How to Obtain an EIN for an LLC: Complete Guide for Non-Residents

If you're forming a US LLC from outside the United States, you'll need to know how to obtain an EIN for your LLC, and specifically how to do it without a Social Security Number or ITIN. This guide covers every application method available to non-residents, walks through Form SS-4 field by field, and explains what actually happens after your EIN arrives.

Quick Answer: How Do You Obtain an EIN for an LLC?

You obtain an EIN by submitting Form SS-4 to the IRS, either by fax, mail, or (for applicants with no US legal residence or business location) by phone. The online EIN application only works if the responsible party already has an SSN or ITIN, so most non-resident founders use fax or the international phone line instead. An EIN itself is free, and the IRS never charges for it.

Question	Answer
Can a non-resident get an EIN?	Yes
Do I need an SSN?	No
Do I need an ITIN?	No
Can I apply from outside the US?	Yes, by phone, fax, or mail
Can someone else assist?	Yes, through the Third Party Designee section of Form SS-4
Is the EIN application free?	Yes, always

Start Here: Which Situation Are You In?

Your situation	Recommended next step
LLC already formed, and you have an SSN or ITIN	Apply online through IRS.gov if you have a US address, or by fax if not
LLC already formed, no SSN or ITIN	Apply by fax or phone using Form SS-4, writing "Foreign" on Line 7b
LLC not formed yet	Complete state formation first, then apply for the EIN
You're outside the US right now	Use the international phone line or fax, not the online tool
You want someone else to handle the call or paperwork	Fill in the Third Party Designee section on Form SS-4

What Is an EIN for an LLC?

An EIN, or Employer Identification Number, is a nine-digit federal tax ID issued by the IRS. It identifies your LLC to the IRS the way an SSN identifies an individual, but it belongs to the business, not to any one person.

An EIN is not the same as an SSN or an ITIN. Those identify individuals for personal tax purposes. An EIN identifies the entity itself, and you can hold one regardless of your immigration status or where you live. Getting an EIN also has nothing to do with authorization to work in the US or any visa status. It's purely a tax administration number, separate from LLC formation itself, which happens at the state level before the EIN is ever requested.

Does an LLC Need an EIN?

Not every LLC is legally required to have one, but in practice, almost every non-resident-owned LLC needs an EIN to function. A single-member LLC with no employees and no US tax filing obligations can sometimes operate on the owner's SSN or ITIN if the owner is a US person, but that exception doesn't apply to most foreign owners.

If your LLC has more than one member, plans to hire employees, needs a US bank account, wants to work with payment processors like Stripe or PayPal, or is a foreign-owned disregarded entity required to file Form 5472 and a pro forma 1120, you will need an EIN. Since most non-resident founders fall into at least one of these categories, applying for an EIN is a practical near-requirement rather than an optional step, even in the rare cases where it isn't strictly mandated by law.

How to Obtain an EIN for an LLC

Step 1: Form the LLC

Register your LLC with your chosen state's Secretary of State office and receive your Certificate of Formation (or equivalent). You generally need this confirmation in hand before applying for an EIN, since the application asks for details tied to a legally existing entity.

Example of Articles of Organization for a Tennessee LLC. Formation documents vary by state.

Step 2: Identify the Responsible Party

The IRS requires every EIN application to name a "responsible party," meaning the individual who ultimately owns or controls the LLC. This must be a natural person, not another business entity, and it cannot be a nominee or registered agent standing in on paper.

Step 3: Prepare Form SS-4

Fill out Form SS-4 with your LLC's legal name, address, entity details, and responsible party information. Non-residents without an SSN or ITIN write "Foreign" or "N/A" on Line 7b rather than leaving it blank (more on this below).

Step 4: Choose the Appropriate EIN Application Method

If your LLC has no US legal residence, office, or agency, the online tool isn't available to you. Choose between the international phone line, fax, or mail, based on how quickly you need the EIN and whether you're comfortable completing the process verbally.

Step 5: Receive and Keep Your EIN

Once assigned, save your EIN confirmation (the CP 575 notice by mail, or the number given during the call) somewhere permanent. You'll need it repeatedly for banking, tax filings, and payment processor applications, and the IRS does not simply reissue a lost CP 575 on request; you'd need to request a 147C verification letter instead.

Can a Non-Resident Get an EIN Without an SSN or ITIN?

Yes. A non-resident LLC owner can obtain an EIN without ever holding an SSN or an ITIN. Neither is a prerequisite.

