How to Get an EIN as a Foreigner

What an EIN is and why your LLC needs one

An EIN is a nine-digit number the IRS assigns to a business entity. It identifies your LLC to the IRS the way a Social Security Number identifies a person. In practice you will need it to:

• open a US business bank account, or a fintech account in the LLC's name
• set up payment processors and marketplaces that ask for a US tax ID
• file the LLC's US returns (a foreign-owned single-member LLC generally files Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 each year)
• hire US-based contractors or employees, if you ever do

Can a non-resident get an EIN without an SSN?

Yes. The IRS issues EINs to foreign-owned entities, and the responsible party does not need an SSN or ITIN. On Form SS-4, a foreign applicant who has neither writes "Foreign" or "N/A" where the taxpayer identification number would go.

What differs is how you apply. The IRS online application asks the responsible party for a US taxpayer number, so a founder who has none normally applies with Form SS-4 by fax, by mail, or by phone (international applicants). Fax is usually the quickest of these.

What the IRS asks for

• the LLC's exact legal name, as filed with the state
• the state and date of formation
• the LLC's address (a US registered-agent or mailing address is common) and the responsible party's address, which can be outside the US
• the responsible party: the individual who ultimately owns or controls the LLC
• the number of members and the reason for applying (starting a new business)
• the closing month of the tax year

How long it takes

The IRS publishes its own processing times and they change, so check its current guidance. As a rule of thumb, a faxed application is answered in days and a mailed one in weeks. The IRS sends a confirmation letter showing the number. Keep it: banks and payment providers ask for it.

Common mistakes

• applying before the LLC exists: the EIN belongs to the entity, so the state formation has to be complete first
• using a name that differs from the one on the formation documents
• naming a nominee or a service provider as the responsible party instead of the person who controls the LLC
• applying twice for the same LLC, which creates duplicates the IRS then has to sort out
• losing the confirmation letter

Doing it yourself, or with CORPYO

The IRS does not charge for an EIN. What you pay CORPYO for is the work, not the number: our EIN service prepares the application from your LLC's formation details and files it for you, so a non-US founder does not have to work out the fax or mail route alone.

This page is general information, not tax or legal advice. What your LLC owes depends on your situation, so talk to a tax professional about your own obligations.

Steps to get an EIN as a non-resident

1. 1Form your US LLC first: you need its legal name, state and formation date
2. 2Gather the details above, including the responsible party's name and non-US address
3. 3Complete Form SS-4 and enter "Foreign" where an SSN or ITIN would go
4. 4Submit it to the IRS by fax, mail or phone, or have CORPYO prepare and file it for you
5. 5Keep the IRS confirmation letter that shows your EIN
6. 6Use the EIN to open your business bank account and for the LLC's tax filings

Frequently Asked Questions

Need an EIN for your US LLC?

Form your US LLC and let CORPYO handle the EIN application for you.