EIN Without SSN Guide

You can get a US Employer Identification Number (EIN) without a Social Security Number. If you live outside the US, you apply on paper with Form SS-4 and send it to the IRS by fax or mail, or you call the IRS international line. The online application is not available to you unless you already have an SSN or ITIN.

Key takeaways

• An EIN is a tax ID for your company, not for you personally, so you do not need an SSN to hold one.
• The IRS online EIN tool requires a responsible party with an SSN or ITIN, so most non-US founders use Form SS-4 instead.
• Fax is the fastest paper route: the IRS says it returns a cover sheet with your EIN in about 4 business days.
• Mail takes about 4 weeks, so file well before you need the number for a bank or payment processor.
• Most rejections come from mismatched names, a missing responsible party or an unreadable fax, not from the lack of an SSN.

What an EIN is and why you need one

An EIN is a nine-digit number the IRS assigns to a business. Think of it as the company's tax identity. Your LLC needs it to open a US bank account, to file its tax forms, to give payment platforms a taxpayer number and to sign up with most US vendors.

It does not replace your personal identity documents, and it does not make you a US tax resident. It simply lets the IRS recognise the LLC as a separate filer. If you are still choosing a state, read our guide to how to form an LLC step by step first, because the EIN application needs the exact legal name and formation date from your state.

Why the online form usually does not work for you

The IRS online EIN application asks for the SSN or ITIN of the "responsible party", the person who controls the company. If you have neither number, the system cannot complete the application. That is the reason founders in India, Nigeria, the UAE or the UK are pointed to the paper route.

The same rule sits behind a common confusion. People assume they must first get an ITIN. You do not. The IRS instructions for Form SS-4 allow a foreign responsible party to write "Foreign" in the SSN and ITIN box. Our article on running a US business without an SSN or ITIN covers the wider picture.

The three ways to apply without an SSN

The IRS lists these options for applicants whose business is outside the United States:

• Phone. International applicants can call the IRS on 267-941-1099, Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern time. A representative completes the Form SS-4 questions with you and, when the details check out, gives you the EIN during the call. Wait times can be long and the line is not a toll-free number.
• Fax. Fax the signed form to 304-707-9471 from outside the US (855-215-1627 inside the US). Include a fax number on the form so the IRS can send the EIN back.
• Mail. Post the form to Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN International Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999. This is the slowest option.

The chart below shows the rough gap between the two paper routes, using the timing the IRS gives in its Form SS-4 instructions. Fax is stated as about 4 business days and mail as about 4 weeks, so we show them in approximate calendar days.

Route	Approximate days
Fax (about 4 business days)	6 days
Mail (about 4 weeks)	28 days

These are IRS guideline figures, not guarantees. A busy season, a typo or an unreadable fax can add days.

How to fill in Form SS-4 as a foreign founder

Form SS-4 is two pages, but a few lines cause most of the trouble. Work through them in this order.

1. Line 1, legal name. Enter the LLC name exactly as it appears on your state certificate, including "LLC". A shortened name is the single most common reason for a rejection.
2. Line 4 and 5, addresses. Use a mailing address where you can receive IRS letters. Many non-US founders use a US virtual address; see how to get a virtual US address for what to check.
3. Line 7a and 7b, responsible party. Give your full name. In the box for the SSN, ITIN or EIN, write "Foreign" if you have none.
4. Line 8a to 8c, LLC details. Say it is an LLC, give the number of members and confirm it was organised in the United States.
5. Line 9a, type of entity. A single-member LLC that is not electing corporate treatment is generally shown as "Other" and described as a disregarded entity. A multi-member LLC is shown as a partnership.
6. Line 10, reason for applying. "Started new business" is the usual choice.
7. Line 11 and 12, dates. Use the formation date from your state approval and your accounting year end, most often December.
8. Line 16 and 17, activity. Describe what the company will do in plain words, such as "online consulting".
9. Signature block. The responsible party must sign. Add a third-party designee only if someone else will speak to the IRS for you.

The IRS Form SS-4 instructions explain every line, and it is worth reading them once before you sign. This article is general information, not tax advice, so check your own facts with a CPA.

What to prepare before you apply

Gather these before you sit down with the form, so you do not send half an application:

• The approved Articles of Organization or Certificate of Formation from your state.
• The exact LLC name and formation date.
• Your passport name and country of residence for the responsible party.
• A working fax number if you choose the fax route, or a reliable postal address for mail.
• A short description of the business activity.

If your LLC is not formed yet, do that first. The IRS will not issue an EIN for a company that does not exist. Our LLC formation service and the EIN service work in that order for the same reason.

Common mistakes that delay an EIN

Applying before the LLC is approved

Some founders file the SS-4 the same day they submit formation papers. The IRS cannot match a name that the state has not approved, so the application stalls or is refused.

Name mismatches

"Bright Path Consulting LLC" and "Brightpath Consulting" are two different names to a system. Copy the name letter for letter from the state document.

Faxing from a poor line

Fax quality varies a lot between countries and providers. If the pages arrive faint or cut off, the IRS may not process them. Use a clear scan at standard resolution and keep the transmission report.

Assuming the EIN letter arrives by email

By fax the IRS returns a cover sheet with the number. By mail you receive the CP 575 notice on paper. Keep that document, because banks and payment platforms often ask for it as proof.

Starting several applications

Sending the same form by fax and again by mail to "speed things up" can create duplicate records and confusion. Submit once and wait for the stated processing time before you follow up.

After you receive the EIN

Store the confirmation somewhere safe and share the number only where it is needed. Then use it for the next steps: opening a bank account, setting up a payment processor and preparing your first tax filings. If your LLC has a single foreign owner, Form 5472 and a pro-forma Form 1120 are usually due each year, even when the LLC had little activity. Missing that filing carries a steep penalty, so read our LLC compliance checklist and plan for it.

The guide to opening a US business bank account explains what banks will ask you to show once you hold the number.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get an EIN online without an SSN?

Generally no. The IRS online application requires an SSN or ITIN for the responsible party. Applicants without one use Form SS-4 by fax or mail, or call the IRS international line.

Do I need an ITIN before I apply for an EIN?

No. An ITIN is a separate personal tax number. You can write "Foreign" in the SSN or ITIN box on Form SS-4 and still receive an EIN for your LLC.

How long does an EIN take without an SSN?

The IRS says a faxed application is typically answered in about 4 business days and a mailed one in about 4 weeks. The phone route can give the number during the call, subject to wait times.

Does an EIN make me a US taxpayer?

Not by itself. The EIN identifies the company. Your tax position depends on where you live, where the income comes from and how the LLC is taxed, so ask a CPA about your situation.

What if the IRS rejects my SS-4?

The IRS usually contacts you or returns the form with a reason. Fix the issue, most often a name mismatch or a missing signature, and resubmit. Do not send a second copy while the first is still pending.

If you would rather have someone check the form before it goes to the IRS, see our EIN application service or book a call and we will walk through your case.