What is an EIN and why do you need one?
An EIN (Employer Identification Number) — also called a Federal Tax ID — is a 9-digit number the IRS assigns to your business. Think of it as a Social Security Number for your LLC, not for you personally.
If you've formed (or are forming) a US LLC as a non-resident, your EIN is the number that unlocks almost everything you need to actually operate:
- Open a US business bank account (Airwallex, Wise Business, Relay, Mercury)
- Accept payments through Stripe and PayPal Business
- File your annual US tax returns (Form 5472 + 1120)
- Hire US-based contractors and issue 1099s
- Apply for an ITIN (individual tax ID) later if needed
- Establish credit history for your LLC
No EIN = no US banking. Every legitimate US business bank — including Airwallex, Wise Business, Relay, and Payoneer — requires your EIN during the application. Skipping the EIN step means you're stuck with personal accounts, which is both a compliance risk and a conversion killer with US clients.
The SSN myth — what the IRS actually says
The most common reason non-residents delay or skip getting an EIN is believing they need a Social Security Number first. This is incorrect.
The IRS Form SS-4 instructions explicitly state that non-resident alien individuals and foreign entities do not need an SSN or ITIN to obtain an EIN for a US business entity. The form has a specific field (Line 7b) for applicants who don't have an SSN — you simply write "N/A".
Line 7b confusion: This is the field that asks for the "SSN, ITIN, or EIN" of the responsible party. As a foreign national with no SSN, you write "N/A" in this field. The IRS accepts this. Your foreign passport is your identity document, not your US tax number.
Where this myth comes from: the IRS online EIN application (on IRS.gov) requires an SSN to complete. This is the online tool — not the process. Non-residents cannot use the online tool. They use Form SS-4 submitted by fax or mail instead. Same EIN, different route.
What you need before you apply
Before filling out Form SS-4, make sure you have these in order:
- A formed US LLC. You cannot get an EIN before your LLC exists. The IRS needs your LLC name and state of formation. The EIN is issued to the entity, not to you personally.
- Your LLC's Articles of Organization or Certificate of Formation. You'll need your exact legal business name and formation date.
- Your passport. This is your primary identity document as a foreign national. You'll need your legal name exactly as it appears on your passport.
- A US mailing address. This is typically your registered agent's address. You do not need a physical US presence — just a valid US address for IRS correspondence.
- Your business purpose. A one-sentence description of what your LLC does (e.g., "consulting services," "e-commerce," "software development").
Don't have an LLC yet? You need to form one first. Epics Deals handles the full process — LLC formation in Wyoming, Delaware, New Mexico, or any US state — with your EIN application included in our Standard and Premium packages. Message us on WhatsApp to get started.
How to apply — Form SS-4 step by step
Form SS-4 is a 1-page IRS form. Here's how each section works for a non-resident LLC owner:
Lines 1–2: Legal name of the entity
Enter your exact LLC name as it appears on your Certificate of Formation — including "LLC" at the end. Line 2 is for a trade name (DBA) if you have one — leave blank if not.
Lines 3–6: Addresses
Line 3: Your registered agent's US address (this is where IRS letters go). Line 4: Your foreign mailing address. Line 5: State of formation. Line 6: Your country.
⚠️ Use your registered agent's address for Line 3Lines 7a–7b: Responsible party (the critical field)
Line 7a: Your full legal name (as it appears on your passport). Line 7b: Write "N/A" — this is the SSN/ITIN field. As a non-resident without either, N/A is the correct answer and the IRS accepts it.
Line 8a–9: Entity type and LLC members
Check "Limited Liability Company." Enter the number of members. For a single-member LLC (just you), write "1." For multi-member, write the number of members.
Lines 10–11: Reason for applying + date
Select "Started a new business." Enter the LLC formation date from your Certificate of Formation. Enter the date you first paid or will pay wages — if you have no employees yet, enter the formation date.
Lines 14–16: Principal business activity
Describe your business activity. Keep it simple and accurate: "consulting," "e-commerce retail," "software services," "import/export," etc. Don't overthink this — it's not legally binding, just descriptive.
Signature
Sign and date the form as the responsible party (LLC owner). Your name, title (Member or Managing Member), phone number, and date.
✓ Done — ready to submit by fax or mailFax vs Mail vs Phone — which to use
Non-residents have three ways to submit Form SS-4 to the IRS. Online is not available to you.
| Method | Processing Time | Available to Non-Residents | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online (IRS.gov) | Instant | ✗ No — requires SSN | US residents only |
| Fax (Form SS-4) | 4 business days | ✓ Yes | Fastest for non-residents |
| Mail (Form SS-4) | 4–6 weeks | ✓ Yes | When fax isn't available |
| Phone (IRS) | Same call | ⚠ Limited — must be LLC owner calling | Only if you can call IRS directly |
Recommended: Fax. The IRS EIN fax number for international applicants is (855) 215-1627. You fax your completed SS-4, and the IRS faxes your EIN confirmation back within 4 business days. Most services that help with EIN filing use this method.
