How to get an EIN without an SSN or ITIN (2026)

Why can't you apply for an EIN online without an SSN?

The IRS online EIN application only works if you have the responsible party's SSN or ITIN and your principal place of business is in the US. The IRS says that if your principal place of business is outside the US, you should apply by phone, fax or mail instead. That rules out the online route for an LLC run from India, the UK, the UAE or anywhere else outside the US by an owner without an SSN or ITIN.

The paper route uses Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number. It lets a responsible party who doesn't have and can't get an SSN or ITIN write “foreign” in the ID box, so you don't need an ITIN to get an EIN. See ITIN vs SSN vs EIN for when you do need an ITIN.

Phone, fax or mail: how to apply for an EIN from outside the US

Applying by phone

Phone applications are only for applicants with no legal residence, principal place of business or principal office in the US. Fill in Form SS-4 before you call, because the IRS representative uses it to set up the account. The person calling must be authorized to receive the EIN: either you, as the responsible party, or a third-party designee you named on a signed SS-4. The representative gives you the number on the call, and may ask you to fax or mail the signed form within 24 hours.

Applying by fax

Fax the signed SS-4 to the international number and include your own fax number, so the IRS can fax back a cover sheet showing the EIN. It no longer returns a copy of your SS-4 with the number written on it. The IRS notes that its fax numbers can change without notice, so check its EIN page on the day you send.

Applying by mail

The IRS suggests mailing the form at least 4 to 5 weeks before you need the number. Mail is the slowest route. To ask about a mailed application, the IRS lists 800-829-4933, a US toll-free number.

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

Most delays come from a handful of lines. Here is what the IRS instructions (revised December 2025) say for a US LLC owned from abroad.

1. 1

   Line 1: legal name

   Enter the LLC's name exactly as it appears on the approved formation document, including “LLC”. IRS systems accept only letters, numbers, hyphens and ampersands, so spell out or remove other symbols.

2. 2

   Lines 4a–5b: addresses

   Your mailing address can be outside the US; write the city, province or state, postal code and full country name. Add a street address on lines 5a–5b only if it's different, and never a P.O. box. The IRS mails the EIN notice to the mailing address.

3. 3

   Lines 7a–7b: responsible party

   Enter the full name of the person who owns or controls the LLC. If that person doesn't have and isn't eligible for an SSN or ITIN, write “foreign” or N/A on line 7b. The line can't be left blank.

4. 4

   Lines 8a–8c: LLC details

   Answer yes to the LLC question and enter the number of members.

5. 5

   Line 9a: type of entity

   For a single-member LLC owned by a non-US person, check Other and write “Foreign-owned U.S. disregarded entity-Form 5472”. An LLC with two or more members checks Partnership. An LLC electing to be taxed as a corporation checks Corporation and writes the return it will file, such as Form 1120.

6. 6

   Line 10: reason for applying

   Check exactly one box. The instructions tell a foreign-owned single-member LLC to check Other and write “Foreign-owned U.S. disregarded entity filing Form 5472”.

7. 7

   Lines 11–12: start date and year-end

   For foreign applicants, line 11 is the date you began a business in the US. On line 12, a calendar tax year closes in December.

8. 8

   Lines 13–15: employees

   Enter 0 if you don't expect employees in the next 12 months, skip line 14, and write N/A on line 15.

9. 9

   Lines 16–18: activity and history

   Check one principal activity, describe the business in more detail on line 17, and say on line 18 whether the LLC has applied for an EIN before.

10. 10

    Designee and signature

    Complete the third-party designee section only if someone will apply for you, then sign. A member or another duly authorized person can sign for the LLC.

The Form 5472 wording on line 9a matters. It tells the IRS that the LLC is a foreign-owned disregarded entity, which has its own yearly filing duty. Read Form 5472 for foreign-owned US LLCs before your first year ends.

Who is the responsible party, and what does a third-party designee do?

The IRS defines the responsible party as the person who ultimately owns or controls the entity, with enough control over its funds and assets to direct them. It must be an individual, not a company, unless the applicant is a government entity. For a single-member LLC, that's normally you. For an LLC with several owners, list the person you want the IRS to recognize.

A nominee is different. It's someone you give limited authority to act for the company while it's being formed, with little or no control over its assets. The IRS says nominees can't apply for an EIN and shouldn't be listed on Form SS-4. If a nominee was listed by mistake, correct it with Form 8822-B.

A third-party designee is someone you authorize on the SS-4 to receive the EIN and answer the IRS's questions about the form. The authorization only counts if you sign the form, and it ends as soon as the EIN is assigned and released to the designee. The IRS gives the designee the number by the same method they used to apply, but still mails the official notice to you. If the designee's address or phone number matches yours, the application must be faxed or mailed.

If the responsible party changes later, for example when you sell the LLC, file Form 8822-B within 60 days.

How long does an EIN take without an SSN?

The IRS's standard times are about 4 business days by fax and about 4 weeks by mail, and it warns that high volumes can cause delays. Its processing status page, updated September 11, 2026, reported faxed SS-4s being processed 11 business days after receipt and paper ones within 30 days. Budget for that, not the best case.

Count the state's time too, because you apply only after the LLC is approved. Wyoming currently returns documents in about 2 days and Delaware in about 3 days by the default method. Compare states in the state guides.

Once you have the number, the IRS says you can use it right away for most things, including opening a bank account. E-filing a return and passing the IRS's TIN matching can take up to 2 more weeks. See opening a US business bank account as a non-resident for what banks ask for.

CP 575 vs 147C letter: how to prove your EIN

Banks and other providers may ask you to confirm your EIN with one of these. The IRS says the original CP 575 can't be duplicated or recreated, so scan it and keep it with your company records. If you lose it, request Letter 147C. The fax cover sheet from a fax application shows your number, but the notice mailed afterwards is the official document.

If you're calling from outside the US, the IRS's international line for business account questions is 267-941-1000 (not toll-free), Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern time.

Why EIN applications get delayed or rejected

The IRS says it can't issue an EIN unless the form has all the information that applies to your entity. These are the problems its instructions warn about most directly:

• A required line left blank. Line 7b needs an entry (“foreign” is fine), line 10 needs one reason, and lines 16 and 17 need an activity and description.
• A name that doesn't match the formation document, or one with symbols the IRS doesn't accept.
• Applying before the state approves the LLC.
• A nominee or a company listed as the responsible party instead of the person who controls the LLC.
• An unsigned form. Without your signature, a third-party designee's authorization isn't valid.
• A second application for the same company, or a second EIN for the same responsible party on the same day.
• No return fax number, so the IRS can't fax the EIN back.

How we get your EIN

You can apply yourself for free; the IRS doesn't charge for an EIN. If you'd rather not deal with fax lines and international calls, every founder plan includes the EIN.

• Starter ($349 a year plus the state fee): we prepare and file Form SS-4 for you when you don't have an SSN or ITIN.
• Pro ($999 a year plus the state fee): we apply by phone as your authorized third-party designee, the route where the IRS gives the number during the call.

Frequently asked questions