Can I get an EIN online without an SSN?

No. The IRS online EIN application requires the responsible party to have an SSN or ITIN. Without one, apply with Form SS-4 by phone, fax or mail.

How long does it take to get an EIN as a foreign owner?

By phone the EIN can be issued during the call. By fax the IRS says you generally receive it within 4 business days if you include a return fax number. By mail it takes about 4 weeks.

What do I write on line 7b of Form SS-4 if I have no SSN or ITIN?

Enter "Foreign" or N/A if you do not have and are not eligible for an SSN or ITIN. Do not leave the line blank.

Does the IRS charge for an EIN?

No. The IRS never charges a fee for an EIN. A formation service charges only for preparing the application and handling it for you.

Do I need an ITIN before I can get an EIN?

No. A foreign owner can get an EIN without an ITIN. You may need an ITIN later if you personally have to file a US tax return.

How to Get an EIN Without an SSN (Step by Step, 2026)

An EIN is free from the IRS, and you do not need a Social Security number to get one. The only catch is that the IRS online application requires an SSN or ITIN, so foreign owners have to apply with Form SS-4 by phone, fax or mail. Done correctly, most applicants have their EIN within a few business days.

In this guide

What an EIN is and why you need it
Before you apply
Three ways to apply
Filling in Form SS-4
After you get the EIN
Common mistakes
EIN vs ITIN

1. What an EIN is and why you need it

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a nine-digit federal tax ID for a business, written like 12-3456789. Despite the name, you need one even if you never hire employees. Your LLC uses it to:

Open a US business bank account.
Sign up with payment processors and marketplaces.
File IRS forms, including Form 5472 for a foreign-owned single-member LLC.

The IRS states plainly: "You never have to pay a fee for an EIN." If you use a service to apply for you, you are paying for preparation and handling, not for the number itself.

2. Before you apply

Apply only after your LLC has been approved by the state. You will need:

The exact legal name of the LLC, as approved.
The state and date of formation.
A mailing address for the company (the IRS sends its confirmation letter there).
The name of the responsible party — the individual who ultimately owns or controls the LLC.
The number of members, and a short description of what the business does.

3. Three ways to apply

These are the IRS's own contact details and timelines for applicants with no legal residence or principal place of business in the US:

Phone: call +1 267-941-1099 (not toll-free), 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday. An IRS agent completes the SS-4 with you and can issue the EIN during the call. Have the completed form in front of you.
Fax: fax the signed SS-4 to 304-707-9471 from outside the US, or 855-215-1627 from within the US. If you include a return fax number, the IRS says you will generally receive the EIN by fax within 4 business days.
Mail: send it to Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN International Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999. Expect about 4 weeks.

Phone is the fastest if you can get through; fax is the most predictable. Mail is best avoided unless you have no other option.

4. Filling in Form SS-4

Download the current form and instructions from irs.gov. The lines foreign owners most often get wrong:

Line 1 — the LLC's exact legal name, including "LLC".
Lines 4a–4b — the company's mailing address. This is where the IRS sends the confirmation letter (CP 575), so use an address where you actually receive mail, such as a virtual mailbox.
Line 7a — the responsible party's full name.
Line 7b — the responsible party's SSN or ITIN. If you have neither and are not eligible for one, the IRS instructions say to enter "Foreign" or N/A. Do not leave it blank.
Lines 8a–8c — answer "Yes" to "Is this application for an LLC?", enter the number of members, and confirm it was organised in the US.
Line 9a — the entity type. For a foreign-owned single-member LLC, the IRS instructions say to check "Other" and write "Foreign-owned U.S. disregarded entity-Form 5472". A multi-member LLC normally checks "Partnership".
Line 10 — reason for applying, usually "Started new business".
Third party designee — if a service applies for you, this section authorises it to receive the EIN on your behalf.

Sign and date the form. An unsigned SS-4 will not be processed.

5. After you get the EIN

The IRS mails a confirmation letter (CP 575) to the address on line 4. Keep it safe — banks usually ask for it. If you lose it, you can request a replacement confirmation (Letter 147C) from the IRS by phone.

Your EIN never expires and stays with the LLC for life. Use it on your bank application, payment processor accounts and yearly IRS filings.

6. Common mistakes that cause delays

Applying before the state has approved the LLC.
A name on the SS-4 that does not exactly match the state record.
Leaving line 7b blank instead of writing "Foreign".
Choosing the wrong entity type on line 9a.
Forgetting to sign, or faxing without a return fax number.
Applying twice for the same LLC — this creates duplicate numbers that are hard to untangle.

7. EIN vs ITIN

An EIN identifies your business. An ITIN identifies you as an individual taxpayer when you are not eligible for an SSN. You do not need an ITIN to get an EIN. You may need one later if you personally have to file a US tax return. The IRS asks for Form W-7 together with that return (or proof of an exception) and says to allow about 7 weeks, or longer from abroad and during tax season. Incofile can help with both: see our EIN service and ITIN application service.

Starting from scratch? Read How to start a US LLC as a non-resident, or start your LLC and add the EIN to your order.

Incofile is not a law firm or tax adviser. IRS phone numbers, fax numbers and timelines are taken from the IRS Form SS-4 instructions as checked in September 2026 and can change; always use the current form from irs.gov.