How to Get a US EIN Without an SSN or ITIN (Complete Guide)

The IRS’s online EIN application has one requirement that stops every international founder cold: it asks for a Social Security Number or ITIN. No SSN, no online application.

Here’s what the error page doesn’t tell you: you don’t need either one to get an EIN. Non-residents get EINs every day — just through a different route the IRS doesn’t advertise well.

This guide covers the exact process: how to fill out Form SS-4 correctly, where to send it, how long it actually takes, and the mistakes that get applications rejected and add weeks of delay.

What is an EIN and why do you need one?

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a nine-digit federal tax ID the IRS assigns to your business — think of it as your company’s Social Security Number. Despite the name, it’s not just for employers. Your US company needs an EIN to:

• Open a US business bank account
• Set up Stripe, PayPal, or other US payment processors
• File federal tax returns (including Form 5472 for foreign-owned LLCs)
• Sell on Amazon US and other marketplaces
• Hire US contractors or employees

Without it, your LLC exists on paper but can’t really operate.

The three ways to apply — and which ones work without an SSN

The online application checks the responsible party’s SSN/ITIN in real time, so it’s simply unavailable to most non-residents. That leaves fax and mail — and fax is faster by a month or more, so it’s the route this guide focuses on.

(There’s technically a phone line for international applicants, but reaching an agent has become unreliable enough that fax is the dependable path.)

Step 1: Form your company first

The EIN application asks for your legal entity name, formation state, and formation date. Apply before the state approves your filing, and a mismatch can trigger a rejection. Sequence matters: state filing → approval → EIN. (Full formation walkthrough: How to Form a US LLC as a Non-US Resident)

Step 2: Fill out Form SS-4

Form SS-4 is a single page, but a handful of lines cause almost all non-resident rejections:

• Line 1 — Legal name: exactly as it appears on your approved formation document, including “LLC”
• Line 4a/4b — Mailing address: can be a foreign address; the IRS will mail your confirmation letter here
• Line 7a — Responsible party: the individual who controls the entity (you), not a company
• Line 7b — SSN/ITIN/EIN: write “Foreign” — this is the line that unlocks the whole process. Leaving it blank or writing “N/A” invites rejection
• Line 9a — Entity type: for a single-member LLC owned by a non-resident, this interacts with how the LLC is classified for tax purposes; check the current SS-4 instructions carefully
• Line 10 — Reason for applying: “Started new business” fits most cases
• Line 18: confirm the entity hasn’t received an EIN before

Sign and date it. Unsigned forms are returned, not processed — and you find out weeks later.

Step 3: Fax it to the IRS

Applicants with no US legal residence fax Form SS-4 to the IRS’s international fax line (verify the current number on irs.gov before sending — it has changed in the past).

No fax machine required: online fax services let you send a PDF from anywhere in the world in a few minutes.

If you include a return fax number on the cover sheet, the IRS faxes your EIN back — typically weeks faster than waiting for the mailed confirmation letter.

Step 4: Wait (and know what “normal” looks like)

• Fax with return fax number: usually 2–5 weeks for the EIN to come back
• Mail: 6–8 weeks or longer
• The official confirmation letter (CP 575) arrives by mail to the address on line 4, often weeks after the fax response

Nothing legally speeds this up. Services advertising “expedited EINs” for non-residents are either using the phone line, filing exactly what you’d file, or overpromising. What actually saves time is getting the form right on the first attempt — a rejection restarts the entire clock.

The mistakes that cause rejections and delays

• Leaving line 7b blank instead of writing “Foreign”
• Name mismatch with the state-approved formation document
• Applying before formation is approved
• No signature on the form
• No return fax number, forcing you to wait for the mailed letter
• Sending to the wrong fax number — the domestic and international lines are different
• Applying twice because the first response is slow — duplicate applications flag the file and add more delay

What to do while you wait

The EIN wait is the bottleneck in every non-resident formation timeline, so use it:

• Prepare your bank application (Mercury, Relay, Wise Business, and similar platforms let you start onboarding and add the EIN when it arrives)
• Set up your registered agent portal and compliance calendar
• Note your future filing obligations — foreign-owned single-member LLCs file Form 5472 annually, with penalties starting at $25,000 for missing it

FAQ

Can I get an EIN with no US address at all?

Yes. Form SS-4 accepts a foreign mailing address.

Do I need an ITIN first?

No. An ITIN is a personal tax ID and is a separate process entirely. You do not need one to get a company EIN.

Can someone apply on my company’s behalf?

Yes — a third party designee can be authorized on the SS-4 to receive the EIN and answer IRS questions about the application.

Is the faxed-back EIN enough to open a bank account?

Most fintech platforms accept the faxed SS-4 response or the EIN number itself; some ask for the CP 575 letter later. Requirements vary by institution.

My EIN hasn’t arrived after 8 weeks — now what?

Call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line to check status before resubmitting. A duplicate application usually makes things slower, not faster.

Cooperative is not a law firm and does not provide legal, tax, or financial advice. This article is for general informational purposes only and describes publicly available IRS procedures as of the date of publication. Procedures, fax numbers, and timelines change; verify current requirements at irs.gov, and consult a licensed attorney or tax professional for advice on your specific situation.