How to Get an EIN Without an SSN: The Complete Guide for Non-US Residents (2026)

The EIN is the one piece of the US LLC puzzle that trips up nearly every international founder. The IRS's online EIN application has one hard requirement: you need an SSN or ITIN to use it. Since most non-US residents have neither, the portal just stops you cold.

What the IRS doesn't make obvious — and what most guides bury in fine print — is that there's a completely separate, equally official process designed specifically for people in your situation. You don't need to get an ITIN first. You don't need a US address. You don't need a US phone number. You just need to know which form to use and how to submit it correctly.

This guide covers the full process: what an EIN is, why you need one, exactly how to apply as a non-resident, what documents you'll receive, and the mistakes that cause rejections or weeks-long delays.

What Is an EIN and Why Do You Need One?

An EIN — Employer Identification Number — is a nine-digit tax identification number issued by the IRS to business entities. Despite the name, you don't need to have employees to get one. The EIN is simply the federal tax ID for your LLC, structured as XX-XXXXXXX.

Think of it like a passport number for your business. It identifies your LLC in every interaction with the IRS, US banks, and payment processors.

As a non-US resident with a US LLC, you need an EIN for:

• Opening a US business bank account — Mercury, Relay, and every other US business bank requires it

• Activating a US Stripe account — Stripe verifies your EIN against IRS records

• Opening a PayPal Business account — required for US-based PayPal accounts

• Filing annual IRS returns — foreign-owned LLCs have mandatory annual filings

• Hiring US contractors — needed to issue 1099 forms

• Any US business contract — many counterparties request your EIN for their own tax records

Without an EIN, your LLC exists on paper but can't function in practice. It's the step between "I have an LLC" and "I can actually use it."

Can You Get an EIN Without an SSN?

Yes — completely and officially. The IRS explicitly provides an alternative application process for non-US residents who don't have a Social Security Number or ITIN.

The key distinction: the online EIN application at IRS.gov is restricted to applicants with a US SSN or ITIN. That portal is not available to you. But Form SS-4 — the paper application — has no such restriction. Non-residents write "Foreign" in the SSN field, and the IRS processes it through their international operations unit.

This is a standard, routine application. The IRS processes thousands of these every year from international founders in every country.

What You Need Before Applying

Before you submit your EIN application, two things must be in place:

1. Your LLC must already be formed

The IRS will not issue an EIN for an LLC that hasn't been legally formed yet. You need your Articles of Organization (or Certificate of Formation in some states) with the state's official stamp or filing receipt. This document proves your LLC legally exists.

If you haven't formed your LLC yet, that step comes first. Formation through Entryly takes 2–14 business days depending on the state you choose.

2. You need a completed Form SS-4

Form SS-4 is the IRS's official EIN application. It's a two-page document. You'll fill it in, sign it, and submit via fax or phone. Download the current version directly from IRS.gov — don't use third-party copies, as the form version matters.

How to Fill Out Form SS-4 as a Non-Resident

Most fields on Form SS-4 are straightforward. These are the ones where non-residents commonly make mistakes:

Line 1 — Legal Name of Entity

Enter your LLC's name exactly as it appears on your Articles of Organization. Every character, comma, and capitalization must match. A mismatch between your SS-4 and your formation documents is one of the most common rejection reasons.

Line 4a/4b — Mailing Address

You can use your foreign home address here. You do not need a US address on the SS-4. If you want your EIN letter mailed to the US, you can use your registered agent's address — but if you're applying by fax and providing a return fax number, the address matters less since your EIN comes back via fax.

Line 7a — Name of Responsible Party

Enter your own full legal name as it appears on your passport. The responsible party must be a natural person — a real human being. You cannot list another company or entity here, even if another business owns your LLC. This mistake causes automatic rejection.

Line 7b — SSN / ITIN / EIN of Responsible Party

This is the critical field. Since you have no SSN or ITIN, write the word "Foreign" in this box. Do not leave it blank — blank causes rejection. Do not write zeros or dashes. Write: Foreign.

Line 8a — Type of Entity

Check "Limited liability company." Then in the box that follows, enter the number of members: write "1" if you're the sole owner.

Line 9a — Type of LLC

For a single-member LLC owned by a foreign individual, check "Disregarded entity."

Line 10 — Reason for Applying

Write "Started a new business." This is the correct reason for most founders. Do not overthink this field.

Line 11 — Date Business Started

Enter the date your LLC was officially formed — the date on your Articles of Organization.

Line 16 — Principal Activity

Briefly describe what your business does. Keep it simple: "E-commerce," "Software development," "Digital marketing services," "Consulting." Avoid overly broad descriptions like "Internet" or overly specific technical language.

