How to Get an EIN for a US LLC as a Non-US Resident
Forming a US LLC is only the first step. For most non-US founders, obtaining an Employer Identification Number (EIN) is one of the next important parts of making the company operational.
An EIN is the federal identification number assigned to a business by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It is commonly used for US filings and may also be requested for business banking, payment-provider onboarding and other administrative processes.
For international founders, the practical questions are usually more specific:
Can I get an EIN without an SSN? Do I need an ITIN first? How do I apply from outside the United States — and how long does it currently take?
This guide answers those questions and explains the current application routes, realistic processing expectations, common causes of delays and what to do if your EIN has not arrived.
Quick Answer: Can I Get an EIN Without an SSN?
Yes. A non-US founder can obtain an EIN without a US Social Security Number in certain circumstances.
Current IRS instructions state that if the responsible party does not have and is ineligible to obtain an SSN or ITIN, “foreign” or “N/A” can be entered on line 7b of Form SS-4.
You therefore do not automatically need an ITIN first just to apply for the LLC’s EIN.
If your principal place of business is outside the United States or US territories, you generally cannot use the IRS online EIN application. International applicants can currently apply by phone, fax or mail.
IRS application routes and processing information last verified: August 7, 2026.
Table of Contents
- What Is an EIN and What Is It Used For?
- EIN vs SSN vs ITIN
- Can You Get an EIN Without an SSN or ITIN?
- How Long Does It Take to Get an EIN Without an SSN?
- How Can a Non-US Resident Apply for an EIN?
- What Information Does Form SS-4 Require?
- Why Can an EIN Application Be Delayed?
- What Should You Do If Your EIN Has Not Arrived?
- Is There an IRS Fee for an EIN?
- Get Help With Your EIN Application
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is an EIN and What Is It Used For?
An Employer Identification Number, or EIN, is a nine-digit number assigned by the IRS to businesses and other entities for federal tax filing and reporting purposes.
It normally looks like this:
12-3456789
Despite the word “Employer” in the name, an LLC does not necessarily need employees before it can obtain an EIN.
For a non-US founder, the EIN can become an important part of the LLC’s administrative identity. It may be needed or requested for:
- US tax or information filings
- business bank or fintech applications
- payment-provider onboarding
- certain business licences
- payroll and employees
- other business-verification processes
An EIN does not guarantee approval from a bank, fintech or payment provider. Each provider makes its own eligibility and compliance decisions.
Once an EIN has been issued, the IRS says it can be used immediately for most business needs, including opening a bank account and applying for business licences. Allow up to two weeks before expecting a newly issued EIN to work for IRS TIN Matching, electronic tax filing and electronic tax payments.
If banking is one of your next steps, see our banking readiness support.
EIN vs SSN vs ITIN
The three numbers are related to the US tax system, but they do different jobs.
| Number | Identifies |
|---|---|
| EIN | A business or other entity |
| SSN | An eligible individual |
| ITIN | Certain individuals who need a US taxpayer identification number but are not eligible for an SSN |
The key distinction is simple:
The EIN belongs to the LLC. An SSN or ITIN belongs to an individual.
Getting an EIN does not give the owner an SSN, ITIN, US residency or immigration status.
Likewise, you may need an ITIN later for a separate personal US tax or identification purpose — but an ITIN is not automatically a prerequisite for obtaining the LLC’s EIN.
If you need help with a separate ITIN requirement, see our ITIN application support.
Can You Get an EIN Without an SSN or ITIN?
Yes.
Form SS-4 asks for the LLC’s responsible party. This is generally the individual who ultimately owns or controls the entity or exercises effective control over it.
For many foreign-owned single-member LLCs, this will be the founder.
Unless the applicant is a government entity, current IRS instructions generally require the responsible party to be an individual rather than another company or entity.
If that responsible party does not have and is ineligible to obtain an SSN or ITIN, current Form SS-4 instructions say to enter:
“foreign” or “N/A”
on line 7b. An entry is still required.
The Registered Agent or formation provider should therefore not simply be listed as the responsible party unless they genuinely meet the IRS definition.
How Long Does It Take to Get an EIN Without an SSN?
The IRS does not publish a separate processing time specifically for EIN applications without an SSN.
What usually changes for an international founder is the application method.
If you cannot use the online application, the EIN may instead need to be handled through the international phone, fax or mail process.
Current IRS Processing Information
As of August 7, 2026, the IRS reports:
| Application method | Current IRS information |
|---|---|
| Fax | Processed 11 business days after receipt |
| Paper / mail | Processed within 30 days after receipt |
| International phone | Available to eligible international applicants; no separate guaranteed processing time published |
| Online | Not available when the principal place of business is outside the US or US territories |
These figures should be treated as current processing information, not guaranteed turnaround times.
The Form SS-4 instructions still describe fax processing as generally around four business days and mail as approximately four weeks. The IRS also maintains a separate live processing-status page because current workloads can create delays. For planning purposes, checking that live status is more useful than relying on an old fixed estimate.
Does Having No SSN Automatically Make It Slower?
Not according to any separate IRS processing category.
The IRS does not publish an additional waiting period simply because the responsible party does not have an SSN.
The important practical difference is that applicants outside the US who do not meet the online requirements usually have to use another application route.
Need help preparing the application?
US LLC Setup provides practical EIN application support for non-US founders, including founders without a US Social Security Number.
How Can a Non-US Resident Apply for an EIN?