This surprises a lot of founders because the online EIN application does require an SSN, ITIN, or existing EIN for the responsible party. But that requirement only applies to the online tool. The IRS's own Form SS-4 instructions state that foreign individuals are not required to have an ITIN in order to receive an EIN, and if the responsible party doesn't have one and isn't eligible to obtain one, the applicant enters "Foreign" or "N/A" on Line 7b.

There's also a common misconception that you need to apply for an ITIN first and wait for it before you can get your EIN. You don't. The ITIN and the EIN serve different purposes: the ITIN is a personal tax ID for filing individual returns, while the EIN identifies the business. Founders who need both should not treat the ITIN as a precondition for the EIN application; the two can move on separate timelines. See our guide on whether you need an ITIN for a US LLC for the fuller picture. This is also why fax and phone remain the practical routes for most non-residents, since the online tool is built around the assumption that the applicant already has a US taxpayer ID.

How to Complete Form SS-4 for a Non-Resident LLC

Form SS-4 asks for the same information from every applicant, but a few fields carry extra weight for founders applying from outside the US. Here's what each one is asking, and what to keep in mind as a non-resident.

Line	What it asks	What a non-resident should understand
1	Legal name of the entity	Must exactly match your state formation documents
4a–4b	Mailing address	Can be a foreign address; a registered agent or virtual mailbox address is also acceptable
5a–5b	Street address, if different	Leave blank if the same as 4a-4b
7a	Name of the responsible party	Must be a natural person who owns or controls the LLC, not the LLC itself and not a nominee
7b	SSN, ITIN, or EIN of the responsible party	If the responsible party has no SSN or ITIN and isn't eligible for one, enter "Foreign" or "N/A"; per the current instructions, this field should not be left blank
8a–8c	LLC status, number of members, and whether organized in the US	Check "Yes" for 8a if applying for an LLC; 8c refers to where the LLC itself was formed, which for a US LLC is "Yes" even if the owner lives abroad
9a	Type of entity	Most non-resident-owned single-member LLCs check the "Other" box and specify "Disregarded entity," while multi-member LLCs typically select "Partnership" unless a corporate election was made
10	Reason for applying	Usually "Started new business," and this is also where treaty benefit claims are noted if relevant
16–17	Principal business activity and merchandise sold	Describe your actual business activity in plain terms
18	Whether the entity has applied for an EIN before	Answer honestly; duplicate applications for the same entity are typically rejected

This table reflects the general structure of the fields, not a substitute for the current Form SS-4 instructions. Always check the version on IRS.gov before submitting, since wording and formatting have changed over recent revisions. Avoid filling in details you're unsure about just to complete the form; if a field genuinely doesn't apply or you don't have the requested information, it's safer to follow the instructions for that specific situation than to guess.

How to Apply for an EIN From Outside the United States

Applying by Phone

If your LLC has no legal residence, office, or agency anywhere in the US, you can call the IRS directly at 267-941-1099 (not toll-free), Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The person calling must be authorized to receive the EIN and answer questions about the Form SS-4, so it helps enormously to have the form filled out in front of you before dialing, even though you're not required to mail it in advance. The representative uses your answers to establish the entity and can issue the EIN on the call itself. Expect to confirm details like the responsible party's identity, the LLC's formation state, and the business activity.

Applying by Fax

Fax your completed, signed Form SS-4 to 855-215-1627 if you're faxing from within the US, or 304-707-9471 if you're faxing from outside the US, per the IRS's Where to File or Fax instructions. Include a return fax number on the form so the IRS can send your EIN back to you; the IRS generally returns faxed EINs within about four business days when a return number is provided.

Applying by Mail

Mail your completed Form SS-4 to: Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN International Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999 (confirm this address against the current Where to File page before sending). Mail is the slowest option, and the IRS advises submitting at least four to five weeks before you'll need the EIN.

Method	Who it may suit	What to prepare
Phone	Founders who want same-call resolution and are comfortable being interviewed verbally	Completed Form SS-4 for reference, and confirmation the caller is authorized to receive the EIN
Fax	Founders who want a written paper trail without waiting weeks	Signed Form SS-4, correct international fax number, return fax number
Mail	Founders in no rush, or without fax access	Signed Form SS-4, correct mailing address, several weeks of buffer time

Whichever method you choose, use only one for a given entity. Submitting the same application through two channels at once can create duplicate-processing issues rather than speeding things up.

Can Someone Else Apply for Your EIN?