Line 18 — Third-Party Designee

If you're using a service like Entryly to handle your EIN application, your representative's details go here. This authorizes the IRS to communicate with and release the EIN to the designated party. This is how Entryly receives your EIN letter on your behalf.

The Three Ways to Submit: Fax, Phone, or Mail

Option 1: Phone (Fastest)

The IRS operates a dedicated international EIN line:

+1-267-941-1099
Monday–Friday, 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM Eastern Time (US)

This is not a toll-free number — international call charges apply. Have your fully completed Form SS-4 in front of you before dialing. The IRS representative will ask you the exact same questions that are on the form. If everything checks out, they'll give you the EIN verbally during the call and mail a confirmation letter.

The main risk: the call doesn't always go smoothly. Hold times can be significant. The representative may ask clarifying questions that require specific answers matching your formation documents. If you're uncomfortable navigating this under pressure, the fax method is more forgiving.

Option 2: Fax (Most Reliable for Non-Residents)

Fax your completed, signed Form SS-4 to the IRS international fax line:

+1-304-707-9471

Critical: Include your return fax number on the form. Without it, the IRS has no way to send the EIN back to you, and you'll be waiting weeks for a mailed letter instead. If you don't have a physical fax machine, services like eFax, Fax.Plus, or FaxZero support international numbers.

Processing takes approximately 4–7 business days. Your EIN arrives via fax as a confirmation document. Keep this document — it's your official IRS EIN assignment record.

Option 3: Mail (Avoid If Possible)

Mail your completed SS-4 to:

Internal Revenue Service
Attn: EIN International Operation
Cincinnati, OH 45999
USA

The IRS will mail back a CP575 letter with your EIN. This takes 4–8 weeks, sometimes longer. Given that you need the EIN to open Mercury Bank and activate Stripe, an 8-week delay significantly pushes back your entire timeline. Only use mail if fax is genuinely not possible.

What Documents You'll Receive

The IRS issues two different EIN confirmation documents, and it's worth understanding both:

CP575 — The Original Assignment Letter

This is the first letter the IRS sends after assigning your EIN. It's mailed to the address on your SS-4 and typically arrives 4–6 weeks after your EIN is assigned (even if you received the EIN faster by fax or phone). The CP575 is issued only once and cannot be reissued — if you lose it, you'll need to request a 147C instead.

Letter 147C — The Verification Letter

The 147C contains the same information as the CP575 and carries identical legal weight. It's what the IRS issues when you request EIN verification after the fact. This is what Entryly obtains for every client — rather than waiting for a mailed CP575, we request the 147C directly via fax so you have it in days, not weeks.

Both documents are accepted by Mercury Bank and Stripe as proof of your EIN. For most international founders, the 147C is more practical because it can be delivered by fax the same day you request it, rather than waiting weeks for a mailed CP575.

Common Mistakes That Cause Rejection or Delays

The IRS rejects or delays a significant percentage of non-resident EIN applications due to avoidable errors. Here are the ones we see most often:

❌ Leaving Line 7b blank instead of writing "Foreign"

The SSN/ITIN field requires an entry. "Foreign" is the correct entry for non-residents. A blank field triggers automatic rejection.

❌ LLC name doesn't exactly match the Articles of Organization

If your Articles say "Acme Digital LLC" and your SS-4 says "Acme Digital, LLC" (note the comma), this can cause a mismatch that delays processing. Copy the name character for character.

❌ Listing a company as the "responsible party" on Line 7a

The responsible party must be a natural person — a human being with a name. If you write a company name in this field, the application is rejected. Even if your LLC is owned by another entity, you must list the individual who ultimately controls it.

❌ Applying before the LLC is formed

The IRS requires proof that your LLC legally exists before issuing an EIN. File your Articles of Organization first and wait for state confirmation. Then apply for the EIN.

❌ Not including a return fax number when applying by fax

If you don't include a return fax number, the IRS can't send your EIN back by fax. They'll default to mailing the CP575 to whatever address you listed, adding weeks to the process.

❌ Submitting duplicate applications

If you don't hear back within a week, the instinct is to resubmit. Don't. The IRS treats duplicate applications as a processing error and both get held for manual review. Wait, then follow up by phone if needed.

❌ Using an online SS-4 generator with outdated form versions

The IRS updates Form SS-4 periodically. Using an old version can cause rejection. Always download the current version directly from IRS.gov.

How Long Does the EIN Process Really Take?

