Can You Do Uber Eats With an ITIN Instead of SSN?

You cannot sign up for Uber Eats with an ITIN instead of an SSN. Uber requires a Social Security Number during onboarding and validates it directly with the IRS, and its background check provider, Checkr, explicitly cannot process an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number in place of an SSN.¹² There is no alternative verification path on the platform.

Why Uber Eats Blocks ITINs at Sign-Up

Every delivery applicant must submit an SSN, a valid government-issued ID, a date of birth, and a live profile photo before accepting any orders. Uber then confirms the SSN with the IRS as part of onboarding.¹ Because the IRS treats ITINs and SSNs as separate categories of identifying numbers, an ITIN will not clear that check even though both are nine digits in the same format.³

The second gate is Checkr, the third-party company Uber uses for criminal and driving record screening.⁴ Checkr’s system searches those databases using an SSN and states plainly that it cannot accept an ITIN or an Employer Identification Number as a substitute. If you don’t have a valid SSN, Checkr’s own guidance is to contact the company you applied to; it offers no workaround.²

How an ITIN Differs From an SSN

The IRS issues ITINs to people who need to file federal taxes but are not eligible for a Social Security Number.⁵ An ITIN is for federal tax purposes only. It does not authorize work in the United States and does not confer eligibility for Social Security benefits.⁶

An SSN, issued by the Social Security Administration, functions as both a tax identifier and evidence that the holder is authorized to work. Gig platforms, background check vendors, and employment verification systems are built around SSNs, which is why an ITIN entered in an SSN field fails at verification rather than opening a different lane.

What Happens if You Enter an ITIN Anyway

Because an ITIN is nine digits, the Uber Driver app may appear to accept the number when you type it in. The next step is where it breaks. Uber’s IRS validation flags the mismatch, and Checkr either returns an error or leaves the background check in a permanent pending status because it cannot run its searches on that number.¹² The application stalls at screening with no appeal.

Legal Risks of Using Someone Else’s SSN or a Fake One

Some applicants who can’t clear the SSN gate consider entering a borrowed or fabricated number. That path carries serious federal consequences. Using fraudulent identification or employment authorization documents can bring a fine and up to five years in prison, and making a false statement to satisfy employment verification requirements is a federal crime carrying the same penalties.⁷

Civil penalties under immigration law can also apply. If an investigation finds that you knowingly used or participated in fraudulent documents, an administrative law judge can order you to stop the activity and pay a civil money penalty.⁷ Working without authorization can also affect future immigration filings, including visa renewals and adjustment of status. Talk to an immigration attorney before taking any step that involves submitting a number that isn’t yours.

If You Already Earn Income Under an ITIN

Being unable to sign up for Uber Eats does not change your tax situation. Income earned in the United States is subject to federal tax regardless of immigration status, and the IRS requires you to use your ITIN in place of an SSN on returns, estimated payments, and refund claims.⁸

If you work as an independent contractor and receive $600 or more from a single client in a year, that client reports the payment to the IRS on Form 1099-NEC. Self-employed workers owe self-employment tax of 15.3 percent on net earnings, split between 12.4 percent for Social Security and 2.9 percent for Medicare, on top of regular income tax. The IRS also expects estimated payments throughout the year if you expect to owe $1,000 or more in tax.⁹

ITINs not included on a federal return for three consecutive years expire automatically. You can still make estimated tax payments while a renewal is being processed by submitting Form W-7 with a current return and the required supporting documents.⁹

1
Uber. Driver Screening
2
Checkr Help Center. Why Do I Need to Provide My Social Security Number (SSN), and What if I Don’t Have One
3
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 USC 6109 – Identifying Numbers
4
Uber Help. What Is the Screening Process?
5
Internal Revenue Service. Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
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Internal Revenue Service. Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) Reminders for Tax Professionals
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Penalties for Prohibited Practices
8
Internal Revenue Service. Notice CP565
9
Internal Revenue Service. 2026 Form 1040-ES Estimated Tax for Individuals