Federal filing · IRS
Getting an EIN without an SSN or ITIN
The EIN (Employer Identification Number) is the number the IRS assigns to a business. An applicant who has neither an SSN (Social Security Number) nor an ITIN cannot use the IRS online application. The route the administration provides is Form SS-4, transmitted by fax or by mail. This page describes that procedure as the IRS publishes it.
Why the online application is not available
The IRS online EIN assistant requires the entity's responsible party to hold a valid US taxpayer identification number. Without an SSN or ITIN, that route is closed.
The Form SS-4 instructions address this case directly: on line 7b, the applicant enters "foreign" when the responsible party does not have, and is not eligible to obtain, an SSN or ITIN. The file is then handled by the IRS unit that serves applicants with no legal residence, principal place of business or principal office in any state.
Form SS-4: the lines that matter for a foreign-owned LLC
The form is one page. It asks for the exact legal name of the entity as it appears on the formation document, the mailing address, the state of formation, the entity type and number of LLC members, the reason for applying, the business start date and the responsible party.
- Line 1: legal name of the entity, identical to the document filed with the Secretary of State.
- Lines 4a and 4b: mailing address where the IRS will send the confirmation letter (CP 575).
- Lines 7a and 7b: responsible party; "foreign" on line 7b when there is no SSN or ITIN.
- Lines 8a to 8c: LLC, number of members, organized in the United States.
- Line 9a: type of entity as declared to the IRS.
- Line 10: reason for applying (started new business, banking purpose, etc.).
Transmission by fax to the IRS
The IRS publishes two fax numbers for applicants with no legal residence, principal place of business or principal office in any state: 855-215-1627 from within the United States, and 304-707-9471 from outside the United States. A return fax number must appear on the form so the IRS can send the EIN back through the same channel.
The official instructions state that the EIN is returned by fax "generally within 4 business days", and by mail in approximately 4 weeks. For a file without an SSN or ITIN, it is customary to plan for 4 to 8 weeks: that observed delay is not a figure the IRS publishes, but it matches what we see on this type of file. No turnaround can be promised.
Billionnaire Online transmits the form by fax to the IRS with a time-stamped transmission log, keeps the transmission receipt and monitors the return fax. Every step is visible in the client area.
What Billionnaire Online does, and what we do not do
We prepare Form SS-4 from the information you enter, check it against the formation document, transmit the form by fax to the IRS and follow the return. The EIN and the confirmation letter are stored in your client area.
We do not choose the entity's classification with the IRS on your behalf, nor the answers to the form's questions: you validate them before transmission. We do not deal with the IRS for any filing other than the EIN application.
After the EIN is assigned
The EIN identifies the entity with the IRS, banks and payment platforms. It does not replace any other obligation.
A single-member LLC owned by a foreign person is subject to annual reporting obligations with the IRS, in particular Form 5472 attached to a pro forma Form 1120. Billionnaire Online does not prepare these returns and does not assess their scope: that question belongs to licensed professionals.
Frequently asked questions
Can you get an EIN without an SSN or ITIN?
Yes. The Form SS-4 instructions provide for the entry "foreign" on line 7b when the responsible party has no SSN or ITIN. The application is made by fax or by mail, not online.
What is the IRS fax number for an applicant outside the United States?
The IRS publishes 304-707-9471 for faxes sent from outside the United States and 855-215-1627 from within the United States, for entities with no legal residence or principal place of business in any state.
How long does it take to receive the EIN?
The IRS states a return by fax generally within 4 business days and by mail in approximately 4 weeks. On files without an SSN or ITIN, we suggest planning for 4 to 8 weeks. No turnaround is promised.
Do I need an ITIN first?
No. An ITIN is not a condition of the EIN application. Form SS-4 accepts "foreign" on line 7b.
Does the IRS charge for the EIN?
No. The IRS charges nothing. Billionnaire Online's price covers preparing the form, transmitting it by fax with a log, following the return and archiving it in the client area.
What do you receive at the end?
The EIN returned by fax by the IRS, then the CP 575 confirmation letter mailed to the address given on lines 4a and 4b of the form.
The EIN application is included in every LLC setup.
Order the filingOfficial sources
Billionnaire Online is an administrative filing service. We do not act as attorneys, accountants or tax advisers. The information on this page describes an administrative procedure and is not an opinion on your situation. Choosing a state or a structure is your decision and, where needed, that of licensed professionals.