An EIN — Employer Identification Number — is a nine-digit tax ID the IRS assigns to your business: a Social Security Number for your LLC. Even if you never hire anyone, you’ll almost certainly need one. Banks require it to open a US business bank account, and payment processors ask for it too.
If you’re a non-resident who formed a US LLC, there’s one catch that trips up nearly everyone: you don’t have a Social Security Number, and the IRS online application won’t accept you without one. Don’t worry — the IRS has procedures specifically for your situation, and thousands of foreign LLC owners get their EINs every year. Here’s how it works in 2026.
Can You Get an EIN Without an SSN?
Yes, absolutely. The IRS explicitly allows foreign nationals forming a US business to obtain an EIN without a Social Security Number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). This isn’t a loophole — it’s the standard process. You just can’t use the online system to do it.
The key point: an EIN is tied to the business entity, not to your personal identity. The IRS cares that your LLC is a real, state-approved entity and that a “responsible party” — that’s you — is identified on the application. Having no SSN doesn’t disqualify you.
Why the Online Application Won’t Work for You
The IRS online EIN application is fast and convenient — when you qualify for it. But it has one hard requirement: the person applying must have a valid SSN or ITIN to verify their identity in the system.
Without an SSN or ITIN, the online form rejects you at the identity-check step, and there’s no way around it — it’s not a glitch. This is where many non-residents get stuck and assume they’re out of luck. Two official alternatives exist, and they’re straightforward.
How to Apply: Phone Method
The phone method is the fastest way to get your EIN:
- Form your LLC first. It must be fully formed and approved by the state before you apply — the IRS verifies the entity exists. Don’t apply while a filing is still pending.
- Complete Form SS-4 in advance. You’ll answer the agent’s questions from this form, so fill it out as a draft first. (The tricky fields are covered below.)
- Call the IRS international line: +1 (267) 941-1099. This line is for international applicants and isn’t toll-free, so check your calling plan. Hours are Monday–Friday, 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM Eastern Time; mornings ET tend to mean shorter holds.
- Answer the agent’s questions. Keep your passport and LLC approval documents (articles of organization) in front of you.
- Get your EIN on the spot. The agent usually assigns the EIN during the call — write it down carefully and double-check the digits. Your official confirmation — the CP 575 letter — arrives by mail afterwards.
How to Apply: Fax Method
If you’d rather skip the phone call (or the hold times look brutal), the fax method works fine — it’s just slower.
- Form your LLC first. Same rule as above: state approval before you apply, no exceptions.
- Fill out Form SS-4 completely. Print it, sign it, and double-check every line — fax applications get rejected for small errors more often, since there’s no agent to catch a mistake in real time.
- Fax it to the IRS international fax line at (855) 215-1627. Keep your fax transmission confirmation — that’s your proof of submission.
- Wait for your EIN. The IRS typically responds within about 4 business days, faxing the EIN back to the number on your form. In practice it can take longer — sometimes several weeks — when the IRS is backed up, so plan for the slower scenario.
- Receive your CP 575 letter by mail. Just like with the phone method, the official confirmation follows by post.
Make sure the return fax number on the form is one you actually monitor — an online fax service works well for this.
What to Write on Form SS-4
Form SS-4 is only one page, but a few fields confuse every foreign applicant. Here’s how to handle the important ones:
- Line 1 (Legal name of entity): Your LLC’s exact legal name, exactly as approved by the state — punctuation and all.
- Line 7a (Name of responsible party): Your full name. The responsible party is the person who controls or manages the entity — for a single-member LLC, that’s you.
- Line 7b (SSN/ITIN of responsible party): The field that stops people cold. Since you have neither, write “FOREIGN” in this box. That’s the official IRS instruction for foreign applicants, not a hack.
- Line 9a (Type of entity): Check “LLC,” noting the number of members and the state of organization.
- Line 18 (Number of employees): Zero, if you have none.
- Line 20 (Business start date): The date your LLC was approved by the state.
- Mailing address: Use an address where you can reliably receive the CP 575 letter — a registered agent address or US virtual mailbox works, as long as it actually gets forwarded to you.
Sign and date the form. An unsigned SS-4 gets rejected outright.
How Long It Takes
With the phone method, you can have your EIN the same day — often within the hour. With the fax method, treat the typical 4-business-day response as a best case: during tax season or IRS backlogs, two to four weeks isn’t unusual. Both methods are free.
If you faxed and haven’t heard back in a couple of weeks, call +1 (267) 941-1099 to check the status, with your fax confirmation and LLC details ready.
Common Mistakes That Delay Your EIN
These are the errors that cause the most rejected applications and wasted weeks:
- Applying before the LLC is approved. The IRS verifies the entity exists — a pending filing isn’t enough.
- Name mismatches. Copy the LLC name exactly as the state approved it; even a missing comma can trigger a rejection.
- Leaving line 7b blank. Don’t write “N/A” or zeros. Write “FOREIGN.”
- A bad return fax number. If the IRS can’t reach you back, your application stalls. Test it first.
- Forgetting to sign. One of the most common reasons fax applications bounce back.
After You Get Your EIN
Your EIN arrives — now what? A few things matter right away:
Guard your CP 575 letter. This is the IRS confirmation notice for your EIN, and it isn’t reissued casually. Keep the original somewhere safe and save a scanned copy. When you open a US business bank account — including banks that accept LLC owners without an SSN — they’ll ask for your EIN and often want to see this letter.
Open your business bank account. With the EIN and your LLC documents in hand, you’re ready to approach banks. Some traditional banks still require an in-person visit, but a growing number of virtual and online banks onboard foreign LLC owners remotely with just an EIN, passport, and formation documents.
File Form 5472 every year. This one is non-negotiable. Foreign-owned US LLCs generally must file IRS Form 5472 annually (with a pro-forma Form 1120), even with zero US income. Penalties for missing it reach up to $25,000 — calendar this filing and get professional help if anything about your situation is unclear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an ITIN to get an EIN?
No. You don’t need an ITIN or an SSN — foreign applicants apply by phone or fax and write “FOREIGN” on line 7b of Form SS-4.
Is there a fee for an EIN?
No — it’s completely free by phone or fax. If any website or “service” tries to charge you for the EIN itself, you’re overpaying; the IRS process takes minutes once your LLC is formed.
How is an EIN different from an ITIN?
An EIN identifies your business for tax purposes; an ITIN identifies you personally when you can’t get an SSN. You need the EIN to operate the LLC and open a business bank account.
Where can I find Form SS-4?
The current version is on the IRS Form SS-4 page at irs.gov — always download the latest version before applying, since the IRS updates forms periodically.
What if my fax application is rejected?
The IRS will tell you what’s wrong — usually a missing signature, a name mismatch, or an incomplete field. Fix it and re-fax. If rejections keep happening or you’re in a hurry, use the phone method instead.
Getting an EIN without an SSN looks intimidating from the outside, but it’s really just a short form and a phone call (or a fax). Form your LLC, fill out the SS-4 carefully — remember “FOREIGN” on line 7b — and you’ll have your tax ID in hand. From there, banking and running your US business get a whole lot simpler.
Disclaimer: This article is general information, not tax advice. US tax rules for foreign-owned businesses carry steep penalties if you get them wrong — consider consulting a CPA or tax professional before filing anything.