Do not call the IRS EIN line to "check on your application." Calling does not speed up processing and often resets your position in the queue. Submit by fax, wait 4 business days, and if you haven't received a response after 10 business days, then follow up.
The 5 mistakes that delay or reject your EIN
After helping 1,300+ founders get their EINs, these are the errors we see most often — all avoidable:
Mistake 1: Applying before the LLC is formed
The IRS requires your LLC to legally exist before issuing an EIN. Applying with a proposed LLC name or while formation is pending results in rejection. Get your Certificate of Formation first.
Mistake 2: LLC name mismatch
The LLC name on Form SS-4 must exactly match the name on your Certificate of Formation — same capitalization, same punctuation, same "LLC" suffix. "ACME Services LLC" and "Acme Services, LLC" are treated differently by IRS systems.
Mistake 3: Leaving Line 7b blank instead of writing N/A
If you leave the SSN/ITIN field blank (instead of writing "N/A"), the IRS may reject the form or hold it pending clarification. Write "N/A" explicitly.
Mistake 4: Using the wrong IRS fax number
There are different fax numbers depending on your state and situation. International applicants (no US address) use a different number than US-based applicants. Using the wrong number means your fax goes to the wrong IRS campus and gets lost.
Mistake 5: Missing the business start date
Line 11 asks for the date you started or acquired the business. Many non-residents leave this blank or enter a future date. Use your LLC formation date. A blank field is a common processing delay trigger.
We handle all of this for you. Epics Deals prepares Form SS-4, uses the correct IRS fax number for your state, tracks the application, and delivers your EIN letter (CP575) directly to you. Our Standard package ($299) includes LLC formation + EIN + banking setup. Start on WhatsApp →
What to do once you have your EIN
Your EIN arrives as a CP575 letter from the IRS — either faxed back to you or mailed to your US registered agent address. This is your official EIN confirmation document. Keep it — banks will ask for it.
With your EIN in hand, here's your next sequence:
- Open a US business bank account. For non-residents, Airwallex and Wise Business are the most accessible. Submit your EIN letter, LLC formation documents, and passport. No US visit required.
- Set up Stripe or PayPal Business. Both require your EIN and LLC documents. With these in place you can accept payments from US clients in USD.
- Note your annual compliance deadlines. As a foreign-owned single-member LLC, you must file Form 5472 + pro-forma Form 1120 each year. Missing this carries a $25,000 IRS penalty. Mark April 15 in your calendar.
- Apply for an ITIN if needed. If you need a personal US tax number (for certain banking or filing requirements), you can now apply for an ITIN (Form W-7) using your EIN as supporting documentation.
FAQ — EIN for non-residents
By fax: 4–7 business days in most cases, though we've seen it as fast as 2 days and as slow as 3 weeks depending on IRS workload. By mail: 4–6 weeks. Online is not available to non-residents. At Epics Deals, we've averaged 1–2 weeks for clients across 40+ countries using the fax method.
No. The IRS requires the LLC to legally exist before it can issue an EIN to it. You must receive your Certificate of Formation (or Articles of Organization) from the Secretary of State before applying. Typical LLC formation is 3–7 days — the EIN application follows immediately after.
No. The Form SS-4 has a phone field but it's not required to be a US number. Many non-residents use their local mobile number or their registered agent's number. The IRS will fax or mail your EIN back — they don't call to confirm.
Yes, absolutely. An ITIN is an individual tax ID; an EIN is a business tax ID. You do not need one to get the other. Most non-residents get their EIN first (as part of LLC formation), and then apply for an ITIN later if their specific situation requires it (certain banking, personal filing, or treaty applications).
Yes. Form SS-4 has a Third Party Designee section at the bottom. When completed, it authorizes a representative to receive the EIN on your behalf and communicate with the IRS about the application. This is how services like Epics Deals handle EIN filing — you sign the form, we handle the submission and tracking.
The IRS sends the EIN letter to the address on Line 3 of Form SS-4 — which for most non-residents is their US registered agent's address. Your registered agent then forwards it to you (digitally or by mail). When you apply through Epics Deals, we receive the EIN letter and send you a digital copy immediately.
Technically, a US single-member LLC isn't required by law to have an EIN if it has no employees. But practically — yes, you need one. You cannot open a US business bank account, set up Stripe/PayPal Business, or file Form 5472 without an EIN. It's a non-optional step for any functional foreign-owned LLC.
Ready to get your EIN handled?
We prepare Form SS-4, submit to the IRS, and deliver your EIN letter — with your LLC formation or as a standalone service. No SSN needed. Fully remote.