How to get an EIN without an SSN: Foreign founders
Amounts last verified on September 21st 2026
Michel Myara is co-founder and product designer at looch, where he designs the ecosystem small businesses use to get paid and manage spend while keeping penny-perfect books.
You get an EIN for a US LLC without an SSN by faxing or mailing Form SS-4 to the IRS, generally within 4 business days by fax
You get an EIN without an SSN by faxing or mailing Form SS-4 to the IRS, and with a return fax number you can receive it by fax generally within 4 business days or by mail in approximately 4 weeks.
The online tool requires the responsible party’s SSN or ITIN and a US principal place of business. If the responsible party doesn’t have and is ineligible to obtain either number, the Form SS-4 instructions say to enter “foreign” or N/A on line 7b. A business with no US legal residence, principal place of business, office, or agency may call 267-941-1099 Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern, and the number isn’t toll-free. The IRS charges nothing for an EIN.
looch Start gets the EIN for you with or without an SSN or ITIN. It’s $249 all-in with the state filing fee, the EIN, and a registered agent, and the EIN typically takes about 4 days when you have neither number. looch delivers the official CP-575 letter in the app when it’s ready.
Simplicity Fintech Inc is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Simplicity Fintech Inc is a private company and is not a part of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). As part of the looch Start service, Simplicity Fintech Inc acts as a Third-Party Designee to facilitate the application for an Employer Identification Number (EIN). EINs can be obtained directly from the IRS at no cost.
Last verified: September 28th, 2026.
A non-resident can get an EIN without an ITIN: Fax takes about 4 business days, mail about 4 weeks
A non-resident can get an EIN without obtaining an ITIN first: Fax with a return fax number takes about 4 business days, mail about 4 weeks, and a business with no US legal residence, principal place of business, office, or agency can use the international phone line.
Getting an ITIN first is the slow path when the goal is an EIN. The IRS says an ITIN application takes 7 weeks, or 9 to 11 weeks during tax season or when applying from overseas.
| Route | Who the IRS says can use it | What the IRS says about timing | Where the IRS says it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online tool | Responsible party has an SSN or ITIN; principal place of business is in the US; one EIN per responsible party per day | Issued immediately | Get an EIN page |
| Fax | Any applicant; “foreign” or N/A on line 7b when the responsible party has neither number; give a return fax number | Generally within 4 business days | Form SS-4 instructions |
| Any applicant; same line 7b rule | Approximately 4 weeks | Form SS-4 instructions | |
| Phone, 267-941-1099 | A business with no legal residence, principal place of business, office, or agency in the US; the caller must be authorized to receive the EIN | Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern; not toll-free; the IRS states no turnaround | Form SS-4 instructions |
| looch Start | A Wyoming LLC, Florida LLC, Delaware LLC, or Delaware C corporation formed through looch, with or without an SSN or ITIN | Usually fast with either number; about 4 days with neither; CP-575 delivered in the app | looch Start |
Getting an EIN doesn’t change your personal tax residency. The IRS decides residency through the green card test or substantial presence test, not through whether your business has an EIN.
An EIN identifies your business, not you
An EIN is the federal tax ID assigned to a business entity. It’s distinct from a personal tax ID, and the IRS issues EINs at no charge. Start with the IRS’ Employer Identification Number guidance for the agency’s current application rules.
Your entity may need an EIN to open a business account, work with payment providers, handle tax obligations, or hire. The point is simple: An EIN identifies the business in those systems. It doesn’t establish your personal immigration status, personal tax residency, or eligibility to work in the US.
An ITIN and an EIN solve different problems
An ITIN is a personal tax identification number. An EIN is a business tax identification number. One doesn’t replace the other.
You don’t need to obtain an ITIN before applying for an EIN if the IRS instructions allow the responsible party to use the foreign-applicant route. Receiving an EIN also doesn’t make you a US tax resident. The IRS applies separate tests to determine an individual’s tax residency status. See the IRS guidance on determining an individual’s tax residency status.
That separation is useful for planning. Your entity’s EIN application and your personal tax position may both need attention, but they aren’t the same filing or decision.
The online path works when the responsible party has a qualifying ID
If the responsible party has an SSN or ITIN, the IRS online application may be the most direct route. The online tool asks for the responsible party’s identifying information as part of the application.
The online tool is available to a domestic organization formed or created in the US or US territories when its principal place of business is also there. The responsible party must have an SSN or ITIN. The IRS Get an EIN page lists its Eastern time hours as Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. the next day; Saturday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday, 6 p.m. to midnight.
