How to apply for an EIN without an SSN (2026).
Non-residents apply for an EIN without an SSN by fax-filing IRS Form SS-4 to (855) 641-6935. The IRS issues the EIN in 10 business days. The online EIN portal requires an SSN; the fax channel does not. This guide covers the exact line-by-line Form SS-4 entries, the IRS fax number, common rejection reasons, and how to use the EIN once it arrives.
How does a non-resident get an EIN without an SSN?
Form the Delaware LLC first, complete IRS Form SS-4 (writing "Foreign" on line 7b instead of an SSN), fax the signed form to the IRS at (855) 641-6935, and wait 10 business days for the CP-575 EIN confirmation letter. The IRS charges $0 for the EIN itself. The fax channel is the documented IRS path for applicants without US tax identification.
What are the 4 steps to get an EIN without an SSN?
Four steps over roughly 10 business days. Step 1 is the LLC formation that has to come first. Steps 2 and 3 are paperwork and a single fax. Step 4 is the wait for the IRS to return the confirmation letter.
- 01
Form the Delaware LLC first
The IRS requires the LLC to exist before issuing the EIN. File the Certificate of Formation with the Delaware Division of Corporations through delewarellc.com or any registered agent. Delaware confirms the filing the same business day in 90% of cases — and the stamped Certificate is the document the IRS expects to see on Form SS-4.
24 hours - 02
Complete IRS Form SS-4 line by line
Download Form SS-4 from irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-ss-4. Enter the LLC's legal name on Line 1, the US mailing address on Lines 4a-4b (delewarellc.com provides one), your foreign address on Lines 6 if asked, and tick "Limited Liability Company" on Line 9a. Line 7b — Responsible Party ID — write "Foreign" if you have no SSN or ITIN.
15 minutes - 03
Fax Form SS-4 to the IRS at (855) 641-6935
Fax the completed and signed Form SS-4 to the IRS non-resident EIN fax line: (855) 641-6935. The fax must include a US return fax number for the EIN confirmation. delewarellc.com files this for you in every plan. If you fax yourself, expect the confirmation to come back to the same fax number you sent from.
Same day - 04
Wait 10 business days for the EIN confirmation
The IRS processes fax-filed SS-4 applications from non-residents in 10 business days. The CP-575 confirmation letter is returned by fax to the number you specified. Once received, the EIN is permanent and unique to the LLC — store the CP-575 because banks, Stripe, and PayPal request it during onboarding.
10 business days
How do you fill out Form SS-4 as a non-resident?
Nine fields where non-residents commonly hesitate or fill incorrectly, with the exact value to enter. The remaining lines on Form SS-4 are straightforward — name, address, phone, signature.
| Form SS-4 field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Line 1 — Legal name of entity | Your LLC's exact name as filed with Delaware, including 'LLC' or 'Limited Liability Company' |
| Line 4a-4b — Mailing address (US) | A US mailing address. delewarellc.com provides one in every plan. PO boxes are not accepted for foreign-owned LLCs. |
| Line 7a — Name of responsible party | The LLC member with control of the entity. For single-member LLCs, this is you. |
| Line 7b — Responsible party SSN/ITIN/EIN | Write "Foreign" if you have no SSN or ITIN. This is the field that requires fax filing instead of online. |
| Line 8a — Is the LLC owned by a foreign person? | Check "Yes" if any member is a non-US person. Foreign-owned single-member LLCs face Form 5472 obligations. |
| Line 9a — Type of entity | Tick "Limited Liability Company" and enter "1" or the actual number of members in the box next to it. |
| Line 10 — Reason for applying | Tick "Started a new business" and write "Delaware LLC formation" in the space provided. |
| Line 11 — Date business started | The date Delaware accepted the Certificate of Formation (shown on the stamped Certificate). |
| Line 18 — Has the applicant ever been issued an EIN? | Tick "No" unless you have a prior US entity. The IRS does not reuse EINs between entities. |
Source: IRS Form SS-4 instructions (revised December 2024) and IRS Publication 1635 (Employer Identification Number).
Why does the IRS reject an SS-4 application?
Four common reasons the IRS rejects or returns Form SS-4 from non-resident applicants. Each one is preventable by reading the IRS instructions for Form SS-4 once before faxing.
Line 7b left blank instead of 'Foreign'
If you have no SSN or ITIN, line 7b must read 'Foreign'. Leaving it blank causes the IRS to return the form for clarification, adding 2 to 4 weeks to the timeline.
Online portal attempted before fax
The IRS online EIN application validates against the SSA database in real time. Non-residents cannot use it. Always fax-file. Trying online and failing wastes a day and creates no record at the IRS.
No US mailing address on Lines 4a-4b
The IRS requires a US mailing address for the LLC's tax correspondence. A PO Box is not accepted for foreign-owned single-member LLCs. delewarellc.com provides a Delaware-based street address in every plan.
LLC effective date set in the future
Line 11 should be the date Delaware actually accepted the Certificate of Formation. Listing a future date causes the IRS to defer processing until that date passes, delaying the EIN by however many days you over-projected.
What can you do once the EIN arrives?
The EIN unlocks 4 capabilities for a non-resident-owned Delaware LLC. None of them are possible before the EIN — the LLC exists legally but cannot operate.
Open a US business bank account
Mercury, Relay, and Wise all accept Delaware LLCs with EINs for non-resident founders. Each requires the EIN, the LLC operating agreement, and the responsible party's passport during KYC.
Activate Stripe and PayPal Business
Stripe accepts US LLCs with EINs from non-residents — Stripe Atlas itself uses this exact path. PayPal Business requires the EIN plus a US-based bank account.
File federal taxes
Foreign-owned single-member LLCs file Form 5472 plus a pro-forma Form 1120 each year. The filing references the EIN. Penalties start at $25,000 per missed Form 5472.
Sign contracts as the LLC
Vendor agreements, SaaS contracts, and customer agreements reference the EIN as the LLC's tax ID. Some US counterparties refuse to onboard suppliers without an EIN on file.
EIN without SSN — frequently asked questions
Every answer matches the FAQPage schema on this page exactly. Sourced from WhatsApp conversations with non-resident founders applying for their first US EIN.
Can a non-resident get an EIN without an SSN?
How do you apply for an EIN without an SSN?
How long does it take to get an EIN without an SSN?
What address do you put on Form SS-4 without a US address?
Do you need an ITIN to get an EIN?
What can you do once you have the EIN?
Why does the IRS online EIN application require an SSN?
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