If you formed a US LLC from outside the United States, the company exists on paper but cannot do much yet. It cannot open a bank account, cannot accept card payments, and cannot file its first tax forms. The missing piece is the Employer Identification Number, or EIN. This guide explains what it is, why you need it, and how foreign owners can actually get one.
What an EIN is
The EIN is a nine-digit number in the format XX-XXXXXXX that the Internal Revenue Service assigns to a business entity. Think of it as the tax ID of your company, separate from any personal number. Every LLC that has a bank account, employees, or a federal filing obligation needs one. It is free to obtain from the IRS, and it never expires.
The name is misleading. You do not need employees to need an EIN. The number is used to identify the LLC in every interaction with the IRS, banks, payment processors, and business partners.
Why a foreign-owned LLC needs one on day one
- Bank account. US banks and fintech providers such as Mercury, Relay, or Wise Business will not open an account for an LLC without an EIN and an IRS document proving it. Read more in our guide on opening a US bank account as a non-resident.
- Payments. Stripe, PayPal, Amazon, Shopify Payments, and similar services verify the EIN during onboarding.
- Form 5472. A foreign-owned single-member LLC that is disregarded for tax purposes must file Form 5472 together with a pro forma Form 1120 every year. The form cannot be filed without an EIN. The penalty for not filing starts at $25,000. See our Form 5472 guide.
- W-9 and contracts. US customers and platforms ask for Form W-9, which requires the EIN, before they pay you.
- State filings. Some states ask for the EIN when registering for sales tax or filing annual reports.
Why it is harder for foreign owners
A US resident with a Social Security Number applies online at irs.gov and has the EIN in about 15 minutes. The online tool checks the applicant's SSN or ITIN. If you have neither, the tool stops you. That leaves three routes:
| Route | How it works | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Fax | Send a completed Form SS-4 to the IRS international fax number. | 4 to 12 weeks in practice, sometimes longer |
| Post Form SS-4 to the IRS in Cincinnati. | 6 to 12 weeks, plus international postage | |
| Phone | Call the IRS international line, answer the SS-4 questions, receive the number during the call. | Long hold times, limited hours, often several attempts |
| Third party designee | Authorize a service to prepare and submit the SS-4 on your behalf. | Depends on the service. SwiftEIN: 72 hours or less for 99% of orders |
More detail on each route is in How to get an EIN without an SSN.
What you receive when the EIN is issued
The IRS confirms a new EIN in two forms. The CP 575 notice is the original confirmation, printed once and mailed to the LLC address. For foreign-filed applications it typically arrives 3 to 4 weeks after the number is assigned, sometimes later. The 147c letter is the EIN verification letter the IRS sends by fax on request. Both are official IRS documents, and banks accept either. A third party designee like SwiftEIN obtains the 147c by fax and sends it to you, which is why you do not have to wait for the mail. Read what the 147c letter is.
Information you need to have ready
- The exact legal name of the LLC as shown on the certificate of formation or articles of organization
- The state of formation and the formation date
- The LLC's mailing address (often the registered agent address)
- The name and address of the responsible party, usually the owner or managing member
- The number of members
- A short description of the business activity
That is everything the SS-4 asks for. There is no need for a US address for the owner, no SSN, and no ITIN. Our Form SS-4 guide walks through every line.
Common mistakes
- Applying twice. If the IRS has already assigned an EIN to the LLC, a second application is rejected. If you faxed an application weeks ago and then apply again, you may end up with confusion and delays.
- Name mismatch. "Acme Digital LLC" and "Acme Digital, L.L.C." are not the same to the IRS. Use the exact formation name.
- Wrong entity classification. A single-member LLC is disregarded by default, a multi-member LLC is a partnership by default. Selecting the wrong box leads to the wrong filing obligations. If in doubt, talk to a tax professional.
- Using a nominee. The IRS requires the responsible party to be the person who actually controls the entity, not a nominee.