No SSN or ITIN required — we file Form SS-4 for you
Get a US EIN
for your foreign-owned LLC.
Foreign founders can't use the IRS online EIN tool — it requires a US Social Security Number or ITIN. We prepare Form SS-4 and obtain your EIN directly from the IRS by fax or phone. No SSN, no ITIN, and no passport mailing — the EIN itself never requires one.
- No SSN or ITIN required — just "Foreign" on Form SS-4
- Form SS-4 prepared and submitted on your behalf
- EIN delivered by email in 1–5 business days
- Copy of completed Form SS-4 included
EIN Acquisition
$149
Flat fee · one-time · no subscription
Get startedSee Form 5472 filing plans- No SSN, ITIN, or passport required
- Form SS-4 prepared for you
- IRS fax / phone application handled by us
- EIN by email in 1–5 business days
- Completed Form SS-4 included
How does the EIN service work?
You complete the intake form, we prepare Form SS-4, we contact the IRS, and you receive the EIN by email.
Before you start
- Estimated time
- About 10 minutes
- What you need
- LLC formation document, Responsible party name and country, Business activity description
- Tools
- Form SS-4, IRS fax or phone application route
- Cost
- $149 flat fee
Step 1
Complete the intake form
Complete the seven-question intake form: company name, the owner's full legal name as it appears on their documents, the company's business mailing address, the owner's home address, business type (LLC, Inc. or sole proprietor), business activity, and the principal line of products or services. We also ask for the owner's date of birth. There is no passport to mail and no formation document to certify.
Step 2
Receive the prepared Form SS-4
We complete Form SS-4 from your answers. For a responsible party without a US Social Security Number or ITIN, line 7b is entered as "Foreign" — that is the entire identity requirement, so nothing is certified and nothing is mailed. You do not need to read the form line by line; if anything in your answers is unclear, we email you before the form goes to the IRS.
Step 3
Let us contact the IRS
Let us submit the SS-4 and contact the IRS by fax or phone on your behalf. Foreign nationals without a US tax ID cannot use the online EIN application, so the paper or phone route is the available path. Once we have everything needed, EIN timing is typically 1-5 business days.
Step 4
Receive your EIN
Receive the nine-digit EIN by email once the IRS issues it. You also receive a copy of the completed Form SS-4 for your records, so you can keep the application details with your LLC formation documents. Use the EIN where your LLC needs a US federal tax ID, including Form 5472 filing.
Step 5
Confirm it is done
Confirm that the email includes the nine-digit EIN and the completed Form SS-4. The IRS also mails the official CP 575 confirmation letter to the LLC address within 4-6 weeks, and banks may ask for that letter. Keep both the emailed SS-4 copy and the CP 575 with your LLC records.
What is an EIN?
| Question | EIN | ITIN |
|---|---|---|
| Who it identifies | Business entity (your LLC) | Individual |
| Who issues it | IRS | IRS |
| Needed for Form 5472? | Required for Form 5472 | Not always |
| How you apply through us | We prepare Form SS-4 | Form W-7 package preparation |
| Typical timing | 1–5 business days | 7 weeks; 9–11 weeks peak/overseas |
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a nine-digit number in the format XX-XXXXXXX assigned by the IRS to identify a business entity for US federal tax purposes. Despite the name, you don't need employees to get one — every US LLC should have an EIN.
For a foreign-owned single-member LLC, the EIN is required to:
- Open a US business bank account (Mercury, Relay, Brex, Chase, etc.)
- Set up US payment processors (Stripe, PayPal, Square)
- File IRS Form 5472 and the attached pro forma Form 1120
- Sign contracts and agreements that require a US tax ID
- Issue 1099-NEC forms to US contractors you pay
- Apply for an ITIN (the ITIN application requires an EIN)
The IRS issues EINs by phone, fax, or mail via Form SS-4. For foreign-owned entities, the online portal is unavailable — you must go through the paper/phone process. We handle this for you.
Why you can't just do it online
Why is the IRS online EIN tool closed to foreign founders?
The instant online EIN assistant on irs.gov only works if the responsible party has a US Social Security Number or ITIN. If you have neither — the situation for most non-resident LLC owners — the online route is simply unavailable to you.
The only paths left are Form SS-4 by fax or phone. Both are slower, easy to get wrong (a single mis-entered line can bounce the application), and the international phone line has long holds. We handle the form and the IRS contact for you.
No SSN, no ITIN, and no passport are required for the EIN itself — on Form SS-4 the responsible party simply enters "Foreign" on line 7b.
