What an EIN is
An Employer Identification Number is a nine-digit tax ID issued by the IRS. It is the US business equivalent of a personal Social Security Number. Banks, Stripe, PayPal and Amazon all require it before onboarding.
Why the online tool won't work for you
The IRS online EIN tool requires the applicant to have an SSN or ITIN and to be physically in the US at the time of applying. Neither applies to most non-residents. Attempting to use it anyway results in Reference 101 or Reference 109 errors.
The Form SS-4 route
Non-residents file paper Form SS-4 by fax or mail, listing themselves as the 'foreign responsible party' with the phrase 'Foreign' where an SSN would go. Fax turnaround is 3–5 business days; mail is 4–8 weeks.
Field-by-field: how to fill Form SS-4
- Line 1: Full legal LLC name
- Line 3: Care-of name if using a filer
- Line 4a/b: Registered agent or business address
- Line 7a: Full legal name of responsible party (you)
- Line 7b: Write 'Foreign' — do NOT invent an SSN
- Line 8a: LLC
- Line 10: Reason — 'Started new business' or 'Banking purposes'
- Line 18: If you've never had an EIN before, leave blank
- Sign and date on page 2
Getting the confirmation faster
After faxing, call the IRS International EIN line at +1-267-941-1099 (Mon–Fri, 6am–11pm ET). Have the fax confirmation and Form SS-4 in front of you. An agent can read the EIN over the phone in one call.
After you receive the EIN
Save the CP 575 letter (or 147C confirmation) as a PDF. Every bank and payment processor will ask for it. Keep the responsible party details consistent across all future filings.