Apply for your EIN. Without a Social Security number.

In brief

Without a US Social Security number, you apply for the EIN with Form SS-4 by fax, by post or — only for applicants from abroad — by phone with the IRS. The company must already be registered. Line 7b says “foreign” or “N/A” if the responsible party has neither an SSN nor an ITIN; an LLC with one foreign shareholder (member) notes “Foreign-owned U.S. disregarded entity-Form 5472” in line 9a. Timing: about four business days by fax, about four weeks by post.

What the EIN is — and what you need it for

The Employer Identification Number is the tax number of a US company: nine digits, issued by the US tax authority, the IRS. Despite its name, it is not only needed by those who employ staff. Institutions require it for every business account, card issuers for every application, and without it Form 5472 cannot be filed. An LLC with a single foreign shareholder (member) needs the EIN if only because it must file Form 5472 every year — under its own name and its own EIN.

Why the online application does not work

The IRS offers an online application that issues the number immediately. However, it requires the responsible party to have a valid SSN or ITIN. Founders from Germany, Austria or Switzerland generally have neither — they are left with fax, post and phone. Applying for an ITIN just for the EIN is not worthwhile: the EIN can be applied for without an ITIN, and the ITIN needs a tax reason of its own.

The responsible party

The IRS wants to know who is behind the company: the “responsible party” — the person who ultimately owns or controls the company. Except for government entities, this must be an individual, not a company. If the LLC belongs to your GmbH, it is the individual who actually directs the GmbH and thus the LLC. If this person has neither an SSN nor an ITIN and cannot obtain one, line 7b says “foreign” or “N/A”. The IRS issues only one EIN per responsible party per day.

Form SS-4: the lines that matter

For an LLC with one foreign shareholder (member). The remaining lines are largely self-explanatory. Based on the IRS Instructions for Form SS-4 (as of December 2025). The designee’s authority ends as soon as the EIN has been assigned and communicated.

• Line: 1 · What goes in: The name of the LLC, exactly as in the formation document — with “LLC” · Typical mistake: Abbreviations or spellings that differ from the register
• Line: 4a–5b · What goes in: The company’s mailing address and business address · Typical mistake: An address at which letters from the IRS reach nobody
• Line: 7a–7b · What goes in: Name of the responsible party; without an SSN or ITIN, “foreign” or “N/A” · Typical mistake: A company instead of an individual
• Line: 8a–8c · What goes in: LLC: yes, number of members, formed in the US · Typical mistake: The number differs from the operating agreement
• Line: 9a · What goes in: “Other” with the note “Foreign-owned U.S. disregarded entity-Form 5472” · Typical mistake: “Sole proprietor” ticked
• Line: 10 · What goes in: Reason: new business, stating the activity · Typical mistake: An empty field
• Line: 11 · What goes in: Date of formation · Typical mistake: The date of the application instead of the registration
• Line: 16–17 · What goes in: Principal activity, described specifically · Typical mistake: “Other” without explanation
• Line: Third Party Designee · What goes in: Who receives the number on your behalf and answers questions about the form · Typical mistake: No signature under the authorisation

Three routes to the number

• Fax — About four business days: From abroad to +1 304-707-9471. Give a fax number for the reply — that way the number comes back by the same route.
• Post — About four weeks: To Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN International Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999. The slowest route — and the one with the most lost weeks if a detail is missing.
• Phone — Only for applicants from abroad: On +1 267-941-1099, Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time. The call may be made by anyone who is authorised to sign for the company or authorised as designee.

After the number is assigned

The IRS confirms the number with a letter (CP 575). Keep it safe: institutions ask for it with the account application. If it is lost, the IRS confirms the number again on request (Letter 147C). If the address or the responsible party changes, report this to the IRS with Form 8822-B — within sixty days.

How FIAON Global handles the EIN

With FIAON Global, the EIN is part of every package. We fill in Form SS-4, you sign, we file and track the application until the number is issued. We clarify any queries from the IRS with you, and the IRS letter is then kept in your document room — and the EIN goes straight into the account application and into your company’s compliance calendar. If your US company and the EIN are not in place by the date we agree with you at the start, we refund the package price. This requires complete documents and your cooperation. It does not cover a refusal by an authority for reasons relating to you or your company. Decisions by banks and card issuers are not part of this commitment.

The EIN in the package

Company, EIN, ITIN and the first account and card application — Global Structure at a fixed price.

What you need to know

• The EIN is a tax number, not an approval: it says nothing about whether an institution will open an account.
• Annual filing duties apply in the United States even without revenue (Form 5472 with Form 1120), along with state fees and the cost of the registered agent.
• Whoever signs Form SS-4 declares to the IRS that the information is correct — spellings and figures must match the formation document.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get an EIN without an SSN?

Yes. Without an SSN or ITIN, you apply for the EIN with Form SS-4 by fax, by post or — as an applicant from abroad — by phone. Only the online application requires an SSN or ITIN.

How long does it take to get an EIN?

About four business days by fax, about four weeks by post. By phone it is quickest, if all the details are to hand.

Does it cost anything to get an EIN?

Not at the IRS. Costs arise only if you engage someone — with FIAON Global, the EIN is included in the fixed price of every package.

Do I need an ITIN to apply for an EIN?

No. If the responsible party has neither an SSN nor an ITIN, line 7b of Form SS-4 says “foreign” or “N/A”.

What if I have lost my EIN confirmation letter?

The IRS confirms the number again on request (Letter 147C). Many institutions accept this confirmation in place of the original letter (CP 575).