DIY by yourself
- Online tool blocked without SSN/ITIN
- Decode Form SS-4 line by line
- Long international IRS phone holds
- One wrong entry = rejection & restart
With Form5472 Prep
- SS-4 prepared correctly for you
- We apply by fax / phone for you
- No passport or ID to send
- EIN by email in 1–5 business days
What EIN questions do foreign founders ask?
What is an EIN and why do I need one?
An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is a 9-digit US tax ID issued by the IRS to business entities. Your LLC needs an EIN to open a US business bank account (Mercury, Relay, Chase), set up Stripe or PayPal, hire US contractors, file Form 5472, and sign certain contracts. Without an EIN you can't operate a US LLC in any meaningful way.
Can't I just apply myself on the IRS website?
The online EIN application (irs.gov) is only available if you have a US Social Security Number or ITIN. Foreign nationals without a US tax ID cannot use the online tool. The only option is to file Form SS-4 by fax or phone, which we handle on your behalf.
Do I need to mail my passport or get documents certified for an EIN?
No. Unlike an ITIN application, an EIN does not require you to submit or certify any identity documents. On Form SS-4, line 7b, a responsible party without a US tax ID simply enters "Foreign." That's the entire identity requirement — there is no passport to mail and nothing to certify.
What information do I need to provide?
Your LLC's legal name and formation state, your LLC formation document (Articles of Organization or Certificate of Formation), your name and country as the responsible party, and a short description of the business activity. We guide you through all of it after you order — no passport copy needed.
How long does it take to get the EIN?
Typically 1–5 business days once we have your documents. We call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line on your behalf and can often obtain the EIN on the call. Complex cases (e.g., trusts as members) may take slightly longer.
What do I receive at the end?
Your 9-digit EIN, delivered by email. You also receive a copy of the completed Form SS-4 for your records. The IRS mails the official CP 575 confirmation letter to your LLC address within 4–6 weeks — this is the document banks sometimes ask for.
Do I need an EIN to file Form 5472?
Yes — Form 5472 requires your LLC's EIN in the header. If you need both an EIN and a Form 5472 filing, we can handle both. Ask about our bundle when you order.
What if my LLC already has an EIN?
Then you don't need this service. If you've lost or forgotten your EIN, we can also help retrieve it — contact support@form5472prep.com.
How long does it take to get the EIN?
Typically 1–5 business days once we have your documents. We call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line on your behalf and can often obtain the EIN on the call. Complex cases (e.g., trusts as members) may take slightly longer.
What do I receive at the end?
Your 9-digit EIN, delivered by email. You also receive a copy of the completed Form SS-4 for your records. The IRS mails the official CP 575 confirmation letter to your LLC address within 4–6 weeks — this is the document banks sometimes ask for.
What happens after I submit the EIN application?
You're taken straight to secure checkout for the $149 fee. Once paid, we review your details within one business day, prepare Form SS-4, and submit it to the IRS on your behalf. You'll receive an email confirmation and a portal login where you can track progress and message us.
Do I need a US Social Security Number or ITIN to get an EIN?
No. A non-resident owner without an SSN or ITIN can obtain an EIN. Form SS-4 allows the responsible party's tax ID to be marked "Foreign", and the application goes to the IRS international unit. That is the route we use, so you don't need any US tax number first.
Which address should I use for the company business mailing address?
Use the address where the IRS should send notices about the company. It can be your registered agent's address, a US mailing address, or your own address outside the US — Form SS-4 accepts a non-US mailing address. It does not need to be a physical office.
What does business type mean, and what if my LLC has only one owner?
Choose the legal form you registered: LLC, corporation, or sole proprietorship. A single-member LLC owned by a non-resident is treated as a disregarded entity for US tax, but it still applies as an LLC — we complete the correct entity boxes on Form SS-4 for you.
What should I put for business activity and principal products?
Describe what the business actually does in plain words — for example "e-commerce retail", "consulting" or "software" — and then the main products or services, such as "home and kitchen products sold online". The IRS uses this to assign a business classification; it does not restrict what you can sell later.
Why don't you ask for my passport or formation documents?
For the EIN itself, the IRS does not require passport copies or certified documents — Form SS-4 only needs the details on this form. If the IRS ever asks for supporting documents on a specific application, we'll request them from you through your portal chat.
What if the IRS says my company already has an EIN?
An entity can only hold one EIN. If the IRS reports that one already exists — common when a formation service applied on your behalf — the IRS will not issue a second number. Message us through your portal and we'll help you retrieve the existing EIN instead.
Can I apply for an EIN before my LLC is formed?
Form the LLC first. The IRS issues EINs only to entities that already exist, so the company must be registered with its state before Form SS-4 can be submitted.
Ready to get your EIN?
Flat fee of $149. No passport mailing. EIN delivered in 1–5 business days.
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