How to Get an EIN for a Foreign-Owned US LLC (No SSN or ITIN Needed)

This is the single biggest myth that stops founders, so let’s kill it first: you do not need a Social Security number to get an EIN for your US LLC. The IRS issues EINs to foreign owners every day. The confusion comes entirely from the onlineapplication, which requires the responsible party to already have an SSN, ITIN, or EIN. That is a limitation of the web tool — not of your eligibility.

The Instructions for Form SS-4 are explicit that an international applicant with no SSN or ITIN simply leaves the identifying-number line blank (or writes “Foreign”) and applies by fax or phone. The EIN itself is a nine-digit number for your business; it has nothing to do with your personal immigration or tax status. You can be a non-resident, have never set foot in the US, and still receive one.

Founders constantly conflate these two because both are “tax ID numbers.” They are not interchangeable. An EIN (Employer Identification Number, via Form SS-4) identifies your LLC. An ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, via Form W-7) identifies a person who must file or be reported on a US tax return but cannot get an SSN.

For the typical foreign-owned single-member LLC, you need the EIN and usually not an ITIN. An ITIN only becomes relevant if you personallyhave to file a US return — for example, if you have effectively connected incomeand must file Form 1040-NR. The LLC’s own annual Form 5472 does not require you to have an ITIN. If you do turn out to need one, you can get your ITIN at itin.so.

1. Complete Form SS-4

These are the lines that trip up non-residents:

• Line 7a / 7b — responsible party name (yourself, the owner) on 7a; on 7b, the SSN/ITIN, leave blank or write “Foreign” if you have neither.
• Line 9a — entity type: LLC.
• Line 10 — reason for applying (e.g. “started new business” or “banking purposes”).
• Line 18 — whether the entity ever received a prior EIN.

2. Choose your submission route

All four routes are things you can do yourself. If you would rather not chase the IRS international line, you can get your EIN at ein.so.

3. Receive the CP 575 notice

The IRS issues your EIN on a CP 575 confirmation notice (by fax if you provided a return fax number, otherwise by mail). Keep it— banks and payment processors routinely ask for the CP 575 or an EIN verification letter when you open accounts.

4. Verify the EIN before opening accounts

Before you apply for banking, confirm the EIN and that the exact legal name matches your Articles of Organization. A mismatch between your formation documents and the SS-4 is the most common reason a bank or Stripe onboarding stalls.

Set realistic expectations, because timing drives your whole setup. The IRS officially says a faxed SS-4 returns an EIN in about four business days. In practice, for a foreign responsible party with no SSN, the fax route realistically takes 4–6 weeks, and it stretches further during the January–April filing season when IRS international operations are busiest.

The phoneroute is the fastest when it works — the IRS can issue an EIN on the call — but the international line has long holds and limited hours. Mail is the slowest at 8–12 weeks. Whatever route you choose, apply early: your bank account, Stripe, and ultimately your first Form 5472 deadline all depend on having the EIN in hand.

The EIN unlocks banking, but each provider has its own checklist. In general, a non-resident-owned LLC opening a US account is asked for the EIN confirmation (CP 575), the Articles of Organization / Certificate of Formation, the operating agreement, and the owner’s passport. Some also ask for proof of address.

• Mercury, Relay — US business banking popular with non-resident founders; EIN + formation docs + passport.
• Wise, Payoneer — multi-currency accounts often used alongside a US bank; similar documentation.
• Stripe / PayPal — payment processing needs the EIN and business details; onboarding checks the legal name against your formation record.

One practical warning: an EIN obtained through some formation agentsunder a generic “reason for applying” can occasionally get flagged during bank onboarding, so keep your CP 575 and formation documents consistent and to hand. Bank and processor requirements change frequently — always check the provider’s current rules rather than relying on a checklist from a year ago.

Here is the part the EIN guides never tell you. Getting the EIN is the start of your IRS relationship, not a one-and-done errand. The moment your foreign-owned LLC has an EIN and there is any reportable transaction— funding the company, paying the state formation fee, reimbursing your registered agent, moving money in or out — the LLC has a federal filing obligation.

That obligation is Form 5472 attached to a pro forma Form 1120, filed every year. It applies even if the company earned $0, because the trigger is a transaction, not profit. A foreign-owned single-member LLC is a disregarded entity treated as a corporation for this reporting under IRC §6038A. Skip it and the penalty is $25,000 per year — the full mechanics are on the what is Form 5472 guide.

So the sequence is simple: form the LLC → get the EIN → open banking → file Form 5472 every year. We handle that last, recurring step — Form 5472 and the pro forma 1120, prepared, reviewed, and filed for a flat $299. If you are still choosing where to form, start with the best state for a foreign-owned LLC.