must provide official documentation.

You will receive an email when your record has been updated.

Caution: Do not send your information by email. It is not a secure means of transmission.

If you do not currently have an SSN (see the note below), you may obtain one by going to your local Social Security Administration Office.

For foreign national individuals (non-U.S. citizen, non-Green Card holder, or non-permanent resident), please refer to the Office of Global Learning website to obtain information on how to obtain an SSN.

If you are not eligible for an SSN (not currently working), please refer to the Office of Global Learning website for information on applying for an ITIN.