Here's a realistic timeline based on our experience with hundreds of applications:

The EIN number itself and the official letter are different things. Stripe and Mercury don't just need the 9-digit number — they need to see the official IRS document (CP575 or 147C). Factor this into your timeline when planning when you'll be able to open your bank account and activate Stripe.

What Happens After You Have Your EIN

Once you have your EIN and the confirmation letter, the path to a functional US business is straightforward:

1. Open Mercury Bank — submit your LLC formation documents, EIN letter, and passport. Approval takes 3–7 business days.

2. Activate Stripe — use your LLC name, EIN, and Mercury account details. Stripe verification typically takes 1–3 business days.

3. Start accepting payments — your Stripe payouts land in Mercury in USD. Transfer to your local account via Wise.

One Thing Most Guides Don't Tell You: Annual IRS Filing Requirements

Getting your EIN is the start, not the finish line. Foreign-owned single-member LLCs have a mandatory annual IRS filing that most formation guides never mention:

Form 5472 (filed with a pro-forma Form 1120) must be submitted every year for a foreign-owned disregarded entity. This isn't optional even if your LLC earned zero revenue. The IRS considers things like your initial capital contribution a "reportable transaction" that triggers the filing requirement.

The penalty for missing this filing: $25,000 per form, per year. With no statutory cap. The IRS does not send friendly reminders — you're expected to know and comply.

The deadline is April 15 of the year following your LLC's tax year (with a 6-month extension available via Form 7004). Work with a US CPA who handles international clients to make sure this is filed correctly each year. The cost of a CPA is a fraction of the penalty for missing it.

How Entryly Handles the EIN for You

Every Entryly formation package includes EIN acquisition as a core deliverable — not an add-on, not a tutorial link.

We complete your Form SS-4 using the exact details from your LLC formation documents, submit as your Third-Party Designee, and receive the EIN and Letter 147C directly from the IRS. The 147C is then included in your completion package alongside your LLC documents, operating agreement, and US business address confirmation.

The IRS process timeline (4–7 business days by fax) is the same whether you do it yourself or we do it — but the rejection and delay rate for applications we submit is near zero. The IRS is particular about how foreign applications are formatted, and the small details (form version, field entries, fax cover page format) matter more than most people expect.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an ITIN before getting an EIN?

No. An ITIN and an EIN are different IRS identification numbers for different purposes. An ITIN identifies an individual for personal tax filing. An EIN identifies a business entity. Non-residents applying for an EIN for their LLC do not need an ITIN — they write "Foreign" on Form SS-4's Line 7b instead.

Can I use my EIN immediately after receiving it by phone?

You can begin using the EIN number right away. However, Mercury Bank and Stripe require the official IRS document (CP575 or Letter 147C), not just the number. If you received your EIN by phone, request a 147C via fax during the same call, or call back separately to request it.

My SS-4 was rejected — what do I do?

First, identify the rejection reason from the IRS response. Common fixes: correct the LLC name to exactly match your Articles of Organization, ensure Line 7b says "Foreign" (not blank), and confirm the responsible party is listed as an individual. Resubmit with corrections. Do not submit before identifying and fixing the specific reason for rejection.

Does the EIN expire?

No. Once issued, an EIN is permanent. It's tied to your LLC for its entire existence. If your LLC is dissolved, the EIN is retired — but it's never "expired" during the life of the business.

Can I get an EIN for a multi-member LLC without an SSN?

Yes, the same Form SS-4 fax/phone process applies. For multi-member LLCs, Line 8a will reflect the number of members. The responsible party on Line 7a should be one named individual who controls the entity, writing "Foreign" on Line 7b if they have no SSN or ITIN.

What's the difference between an EIN and a FEIN?

They're the same thing. FEIN stands for Federal Employer Identification Number. Some banks and government forms use FEIN, others use EIN — they refer to the same nine-digit IRS-issued number.

The Bottom Line

Getting an EIN without an SSN is not a workaround — it's the official IRS process for international founders. The steps are clear: form your LLC first, complete Form SS-4 with "Foreign" on Line 7b, and submit by fax to +1-304-707-9471 with your return fax number included. Your EIN arrives in 4–7 business days.

The process is bureaucratic, not complicated. The mistakes that cause rejection are almost always avoidable with careful attention to the form instructions. And the payoff — a legitimate US tax ID that unlocks Mercury Bank and Stripe — is worth every step.

If you'd rather have it handled correctly the first time, Entryly includes EIN acquisition in every formation package. We've filed hundreds of these and know exactly what the IRS looks for.

Kaveesha Mallawaarachchi is the founder of Entryly. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. For compliance-specific questions, consult a qualified US tax professional.