US incorporation · English
How to get an EIN without an SSN when you live outside the US
By Greatweek · Published
You can get an EIN without an SSN. The IRS lets foreign founders apply by phone, fax or mail using Form SS-4, and the number is free. What you cannot do without an SSN or ITIN is use the IRS online application. This guide walks through the steps as the IRS describes them, as read in October 2026.
An EIN, or Employer Identification Number, is the federal tax ID for your US company. Banks, payment providers and payroll services ask for it, so it is usually the first item on the path from formation to revenue. Greatweek is a US market-entry agency, not a tax advisor or formation service, so treat this as a practical overview and confirm details with your advisor.
Why the online application is not open to you
According to the IRS EIN page, you can apply online only if three things are true: the entity is domestic, its principal place of business is in the US, and you have the responsible party's SSN or ITIN. If any of those is missing, the IRS says to "apply by phone, fax or mail."
The IRS is clear on cost: "You never have to pay a fee for an EIN." Any fee you pay for an EIN goes to the service filing it for you, not to the government.
Step one: form the company first
The IRS advises forming the entity with the state before you apply, or the EIN may be delayed. If you are setting up a Delaware corporation or LLC, wait until the state has accepted the filing and you have the formation document. The name and formation date on your SS-4 should match it exactly.
If you have not chosen the entity yet, read Greatweek's overview of the benefits of incorporating in the US first.
Step two: complete Form SS-4 and name the responsible party
Form SS-4 is the EIN application. The Form SS-4 instructions (Rev. December 2025) define the responsible party as "the person who ultimately owns or controls the entity or who exercises ultimate effective control over the entity". For most entities this must be an individual, not another company. In a founder-owned startup, that is usually a founder. In a subsidiary, think carefully about who exercises ultimate control and ask your advisor.
Line 7b asks for the responsible party's SSN, ITIN or EIN. The instructions say to enter "foreign" or N/A if the responsible party "doesn't have and is ineligible to obtain an SSN or ITIN." Complete the rest of the form carefully. Inconsistent names, addresses or entity types are a common reason to restart.
Step three: choose phone, fax or mail
The SS-4 instructions set out three routes for international applicants, as of the December 2025 revision.
Phone
- Where to send or call
- 267-941-1099 (not toll-free), 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern, Monday to Friday
- What the IRS says
- For international callers only
Fax
- Where to send or call
- 304-707-9471 from outside the US, 855-215-1627 from within the US
- What the IRS says
- EIN generally returned within 4 business days
- Where to send or call
- Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN International Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999
- What the IRS says
- About 4 weeks; file 4 to 5 weeks before you need it
| Route | Where to send or call | What the IRS says |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 267-941-1099 (not toll-free), 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern, Monday to Friday | For international callers only |
| Fax | 304-707-9471 from outside the US, 855-215-1627 from within the US | EIN generally returned within 4 business days |
| Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN International Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999 | About 4 weeks; file 4 to 5 weeks before you need it |
The IRS notes that it "no longer issues EINs by telephone for domestic taxpayers", so the phone line is specifically for international callers. Have your completed SS-4 in front of you when you call. The fax route is for applicants with no legal residence or principal place of business in the US.
Do you need an ITIN instead?
Usually not for the EIN itself, since line 7b allows "foreign". An ITIN is a separate number. The IRS ITIN page describes it as "a 9-digit number the IRS issues if you need a U.S. taxpayer identification number for federal tax purposes" for people who are not eligible for an SSN. You apply with Form W-7, generally with a tax return attached. An ITIN does not authorize work in the US or change immigration status.
7 weeks
ITIN processing time to allow, per the IRS ITIN page as of October 2026
9-11 weeks
ITIN processing from overseas or between January 15 and April 30, same IRS page
Some providers ask for an SSN or ITIN for other purposes, such as payment accounts. Whether you need one is a question for your tax advisor, not something to apply for by default.
What formation services do for you
Several formation services file the SS-4 on your behalf. As of October 2026:
- Stripe Atlas files Form SS-4 together with Form 8821, which lets Atlas call the IRS for you. Stripe states that without an SSN, Atlas gets the company's EIN 10 to 35 business days after incorporation, and that a US phone number is required for the application.
- doola's Starter plan includes the EIN.
- Firstbase advertises an expedited EIN, though its current timelines could not be verified.
- Clerky offers an EIN application for non-US founders.
The value of a service is that someone else handles the call, the fax and the follow-up. The tradeoff is that you depend on their queue. If you are comfortable completing the SS-4 yourself, the fax route is free and the IRS states a turnaround of about 4 business days.
What you can do while you wait
Most banks will not open an account until you have the EIN. Mercury asks for the IRS-issued EIN document, and Brex requires a valid US EIN. Stripe Atlas companies are an exception for payments: they can accept US card payments and open a Stripe Treasury account before the EIN arrives, with payouts capped at $100,000 until it does. Greatweek's guide to opening a US business bank account as a non-resident covers the next step.
The waiting weeks are also a good time to settle what the US company is for. Greatweek's US Market Entry work covers that commercial side: whether the US opportunity is real at your stage or a year too early, which buyers to target first and which route to market fits your economics. The free US Market Entry Playbook sets out the sequence.
Frequently asked questions
Can a non-US resident get an EIN?
Yes. A US company owned by a non-US resident can get an EIN by phone, fax or mail using Form SS-4. Only the online application requires an SSN or ITIN.
How long does it take to get an EIN without an SSN?
Per the IRS, a faxed SS-4 is generally returned within 4 business days, and mail takes about 4 weeks. Formation services quote their own timelines.
Do I need an ITIN to get an EIN?
No. The SS-4 instructions let you enter "foreign" or N/A on line 7b if the responsible party does not have and is ineligible for an SSN or ITIN.
Does it cost anything to get an EIN?
Not from the IRS. EINs are free. A formation service may charge for filing on your behalf.
Once you have the EIN, banking and payments follow. If you want help sequencing those steps against your commercial plan, book a 20-minute US Entry Review. Confirm the responsible party and any ITIN question with a qualified US tax advisor before you file.