The IRS limits applications to one EIN per responsible party per day. If an online application is approved, the EIN is issued immediately.
The responsible party is generally the person who ultimately owns or controls the entity. It must be a natural person, not another company. The IRS explains that rule in its guidance on responsible parties and nominees.
Use the IRS’ online EIN application only if the responsible party meets the tool’s requirements. If the tool doesn’t let you continue because the responsible party lacks an SSN or ITIN, don’t try to force the application through with someone else’s details.
That shortcut creates a bigger problem. The IRS wants the person with real control over the entity, not a nominee or another entity standing in for that person.
Foreign founders can use the IRS application form instead
A founder without an SSN or ITIN isn’t blocked from getting an EIN. The IRS’ Form SS-4 instructions say to enter “foreign” or N/A on line 7b if the responsible party doesn’t have and is ineligible to obtain an SSN or ITIN.
The IRS selects the fax number and mailing address based on the entity’s principal place of business, not whether its owner has an SSN. For a US principal place of business, fax Form SS-4 to 855-641-6935 or mail it to Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999.
For a principal place of business outside the US, fax Form SS-4 to 855-215-1627 from within the US or 304-707-9471 from outside the US. Mail applications go to Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN International Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999. Give the IRS a return fax number if you want the EIN faxed back.
If the business has no US legal residence, principal place of business, office, or agency, an authorized caller may use 267-941-1099 Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern. It isn’t a toll-free number, and the caller must be authorized to receive the EIN and answer questions about Form SS-4.
The important practical point is this: An unavailable online tool doesn’t mean an unavailable EIN.
The two IRS routes answer different founder situations
| Question | Responsible party has an SSN or ITIN | Responsible party has no SSN or ITIN |
|---|---|---|
| Can the online tool be available? | Yes, if the applicant meets IRS requirements | No, the tool may not accept the application |
| What identifies the responsible party? | Their qualifying personal tax ID | The entry directed by IRS instructions for a foreign applicant |
| Is the responsible party a business entity? | No, it must be a natural person | No, it must be a natural person |
| Is an ITIN required before applying? | Not necessarily | No, not when the IRS foreign-applicant instructions apply |
| Can the application be handled outside the online tool? | Yes, when appropriate | Yes, through the IRS process for international applicants |
| Should a nominee apply instead? | No | No |
| Does the EIN identify the founder personally? | No, it identifies the entity | No, it identifies the entity |
| Does an EIN determine personal tax residency? | No | No |
| Where should current instructions be checked? | IRS guidance and application instructions | IRS guidance and application instructions |
| What should the founder keep after approval? | The IRS confirmation letter | The IRS confirmation letter |
The table is a decision tool, not a substitute for the IRS instructions. If your ownership structure, entity type, or tax position is unusual, get advice from a qualified tax professional before submitting anything.
A clean application prevents avoidable delays
The IRS process is straightforward when the details match the entity you formed. Most problems come from submitting an incomplete application, using the wrong responsible party, or applying before the entity exists.
Use the entity’s final legal name and make sure the responsible party information is consistent throughout the application. If the entity is a Delaware company, complete the formation step before you request the EIN. Our guide to forming a Delaware C corporation explains how that formation decision fits into a founder’s broader setup plan.
Avoid these common mistakes:
- Listing an LLC or corporation as the responsible party instead of the person who controls it.
- Treating an EIN as a substitute for an ITIN or other personal tax ID.
- Applying before the state has formed the entity.
- Submitting information that doesn’t match the entity’s legal records.
- Relying on an old blog post for IRS contact details instead of checking the current IRS instructions.
A careful application is faster than fixing an ownership or identity mismatch after the fact.
The CP-575 letter is your proof that the IRS assigned the EIN
The IRS calls its digital confirmation notice “CP575.” The IRS’ CP575 guidance says it confirms the EIN and can substitute for the original CP575A-J notice series and Letter 147C.
Keep the notice in your permanent records and make copies. You may need written EIN confirmation when opening an account for the entity.
The IRS says the original CP575A-J series can’t be duplicated or recreated. If it’s lost, the available proof may be the digital CP-575 through Business Tax Account or Letter 147C. The IRS page doesn’t establish whether a responsible party without an SSN or ITIN can access Business Tax Account.
looch delivers the CP-575 through the in-app virtual office when the EIN is ready.
looch Start handles the EIN step inside formation
If you are forming a supported entity through looch Start, the EIN is part of the same formation flow. looch Start obtains your EIN as part of the formation package, for $249 all-in. That fee includes state filing, the EIN, and your first year of virtual office service.