Yes, within limits. Form SS-4 includes a Third Party Designee section that lets you authorize someone else, such as an accountant, formation agent, or consultant, to complete the application, receive the EIN on your behalf, and answer the IRS's questions about the SS-4 itself. This requires your signature on the form, and the designee's authority ends automatically once the EIN is issued and released to them. It doesn't give the designee any ongoing authority over your tax matters.

This is different from a Power of Attorney (Form 2848), which grants broader authority to represent you before the IRS on an ongoing basis, well beyond a single EIN application. For most founders, the Third Party Designee section is sufficient for the EIN application itself, and a full Form 2848 isn't necessary just to get an EIN.

It's also worth distinguishing the responsible party from a nominee. The responsible party must be a real individual who genuinely owns or controls the LLC. A nominee, meaning someone listed on the application who has no actual ownership or control (often used by formation services as a placeholder), is not permitted to serve as the responsible party. The IRS has been explicit that nominees put the entity's information at risk and are not an acceptable substitute for the true responsible party.

When Should You Apply for an EIN?

Apply for your EIN only after your LLC legally exists. The IRS's guidance for entity applicants generally presumes the entity is already formed when the application is submitted, so applying too early, before you have your state formation confirmation, can create mismatches between what the state has on record and what you tell the IRS.

The practical sequence looks like this:

Choose your state → Form the LLC → Receive state formation confirmation → Prepare Form SS-4 → Apply for the EIN → Receive the EIN → Move on to banking, payment processing, and compliance

Skipping ahead rarely saves time. It usually means redoing the application once the LLC is properly on record.

How Long Does It Take to Get an EIN?

Timelines vary by method. Phone applications from outside the US can result in the EIN being issued on the same call, assuming the information you provide checks out. Fax applications typically take around four business days when you include a return fax number. Mail applications take the longest, generally about four weeks, and the IRS recommends applying four to five weeks ahead of when you'll actually need the number.

These are general processing patterns, not guarantees. Volume, incomplete forms, and manual review can extend any of these timelines, so it's worth building in some buffer, especially if a bank account or payment processor application is waiting on your EIN.

What Happens After You Receive Your EIN?

Getting your EIN is a milestone, not the finish line. From here, the EIN becomes the identifier you'll use for a series of next steps: opening a US business bank account, applying to payment processors, and meeting your ongoing tax and compliance obligations.

It's important to be clear about what an EIN does not do. It does not guarantee that a bank will approve a non-resident business account. Banks run their own onboarding and compliance checks, and non-resident applicants often face extra documentation requirements or, with some banks, an in-person visit. See our guide on opening a US business bank account without an SSN for what banks actually ask for. The same is true for payment processors, which evaluate applications independently of whether you have a valid EIN.

Beyond banking, your EIN also connects to your LLC's ongoing filing obligations, which for many foreign-owned single-member LLCs include Form 5472 and a pro forma 1120, along with any state-level requirements. Our full breakdown of foreign-owned LLC reporting and taxes covers this in detail, and our 90-day compliance checklist lays out what to tackle first after formation.

Does an EIN Mean Your LLC Has to Pay US Taxes?

Having an EIN doesn't, by itself, create a new tax liability. The EIN is an identification number, not a determination of what you owe. What actually drives your tax obligations is your LLC's tax classification, its US-sourced income (if any), and whether it's engaged in a US trade or business.

That said, an EIN is closely tied to filing requirements. A foreign-owned single-member LLC treated as a disregarded entity, for example, generally has an annual information-reporting obligation even if it owes no US income tax. This is a common point of confusion: no tax owed does not mean no filing required. Because the actual outcome depends on your LLC's activities, income sources, and elections, this is an area to work through with a qualified tax professional rather than assume from general information. See Foreign-Owned LLC Reporting and Taxes Explained for the specifics on Form 5472 and related filings.

US EIN for Indian Residents: FEMA/ODI Considerations

For Indian founders, it helps to separate two distinct questions. Obtaining a US EIN is a US tax administration step, handled entirely through the IRS. Separately, the underlying act of setting up and funding a foreign entity, including a US LLC, is a matter for India's Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and the Reserve Bank of India's overseas investment framework.

Getting an EIN does not, by itself, determine your FEMA or Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) obligations. Those obligations flow from the investment itself, such as remitting funds abroad, the ownership stake you hold, and how the transaction is structured, not from the fact that your LLC has a US tax ID. Because a single-member LLC typically represents full ownership of the entity, many Indian founders find their situation falls under India's ODI reporting framework rather than the simpler Liberalised Remittance Scheme reporting alone, but the precise treatment depends on the specific facts of the investment.

