The EIN (Employer Identification Number) is the single most essential step between forming your US LLC and opening a bank account. Non-residents cannot use the IRS's online EIN application, which requires a Social Security Number. Instead, non-residents must submit Form SS-4 by fax or mail. This guide walks through every required field on the form, both submission methods, the most common rejection reasons, and what to do once you receive your EIN.
Why every US LLC owner needs an EIN
- Business bank account: Mercury, Relay, Wise Business, Chase — every US bank requires an EIN, not just a state LLC number.
- Stripe and PayPal: US payment processors verify your EIN against IRS records (TIN matching). Without a valid EIN, Stripe verification fails.
- Annual tax filings: Form 5472 + pro-forma Form 1120 (required annually for foreign-owned single-member LLCs) use the EIN on the return.
- Vendor payments: US clients paying your LLC more than $600/year must file a 1099. They need your EIN for this.
- Hiring US employees or contractors: Any US payroll or contractor arrangement requires an EIN.
Method 1: Fax Form SS-4 (recommended for non-residents)
Faxing is the fastest method for non-residents. The IRS fax number for international applicants is (267) 941-1099. This is not toll-free; international fax charges apply. Expected timeline: 4–6 weeks from submission to receiving your EIN by fax return.
Critical requirement: you need a fax number that can receive the IRS reply. Online fax services — eFax, Fax.plus, HelloFax — work well from any country. Write your receiving fax number clearly at the top of the form before submitting.
How to complete Form SS-4 (field by field)
Download the current Form SS-4 from irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fss4.pdf. For a foreign-owned single-member LLC, complete each field as follows:
| Line | What to enter |
|---|---|
| 1 — Legal name | Your LLC's exact legal name as filed with the state (e.g., "Acme Solutions LLC") |
| 2 — Trade name / DBA | Leave blank if same as legal name |
| 3 — Executor / trustee | Leave blank |
| 4a — Mailing address | Your foreign home address |
| 4b — City, state, ZIP | Your city, country (write country name in the ZIP field) |
| 7a — Responsible party name | YOUR full legal name (the LLC member/owner) |
| 7b — SSN / ITIN / EIN | Write "Foreign" — do not leave blank, do not fabricate a number |
| 8a — Is this entity an LLC? | Check Yes |
| 8b — Number of LLC members | 1 (for a single-member LLC) |
| 9a — Entity type | Check "Sole Proprietor" — the IRS treats a disregarded single-member LLC as a sole proprietorship for tax purposes |
| 10 — Reason for applying | Check "Started a new business" |
| 11 — Date business started | Your LLC formation date (from the Articles of Organization) |
| 12 — Closing month of accounting year | December (for a standard calendar-year LLC) |
| 13 — Number of employees expected in next 12 months | 0 (if no employees planned) |
| 16 — Principal activity | Brief description, e.g., "Software development services" or "E-commerce retail" |
| 17 — Specific products or services | E.g., "SaaS subscription software" or "Online physical goods retail" |
Sign the form in your capacity as "Member" or "Manager" of the LLC. Date it. Write your fax number at the top of page 1.
Line 7b: why "Foreign" is the correct answer
Line 7b asks for a Social Security Number, ITIN, or EIN. If you have none of these — which is the normal situation for a non-resident without a prior US tax relationship — write "Foreign" in this field. Do not leave it blank (blank applications are automatically rejected). Do not fabricate or guess a number — that constitutes fraud on a federal form. "Foreign" is the official IRS instruction for non-resident applicants.
Method 2: Mail Form SS-4
Mail to: Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999, USA. Timeline: 4–8 weeks for the CP-575 confirmation letter to arrive. Use registered international mail with tracking if available. Mail is slower and you do not receive the instant fax confirmation — but it is otherwise identical in outcome.
Method 3: Phone (IRS International)
Call (267) 941-1099, Monday–Friday, 6 AM–11 PM Eastern Time. You must have Form SS-4 filled out before calling — the IRS agent reads through it with you over the phone. If approved, you receive your EIN immediately on the call. Not all countries have reliable international call routing to this number; fax is more dependable.
Common rejection reasons and how to fix them
- Line 7b left blank: Write "Foreign" and resubmit by fax.
- Entity type mismatch: Checking "Corporation" for a single-member LLC confuses the IRS's classification system. Check "Sole Proprietor" for a disregarded single-member LLC.
- Name does not match state records: Use the exact LLC name registered with the Secretary of State, including punctuation and capitalization.
- No receiving fax number: Ensure your online fax service is active and the number is correctly written on the form.
- Missing signature: The form must be signed and dated by an authorized representative (the LLC member or manager).
What to do immediately after receiving your EIN
- Save the CP-575 letter permanently and make multiple copies. This is the IRS's official EIN confirmation. Banks require it. Replacements take weeks to obtain.
- Open your US business bank account. Mercury and Relay accept the CP-575 + Articles of Organization + Operating Agreement. Verification typically takes 1–3 business days.
- Set up Stripe or your payment processor. Use the EIN and the US bank account during onboarding.
- File the BOI report if not yet done. Required within 30 days of formation. Free at boiefiling.fincen.gov. See our BOI guide.
- Set an annual calendar reminder for Form 5472. Due April 15 each year. Penalty for missing: $25,000 per year. This form reports transactions between the foreign-owned LLC and its foreign owner.
Are third-party EIN services worth it?
Some services charge $50–$299 to obtain your EIN. They complete the same Form SS-4 process described above. The EIN application is free from the IRS, and completing the form takes 45–60 minutes. Third-party services are worth considering only if the time saved or comfort with English-language forms justifies the cost. For most non-residents who have already navigated forming an LLC, completing Form SS-4 independently is straightforward.
Where to go next
With your EIN, the path forward is banking (Mercury or Relay), then Stripe or your payment processor, then the annual Form 5472 compliance. Read our complete non-resident US LLC guide for the full operational playbook. If you haven't yet filed your BOI report, our BOI report guide covers the free FinCEN filing step-by-step.