If you are a non-U.S. resident starting a U.S. business, getting an EIN is one of the first important steps after forming your company. An EIN is short for Employer Identification Number. It is also called a Federal Tax ID number.
Think of an EIN as an identification number for your business. It is used by the IRS to identify your company for tax and reporting purposes.
You may need it to open a U.S. business bank account, apply for payment processors, hire employees, file tax forms, and work with certain business partners.
The good news is that you do not need to be a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident to get an EIN. You can apply even if you do not have a Social Security Number.
However, the process is slightly different for non-U.S. residents, especially if you do not have an SSN or ITIN.
This guide explains how to get an EIN for your LLC or business in simple steps.
Quick Answer: Can a Non-U.S. Resident Get an EIN?
Yes, a non-U.S. resident can get an EIN for a U.S. LLC, corporation, partnership, or other eligible business.
You do not need to live in the United States. You also do not always need a Social Security Number or ITIN.
Most non-U.S. founders apply by completing Form SS-4 and sending it to the IRS by fax, mail, or phone.
The phone method is often the fastest option for international applicants, while fax is a useful choice if you want written proof of submission.
The EIN itself is free. Be careful with websites that charge a large fee only to submit the EIN application for you.
What Is an EIN?
An EIN is a nine-digit number issued by the IRS to identify a business.
It usually looks like this:
12-3456789
Your EIN belongs to your business, not to you personally. It is different from your passport number, SSN, ITIN, or local tax ID number.
You may need an EIN for several reasons, including:
- Opening a business bank account
- Applying for Stripe, PayPal, Wise, or other payment services
- Hiring employees in the United States
- Filing U.S. business tax returns
- Working with marketplaces, vendors, or affiliate networks
- Applying for licenses or permits
- Building business credit
- Separating personal and business activities
Even if your LLC has no employees, getting an EIN is still usually a smart step.
Who Needs an EIN?
Many business owners need an EIN, but the requirement depends on the business structure and activity.
You will generally need an EIN if you have:
- A multi-member LLC
- A corporation
- A partnership
- Employees
- A business that must file federal tax returns
- A business that collects certain taxes
- A business bank account requirement
- A payment processor or marketplace asking for a tax ID
A single-member LLC may also need an EIN, especially if the owner wants to open a separate bank account, hire employees, work with payment platforms, or keep business records separate.
Can You Get an EIN Without an SSN or ITIN?
Yes. A non-U.S. resident can usually get an EIN without an SSN or ITIN.
This is one of the most important things to understand. Many foreign founders think they must first apply for an ITIN before getting an EIN. That is not always true.
If you are the responsible party for the business and you do not have an SSN or ITIN, you can generally write “Foreign” or “N/A” in the responsible party tax ID section of Form SS-4, as long as you are not eligible for an SSN or ITIN.
A responsible party is the person who ultimately owns, controls, or manages the business. For a single-member LLC, this is usually the owner.
In a multi-member LLC, it is typically the person with the greatest control over the company.
Do not use someone else’s SSN or ITIN just to make the process easier. The responsible party information should be accurate.
Before You Apply for an EIN
You should form your business before applying for an EIN.
For example, if you are starting a U.S. LLC, first submit your LLC formation documents to the state. Once the state approves your LLC, you can apply for the EIN.
You should have the following details ready before you start:
- Legal name of your LLC or business
- State where the LLC was formed
- Business address
- Mailing address
- Date the LLC was formed
- Name of the responsible party
- Number of LLC members
- Main business activity
- Reason for applying for an EIN
- Expected number of employees, if any
- Expected date of first wages, if you plan to hire employees
Make sure the company name on your EIN application exactly matches the name on your state formation documents.
For example, if your approved company name is “Growthline Media LLC,” do not write “Growthline Media” or “Growthline Marketing LLC” on the EIN form.
Step 1: Form Your U.S. LLC or Business
Before applying for an EIN, your business should already exist legally.
For an LLC, this usually means filing Articles of Organization with a U.S. state. You may form an LLC in states such as Wyoming, Delaware, Florida, Texas, New Mexico, or any other state.
Once your LLC is approved, you should receive official formation documents from the state. These may include:
- Articles of Organization
- Certificate of Formation
- Certificate of Organization
- State approval confirmation
- Filing receipt
Keep these documents safely. You may need them later for banking, payment platforms, tax filings, and business verification.
Step 2: Understand Form SS-4
Form SS-4 is the IRS form used to apply for an EIN.
It asks for basic information about your business, ownership, location, and business purpose. The form may look complicated at first, but most non-U.S. LLC owners need to complete only a few key sections.
Here are the most important sections.
Line 1: Legal Name of the Business
Write the exact legal name of your LLC as shown in the state formation documents.
Do not use a nickname, shortened name, or brand name unless it is legally registered.
Line 2: Trade Name or DBA Name
Write your business trade name if you use one.
For example, your LLC may be called “Bright Horizon LLC,” but your public brand may be “Bright Horizon Digital.” You can write the brand name here if applicable.
If you do not have a trade name, leave this section blank.
Line 3: Care Of Name
Use this section only if another person or business receives mail for your company.
For example, you may use a registered agent, an accountant, a lawyer, or a business service provider. If you receive business mail yourself, you may leave this blank.
Line 4 and 5: Business Address
Enter your business mailing address and physical address.
Your address may be outside the United States if you are operating from another country. You can use your foreign home or office address if it is your real business address.
Do not use a fake address. Make sure you can receive mail at the address you provide.
Line 6: Business Location
Write the county and state where your business is mainly located.
If your LLC is formed in Wyoming but you manage the business from India, the answer may depend on the nature of your business and address arrangement.
Use the information that best reflects your actual business location and operations.
