How to Get an EIN for Your Foreign-Owned LLC (Without an SSN)
"No SSN? No problem. Here's how to get an EIN for your foreign-owned LLC by phone in 15 minutes — for free."
You just formed your LLC. Now you need an EIN to do literally anything — open a bank account, activate Stripe, file Form 5472. You go to IRS.gov, click "Apply Online," and get rejected because you don't have an SSN.
Welcome to the club. Every foreign LLC owner goes through this. Here's how to get around it.
You Don't Need an SSN
This is the first thing I tell clients. The IRS doesn't require an SSN or ITIN to issue an EIN for your LLC. They just require you to use a different application method than the online form. Three options — phone is the one you want.
Phone: 15 Minutes, Same Day
Call +1-267-941-1099. That's the IRS international line. Monday through Friday, 6 AM to 11 PM Eastern. Tuesday through Thursday mid-morning is the sweet spot for shorter wait times.
When someone picks up, say: "I'm a foreign national without an SSN or ITIN. I need an EIN for a foreign-owned single-member LLC."
They'll go through Form SS-4 with you line by line. Have it filled out before you call. You'll get your EIN before you hang up. Free. Done.
Fax: 4-7 Business Days
If you can't get through by phone — and sometimes the hold times are brutal — fax your completed Form SS-4 with a cover sheet to one of these numbers:
- +1-855-641-6935 — you have a US address
- +1-855-215-1627 — international applicant faxing from a US-based online fax service (Fax.Plus, eFax)
- +1-304-707-9471 — international applicant faxing from outside the US on a non-US fax line
Most of you will use the 855-215-1627 number since you're using an online fax service that routes through the US. Include your name, LLC name, phone number, and a return fax number on the cover sheet — that's where the IRS sends your EIN confirmation. Takes about 4 business days.
Mail: 4-5 Weeks
Mail Form SS-4 to Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN International Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999. Only do this if phone and fax both failed. It takes forever.
The Lines on Form SS-4 That Trip Everyone Up
Download Form SS-4 and the instructions. Most of it is straightforward. These are the fields where foreign owners get stuck:
Line 7b (SSN/ITIN): Write "Foreign" or "N/A." Don't leave it blank — the IRS rejects blank fields. Don't put your passport number here either. Just "Foreign."
Line 9a (Type of entity): Don't check "Sole proprietor." Check "Other" and write "Foreign-owned U.S. DE" in the space. This tells the IRS your LLC is a foreign-owned disregarded entity that will file Form 5472. The SS-4 instructions spell this out specifically.
Line 10 (Reason for applying): Check "Started new business" and write "LLC"
That's it. Everything else — LLC name, address, formation date — is straightforward.
Mistakes That Waste Your Time
Trying the online application without an SSN. It won't work. Don't bother.
Leaving Line 7b blank. Instant rejection.
Checking "Sole proprietor" on Line 9a. Your foreign-owned LLC is a disregarded entity, not a sole proprietorship. Wrong box = wrong IRS classification = headaches later.
Applying before the LLC exists. Form your LLC with the state first. The IRS expects the entity to be legally formed when you apply.
Submitting twice because you got impatient. One application per entity. Duplicates create confusion and delays.
What Happens After You Get Your EIN
The IRS mails you a CP 575 confirmation letter. Keep it forever — every bank will ask for it. Lost it? Call the IRS and request a 147C verification letter.
Now comes the part nobody told you about. Your LLC has an EIN, which means the IRS knows it exists. They expect you to file Form 5472 every year — even if your LLC earns zero income. The penalty for not filing is $25,000, and the statute of limitations never expires until you file.
Every transaction between you and your LLC is reportable — the money you wired to fund the bank account, the registered agent fee, even the state formation cost. These go in Part V of Form 5472. A simple Excel spreadsheet tracking these transactions saves you hours at filing time.
Form 5472 is due April 15. Need more time? File an extension before that date for an automatic 6-month push to October 15.
And don't forget your state — Wyoming's $60 annual fee or Delaware's $300 franchise tax. Miss those and the state can administratively dissolve your LLC — but the IRS still expects the Form 5472.
Don't Pay Someone $500 for a Free Form
Formation companies love charging $50-300 to "get your EIN." It's the same Form SS-4 you can do yourself in 15 minutes on the phone. The IRS charges nothing. It's free.
Put that $500 toward something that actually matters — like filing your Form 5472 correctly. MyFreeTaxAmerica.com handles the entire filing for free, or our Premium Package ($149) includes professional review and IRS e-fax submission. Check our FAQ if you're not sure where to start.
The EIN takes one phone call. The Form 5472 is what keeps your LLC out of trouble. Get both done.
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General information, not tax or legal advice. IRS phone numbers and procedures can change — verify on IRS.gov before applying.