Form a Wyoming LLC
EIN guide 2026

EIN without an SSN: getting one for your LLC from abroad, line by line

Updated 11 November 2026IRS SS-4 instructions, December 2025About 10 minutes to read
The short answer

You can get an EIN for a US LLC without an SSN or an ITIN: write "foreign" on line 7b of Form SS-4.

The online tool won't take you, so phone 267-941-1099 for the number the same day, or fax 304-707-9471 and expect it in about four business days.

Which route for me? Fill in Form SS-4
Form SS-4 4 business days, typically, for an EIN by fax from outside the US The same day by phone. About four weeks by post. The online tool is closed to founders without an SSN or ITIN.

Your LLC exists, but the bank wants its EIN and the IRS website won't give you one: it asks for an SSN you don't have. You don't need an SSN or an ITIN. The IRS has a phone line, fax numbers and a postal address for exactly your case, and a form line that says "foreign". Here's each route with its numbers and real waiting times, and Form SS-4 filled in line by line.

Key takeaways

  • No SSN or ITIN is needed: line 7b of Form SS-4 takes "foreign".
  • The online application is closed to you: it needs an SSN or ITIN and a US place of business.
  • By phone on 267-941-1099 you get the EIN during the call; by fax, in about four business days.
  • Lines 9a and 10 carry set wording for a foreign-owned LLC filing Form 5472.
  • The confirmation letter, CP 575, can't be reissued; a 147C letter replaces it.
  • An ITIN is only for your own US tax return or treaty claims, never for the EIN.
Chapter 1

How to get an EIN without an SSN: three routes

Wyoming LLC, owner abroadSS-4
SSN or ITINNot needed
Line 7b"foreign"
By phoneSame day
By fax, usually4 business days
The EIN is the LLC's, wherever you live: pick it
You need it
You can receive a fax
Someone applies for you, using their address for the LLC
267-941-1099Phone, international applicants, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern, Monday to Friday; not toll free
304-707-9471Fax from outside the US; 855-215-1627 from inside it
CincinnatiPost: Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN International Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999
1
Key takeaway

Phone the same day, fax in about four business days, post in about four weeks.

Chapter 2

Why the online EIN application turns you away

The IRS online assistant has two tests, and a founder abroad fails both: the responsible party needs an SSN or ITIN, and the business needs a principal place of business in the US. A registered agent's address doesn't count as yours. So the Form SS-4 instructions point international applicants to the phone line, fax or post. Any page saying you can apply online without an SSN is out of date.

2
Key takeaway

The online tool needs an SSN or ITIN and a US place of business.

Chapter 3

Form SS-4 for a foreign-owned LLC, line by line

Put in a few details and see the form as you'd fill it, following the IRS instructions for Form SS-4, revised December 2025. Nothing you type leaves this page.

Name
The LLC mainly

Line 6 asks for the primary physical location; the IRS doesn't say how a founder abroad fills it, so follow your agent's practice.

3
Key takeaway

Line 7b says foreign, and lines 9a and 10 name Form 5472.

Chapter 4

Who is the responsible party on Form SS-4?

The responsible party is
A third party designee can
  • Apply for you, if you sign the designee section
  • Receive the EIN for you during the call or by fax
  • Not be the responsible party unless they really own or control it

4
Key takeaway

One real person who owns or controls the LLC, never a placeholder.

Chapter 5

CP 575 and 147C: proof of your EIN

1
  1. On approvalCP 575The original confirmation, sent by fax back or by post. It can't be reissued, so keep a copy.
  2. If it's lostLetter 147CA verification letter banks accept, requested on 800-829-4933, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, and faxed or posted.
  3. Every returnThe line 1 nameUse exactly the name on line 1 with the EIN on every filing, or the IRS records won't match.
5
Key takeaway

The CP 575 can't be reissued. The 147C replaces it.

Chapter 6

How long does an EIN take for a non-resident?

Route
6
Key takeaway

When your EIN arrives, by the route you choose.

Chapter 7

EIN or ITIN: which one you need

EINThe LLC's tax number: for the bank, Form 5472 and payment platforms
ITINYour personal number, only if you file a 1040-NR or claim some treaty benefits
7 weeksFor an ITIN on Form W-7; 9 to 11 weeks when applying from abroad
7
Key takeaway

An ITIN is for your own US tax return, not for the EIN.

Chapter 8

Common EIN application mistakes

  1. Line 7bLeft blankAn entry is required: write "foreign" or N/A.
  2. FaxThe wrong number855-641-6935 is for entities located in a US state; from abroad use 304-707-9471. An old IRS leaflet misprints it as 304-704.
  3. Line 10"Started new business"The IRS names Other, with the Form 5472 wording, for a foreign-owned LLC.
  4. The 800 numberCalling to apply800-829-4933 is for letters and questions; applications from abroad go to 267-941-1099.
  5. TwiceTwo applications in a dayOne EIN per responsible party per day; a second attempt can create a duplicate.
8
Key takeaway

Blank line 7b, the wrong fax number, two applications in a day.

Chapter 9

EIN without SSN questions, answered

?!
Can I get an EIN without an SSN?
Yes. Write "foreign" on line 7b of Form SS-4 and apply by phone, fax or post. No SSN or ITIN is needed.
Can a non-resident apply for an EIN online?
No. The online application needs an SSN or ITIN and a principal place of business in the US.
What is the IRS phone number for international EIN applicants?
267-941-1099, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday. It is not toll free, and the EIN is given during the call.
What is the IRS fax number for an EIN from outside the US?
304-707-9471. From inside the US it is 855-215-1627. With a return fax number, expect the EIN in about four business days.
How long does an EIN take for a non-resident?
The same day by phone, about four business days by fax, and about four weeks by post.
Do I need an ITIN to get an EIN?
No. You need an ITIN only for your own US return, Form 1040-NR, or some treaty claims.
Do you get the EIN for me?
Yes. The EIN is part of our Wyoming, Delaware, New Mexico, Florida and Nevada LLCs.

Changelog

  • 11 November 2026: first published.
  • 13 November 2026: official sources linked inside the text.
Your Wyoming LLC

A US LLC with its EIN, without an SSN.

The EIN comes with every US LLC we form.

See the Wyoming LLC Then: Form 5472