This is a nuanced, fact-specific area, and getting it wrong carries real regulatory risk. Indian residents forming a US LLC should work through the FEMA/ODI side of the transaction with a professional familiar with RBI's current Overseas Investment Directions, 2022, separately from the US-side EIN and formation process. Our dedicated guide, RBI & FEMA Compliance for Indian Founders With a US LLC, walks through this in more depth.

Common EIN Mistakes Non-Resident LLC Owners Make

For a deeper walkthrough of these and other form-specific pitfalls, see Common EIN Application Mistakes Foreign Founders Make. The most frequent ones:

1. Applying for the EIN before the LLC is legally formed with the state

2. Entering incorrect or inconsistent responsible-party information across the SS-4 and state formation documents

3. Assuming an SSN is mandatory to get an EIN

4. Treating an ITIN as a prerequisite the EIN application has to wait for

5. Confusing the responsible party with a nominee named for privacy purposes

6. Using someone else's SSN or ITIN instead of correctly entering "Foreign" or "N/A"

7. Submitting the same SS-4 by two methods at once, creating duplicate applications

8. Assuming the EIN guarantees a US bank account will be approved

9. Assuming having an EIN means there's nothing left to file with the IRS

10. Letting the entity's name or address drift out of sync between the state, the IRS, and the bank

    
    

EIN vs SSN vs ITIN

	EIN	SSN	ITIN
Who it identifies	A business entity	A US citizen or authorized worker	An individual who needs a US tax ID but isn't eligible for an SSN
Issued by	IRS	Social Security Administration	IRS
Primary purpose	Business tax administration	Personal identification, work authorization, benefits	Personal tax filing
Typical relevance to a non-resident LLC owner	Required for most banking, payment processing, and tax filing	Not required to form or run a US LLC	Only relevant if the founder personally needs to file a US individual return

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a non-resident get an EIN for an LLC?

Yes. Residency and citizenship status don't prevent you from obtaining an EIN. You apply through phone, fax, or mail rather than the online tool.

Can I get an EIN without an SSN?

Yes. The IRS's Form SS-4 instructions specifically address applicants who don't have and aren't eligible for an SSN.

Can I get an EIN without an ITIN?

Yes. An ITIN is not a prerequisite for an EIN, and the two serve different purposes.

Can I apply for an EIN from outside the US?

Yes, by calling 267-941-1099 (Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time), by fax, or by mail.

What should I put on Line 7b of Form SS-4?

If the responsible party has no SSN or ITIN and isn't eligible for one, write "Foreign" or "N/A." Under the current instructions, this field requires an entry rather than being left blank.

Can someone else apply for my EIN?

Yes, if you authorize them through the Third Party Designee section of Form SS-4 and sign the form. Their authority ends once the EIN is issued.

Should I form my LLC before applying for an EIN?

Yes. The EIN application generally assumes the entity is already legally formed.

How long does an EIN application take?

Phone applications can be resolved the same call. Fax applications generally take about four business days with a return fax number provided. Mail can take about four weeks.

Does an EIN guarantee a US bank account?

No. Banks run their own approval process for non-resident applicants, separate from EIN issuance.

Does obtaining an EIN create FEMA/ODI obligations for an Indian resident?

Not by itself. FEMA and ODI obligations come from the underlying overseas investment and how it's structured, not from the EIN itself. This depends on individual circumstances and should be reviewed with a qualified professional.

Conclusion

Getting an EIN as a non-resident founder is very achievable once you know which door to walk through. Form your LLC first, prepare Form SS-4 with "Foreign" or "N/A" on Line 7b if that applies to you, and choose phone, fax, or mail based on how quickly you need the number. From there, your EIN becomes the key that unlocks banking, payment processing, and your ongoing compliance obligations. If you'd rather have this handled for you end to end, from LLC formation through EIN and beyond, Internation Corpus works with non-resident founders through exactly this process every day.

Last reviewed: August 2026. Based on the current IRS Form SS-4 instructions (Rev. December 2025) and IRS.gov guidance on applying for an EIN.

This guide is for general informational purposes and is not legal, tax, accounting, or financial advice. Requirements can vary depending on your business structure, activities, and country of residence. Verify current requirements with the relevant government authority or a qualified professional.