You provide the information needed to form the entity. looch determines which IRS path applies and handles the application process, including the route used when you don’t have an SSN or ITIN. That is the part generic EIN guides can’t offer: Your entity formation, EIN request, a looch profile, Smartcards, payments, and accounting begin as one connected setup rather than a collection of separate vendors.
Once the IRS confirmation is ready, looch delivers it through the in-app virtual office. You don’t need to coordinate state formation, IRS paperwork, and a separate document inbox on your own.
This flow supports Wyoming LLCs, Florida LLCs, Delaware LLCs, and Delaware C corporations. If you are deciding between those options, start with the entity choice before worrying about the EIN mechanics. The EIN application follows the entity, not the other way around.
looch files the entity with the state in 1 business day. The EIN is usually fast when you have an SSN or ITIN and takes about 4 days when you have neither. looch provides the EIN the moment it’s ready, along with the CP-575 in the app.
Compare a Delaware LLC with a Wyoming LLC, or read the Florida LLC guide before choosing the entity looch will form.
Any US-registered LLC or corporation with an EIN and a qualifying US street address can get a looch profile. A registered agent, virtual office, PO box, or commercial mail receiving agency (CMRA) address doesn’t qualify, as explained in the guide to accounts for a foreign-owned LLC.
When to apply yourself, or use someone else
If the responsible party has an SSN or ITIN and the entity has a US principal place of business, use the IRS’ free online tool. An approved application receives the EIN immediately.
If your entity already exists and was formed elsewhere, apply directly by fax or mail using the IRS contact details above. If you need to form in a state other than Wyoming, Florida, or Delaware, form there and then use the same IRS process.
Your EIN is the start of business operations, not the end
After your EIN is issued, you can move to the operational work: Setting up an account, accepting payments, organizing your books, and understanding the tax filings your ownership structure may trigger.
For the account step, read our guide to opening a US business bank account without an SSN. It explains why an EIN helps but doesn’t remove every provider’s verification requirements.
Foreign-owned US entities may also have reporting obligations that are separate from the EIN application. Our guide to IRS Form 5472 for foreign founders covers that next question. An EIN gets the entity identified. It doesn’t complete the entity’s ongoing compliance work.
The bottom line: You don’t need an SSN to get an EIN. If the IRS online application isn’t available to you, use the IRS’ documented international-applicant process or form your entity through looch Start and let the EIN step stay part of the same setup.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get an EIN for my US LLC without an SSN?
Submit Form SS-4 to the IRS by fax or mail. If the responsible party doesn’t have and is ineligible to obtain an SSN or ITIN, enter “foreign” or N/A on line 7b. The IRS says you can receive your EIN by fax generally within 4 business days, while mail applications take approximately 4 weeks.
Can a non-resident get an EIN without an ITIN, and how long does it take?
Yes. A non-resident can apply without obtaining an ITIN first when the responsible party doesn’t have and is ineligible to obtain an SSN or ITIN. The IRS says fax generally takes about 4 business days with a return fax number, while mail takes approximately 4 weeks.
What do I write on Form SS-4 line 7b if I have no SSN or ITIN?
Write “foreign” or N/A if the responsible party doesn’t have and is ineligible to obtain an SSN or ITIN. That condition comes directly from the IRS’ Form SS-4 instructions.
What is the CP-575 letter?
The CP-575 is the official notice confirming that the IRS assigned the entity’s EIN. Keep it in your permanent records and make copies because an institution may ask for written EIN verification. The original CP575A-J series can’t be duplicated or recreated.
Does getting an EIN make me a US tax resident?
No. An EIN identifies the business and doesn’t determine the founder’s personal tax residency. The IRS determines residency through the green card test or substantial presence test.
Is the EIN free?
Yes. The IRS says you never have to pay a fee for an EIN. A formation service may charge for the broader work it performs, but the IRS itself issues the EIN at no charge.
Sources: IRS, Employer Identification Number, IRS, Apply for an Employer Identification Number online, IRS, Responsible Parties and Nominees, IRS, Determining an individual’s tax residency status, IRS application instructions, IRS, Get an employer identification number, IRS, Individual taxpayer identification number, IRS, Understanding your CP575 notice, and looch Start.