Line 7: Responsible Party
This section asks for the name of the person who owns or controls the business.
For a single-member LLC, this is normally the LLC owner.
For a multi-member LLC, it is often the managing member or person with main control over finances and business decisions.
If you do not have an SSN or ITIN and are not eligible for one, write “Foreign” or “N/A” in the tax ID section.
Line 8: LLC Information
Confirm that your business is an LLC.
You will also need to state how many members the LLC has.
For example:
- One member for a single-owner LLC
- Two members for a two-owner LLC
- Three members for a three-owner LLC
Line 9: Type of Entity
This section asks how your company should be treated for federal tax purposes.
For a single-member LLC, the business is often treated as a disregarded entity by default. For a multi-member LLC, it is often treated as a partnership by default.
Do not choose corporate tax treatment without understanding the tax consequences. If you are unsure, speak with a U.S. tax professional before making a tax election.
Line 10: Reason for Applying
Most new LLC owners select “Started a new business.”
This is usually the right choice if you recently formed an LLC and are applying for your first EIN.
Line 11: Date Business Started
Use the date your LLC was officially formed or began operating.
For a new LLC, this is usually the date shown on your state approval documents.
Line 12: Accounting Year
Most new businesses use December as the closing month of their accounting year.
This means your business will follow the regular calendar year from January through December.
Line 13 to 15: Employee Details
If you do not plan to hire U.S. employees, write zero employees.
Do not guess or add employees if you do not plan to hire anyone. You can update your tax obligations later if your situation changes.
Line 16 and 17: Business Activity
Choose the business category that best matches your work.
Examples include:
- Ecommerce
- Consulting
- Digital marketing
- Software services
- Affiliate marketing
- Online education
- Retail
- Real estate
- Advertising
- Web development
- Content publishing
In the final activity description, use clear language.
For example:
“Online marketing and affiliate publishing.”
Or:
“Ecommerce sales through online marketplaces.”
Step 3: Choose How You Will Apply
Non-U.S. residents usually have three ways to apply for an EIN:
- Phone
- Fax
The best option depends on how quickly you need the EIN and whether you are comfortable speaking with the IRS by phone.
Step 4: Apply by Phone
The phone method is often the fastest choice for international applicants.
You call the IRS international EIN department and answer questions based on Form SS-4. The IRS representative will ask for your business details, responsible party information, entity type, and business activity.
Before calling, complete Form SS-4 as a working draft. This will help you answer questions correctly and avoid confusion.
The person making the call must be authorized to receive the EIN and answer questions about the company. Usually, this should be the LLC owner, managing member, or an authorized representative.
At the end of the call, the IRS may issue the EIN directly over the phone. Write the number down carefully and keep your completed Form SS-4 for your records.
Step 5: Apply by Fax
Fax is a popular option for non-U.S. residents because it creates a written record of the application.
Complete and sign Form SS-4. Add a fax number where you can receive the IRS response. The IRS may send the EIN confirmation back to you by fax.
Fax processing can be quicker than mail processing, but it may still take several business days. Make sure your form is clear, readable, complete, and signed before sending it.
A missing signature, incomplete business address, incorrect company name, or unclear responsible party details can delay the application.
Step 6: Apply by Mail
Mail is the slowest option, but it can still work if you cannot apply by phone or fax.
Print, sign, and mail Form SS-4 to the IRS international EIN office. The IRS will usually send the EIN confirmation by mail to the business address you provided.
Mail processing can take several weeks, so do not choose this method if you urgently need an EIN for banking, payment processing, or a business launch.
Always keep a copy of the completed form before mailing it.
Step 7: Save Your EIN Confirmation
Once your EIN is assigned, save the confirmation carefully.
You may receive an official IRS confirmation letter. This document is often called the EIN assignment notice.
Banks, payment processors, marketplaces, and business service providers may ask for this letter. Keep both digital and printed copies.
Store your EIN in a safe place. Do not share it publicly, post it online, or send it to unverified people by email.
What to Do After Getting Your EIN
Getting an EIN does not complete all business requirements. It is only one part of setting up your U.S. LLC.
After receiving your EIN, you may need to:
- Open a U.S. business bank account
- Apply for a payment processor
- Set up bookkeeping
- Register for state taxes if required
- Get local business permits
- File required federal tax forms
- File required state reports
- Keep your registered agent active
- Maintain separate business records
You should also understand your tax responsibilities. A non-U.S. owner of a U.S. LLC may have different filing requirements depending on the LLC structure, income source, ownership, and business activity.
Common EIN Mistakes Non-U.S. Residents Should Avoid
Do not apply before your LLC is legally formed.
Do not use a company name that does not match your state formation documents.
Do not use fake addresses or incorrect owner information.
Do not apply multiple times through phone, fax, and mail at the same time. This can create duplicate applications and delays.
Do not assume an EIN means your tax work is finished. Getting an EIN does not remove the need for tax filings, state reports, or business compliance.
Do not pay a large amount to a third-party service without understanding what they are doing. The EIN itself is free when you apply directly.
Final Thoughts
Getting an EIN as a non-U.S. resident is possible and usually easier than many founders expect.
You do not need to be a U.S. citizen. You may not need an SSN or ITIN. The main requirement is that your business information is accurate and your LLC has already been properly formed.
Complete Form SS-4 carefully, choose the best filing method, and save your EIN confirmation once approved.
After that, you can move forward with banking, payment processors, tax planning, and running your U.S. business properly.
The current IRS instructions allow “Foreign” or “N/A” for the responsible party tax-ID field only when the person does not have and is not eligible for an SSN or ITIN.
International applicants may apply by phone, fax, or mail; the online tool requires a U.S. principal business location and a responsible party SSN or ITIN.