The LLC should generally be legally formed before the EIN application is submitted. The IRS advises applicants to form the entity through the relevant state first.
You then prepare Form SS-4 using the LLC’s correct legal and ownership information and choose the appropriate application method.
By Phone
Eligible international applicants can currently apply by phone at:
267-941-1099
The current Form SS-4 instructions list availability Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
The caller must be authorised to receive the EIN and answer questions about the information on Form SS-4. The number is not toll-free.
By Fax
International applicants outside the United States can currently fax Form SS-4 to:
304-707-9471
Applicants should include a return fax number if they want the IRS to return the EIN by fax.
By Mail
International applications can currently be mailed to:
Internal Revenue Service
Attn: EIN International Operation
Cincinnati, OH 45999
Can You Apply Online?
Only if you meet the IRS online-system requirements.
The IRS currently requires, among other things:
- a principal place of business in the US or US territories, and
- the responsible party’s SSN or ITIN.
If the principal place of business is outside the United States, the IRS directs applicants to phone, fax or mail instead.
Having a Wyoming LLC or Wyoming Registered Agent does not by itself mean that the company’s actual principal place of business is in Wyoming.
If your LLC has not yet been formed, you can review our Wyoming LLC setup information first.
What Information Does Form SS-4 Require?
Form SS-4 is relatively short, but several details need to match the actual LLC structure.
For most non-US LLC owners, the important information includes:
- exact legal LLC name
- mailing and physical addresses
- responsible party
- line 7b SSN, ITIN or permitted “foreign” / “N/A” entry
- number of LLC members
- reason for applying
- principal business activity
- relevant employee information, where applicable
- details of any previous EIN, where applicable
The IRS also requires the principal business activity to be described with enough detail to explain what the company actually does.
Consistency matters. The EIN application should not contradict the company’s formation documents, ownership information or actual business situation.
Why Can an EIN Application Be Delayed?
A longer processing time does not automatically mean something is wrong. Current IRS workload alone can affect how quickly an application is handled.
However, avoidable issues can also cause problems, including:
- an LLC name that does not match the formation documents
- the wrong responsible party
- incorrect treatment of line 7b
- incomplete or inconsistent Form SS-4 information
- unclear address details
- an incomplete description of the business activity
- missing return-fax information
- an IRS request for clarification
Another important mistake is submitting a second application simply because the first one has not arrived yet.
The IRS specifically instructs applicants to file only one Form SS-4 and limits EIN issuance to one per responsible party per day across all application methods.
What Should You Do If Your EIN Has Not Arrived?
If the expected processing period has passed, do not automatically start again.
First:
- Confirm when and how the application was submitted.
- Check the current IRS processing status.
- Review your copy of Form SS-4 for obvious inconsistencies or missing information.
- Keep fax, mailing or delivery records where available.
- Follow up with the IRS through the appropriate channel if necessary.
Most importantly:
Do not immediately submit another Form SS-4 through a different method.
A delayed response does not necessarily mean that the first application was lost, and duplicate applications can create unnecessary administrative problems.
If a required tax return becomes due before the EIN arrives, current IRS guidance says to enter “Applied For” and the date of the EIN application in the EIN field. Whether a particular return is required in your situation is a separate tax question.
Is There an IRS Fee for an EIN?
No.
The IRS does not charge a fee to issue an EIN.
When you pay a service provider for EIN assistance, you are paying for the administrative work around the application — not for the EIN itself. The IRS explicitly warns that applicants never need to pay the IRS for an EIN.
Professional administrative support may include:
- collecting and reviewing the required information
- preparing Form SS-4
- checking the responsible-party information
- selecting the appropriate international application route
- coordinating the application
- providing practical follow-up support
Get Help With Your EIN Application
For a non-US founder, the EIN process is manageable — but the responsible party, Form SS-4, addresses, business activity and application method all need to reflect the actual LLC correctly.
US LLC Setup provides practical EIN application support for European and non-US founders, including founders who do not have a US Social Security Number.
IRS approval and processing times cannot be guaranteed.
Still Need to Form Your LLC?
If the LLC has not yet been formed, it usually makes more sense to coordinate the formation and EIN process from the beginning.
EIN application support for non-US residents without an SSN is included in our current US LLC formation packages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in certain circumstances. Current IRS instructions allow “foreign” or “N/A” on line 7b of Form SS-4 when the responsible party does not have and is ineligible to obtain an SSN or ITIN.
Not automatically. An EIN identifies the LLC, while an ITIN identifies an individual. A separate ITIN may still be required later for another valid personal US tax or identification purpose.
The IRS does not publish a separate processing time for applications without an SSN. As of August 7, 2026, its current processing-status page reports Form SS-4 fax applications as processed 11 business days after receipt and paper applications within 30 days after receipt.
Check the current IRS processing status and your original application records first. Do not automatically file another Form SS-4. If the applicable processing period has passed, follow up through the appropriate IRS channel.
For broader questions about formation, Registered Agents, banking and maintaining a US LLC, see our US LLC Setup FAQ.
Sources and Freshness
The time-sensitive application and processing information in this guide was last verified on August 7, 2026 against current IRS guidance, including the Instructions for Form SS-4, the IRS EIN application guidance and the IRS Processing Status for Tax Forms.
IRS procedures, processing levels and contact details can change. Check current IRS information when timing is important.
Bosse LLC provides practical setup support and administrative guidance only. We do not provide legal, tax, accounting or regulated financial advice. Government, bank, fintech and payment provider approvals cannot be guaranteed.
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