Strategy Snapshot
A non-US person can obtain an EIN for a US business without an SSN or ITIN. The key is that the IRS online application is closed to you, so you apply on Form SS-4 by fax or phone, writing 'Foreign' on the responsible-party tax-ID line. An EIN is for the business and does not replace a personal ITIN.
This is the most common myth. A foreign responsible party simply writes 'Foreign' on the SS-4 line that asks for an SSN or ITIN. No personal US tax ID is required to get the EIN.
The IRS online EIN application requires the responsible party to have a US tax ID. Foreign applicants apply by fax (about a week) or by phone through the international line (often same call).
The EIN identifies your company. You may still need a personal ITIN to file your own US return or claim a treaty benefit. They are separate numbers for separate purposes.
For a founder in London, Toronto, or Berlin selling into the US, the EIN is the first real obstacle. You need it to file Form 5472, open a US bank account, and set up Stripe, PayPal, or an Amazon seller account. Then you hit the IRS online application, it demands a Social Security number you do not have, and the project stalls. The good news: you never needed an SSN in the first place.
You do not need an SSN, and you do not need an ITIN, to get an EIN for your US company. Foreign owners get EINs every day by writing one word on the form: “Foreign.”The myth to discard first
EIN vs. ITIN vs. SSN: Know Which You Need
These three numbers get confused constantly, and the confusion is what stalls foreign founders.
| Number | What it identifies | Who needs it |
|---|---|---|
| EIN | Your business | Any US entity, including foreign-owned ones |
| ITIN | A foreign individual | A person who must file a US return but cannot get an SSN |
| SSN | A US person | US citizens and authorized workers |
For forming and operating a US company, you need an EIN. You may also need a personal ITIN later, to file your own Form 1040-NR or claim a treaty benefit, but that is a separate matter and not a prerequisite for the EIN.
Why the Online Application Fails You
The IRS online EIN tool is the fastest route, for people who have a US tax ID. It requires the responsible party to enter a valid SSN or ITIN. A foreign founder without either simply cannot complete it. This is not a sign you are ineligible; it is just the wrong door.
Completing Form SS-4: The Line That Matters
Most of the Form SS-4 is straightforward, business name, address, entity type, reason for applying. The line that trips everyone up is the responsible party’s tax ID:
- Line 7a: the responsible party’s name, the individual who controls the entity (you, as owner)
- Line 7b: their SSN, ITIN, or EIN. A foreign responsible party with no US tax ID writes “Foreign” here
That single entry is the whole trick. The “responsible party” must be a real person who controls the company and its funds, not another company.
What the EIN Unlocks
Once issued, your EIN lets you:
- File the Form 5472 and pro forma 1120 that a foreign-owned US LLC must file
- Open a US business bank account
- Set up payment processors (Stripe, PayPal) and marketplaces (Amazon, Shopify Payments)
- Establish the US footprint your customers and platforms expect
A Word on Third-Party Services
Many services advertise “EIN for non-US residents” for a steep fee. The application itself is free, and a foreign founder can complete it. The legitimate value a professional adds is getting the responsible-party and entity details right, acting as a third-party designee so you do not have to navigate IRS fax queues, and making sure the EIN fits into your broader filing picture, your 5472 obligations, whether your LLC actually owes US tax, and whether you also need an ITIN. Paying only for form-filling is rarely worth it; paying for the surrounding judgment can be.
When to Seek Help
If you are confident about your entity type and your role as responsible party, applying for an EIN yourself by fax or phone is very doable. Bring in help when you are unsure whether your US LLC owes US income tax, when you have multiple owners or layered entities that complicate the responsible-party question, or when the EIN is step one of a larger setup that includes 5472 compliance, banking, and a possible ITIN. Getting the structure right at formation is far cheaper than unwinding a misfiled entity later.
Last updated: 2026