Getting an EIN when you're outside the U.S.
No SSN, no online form. Here's how non-U.S. founders apply by phone, fax or mail, and what to put in the phone number field.
An Employer Identification Number, or EIN, is your company's tax ID. You'll need it to open a business bank account, set up most payment processors, and file your company's tax forms. For U.S. residents it takes ten minutes online. For founders abroad, it takes a bit more planning.
Why the online form won't work for you
The IRS online application asks for the Social Security Number or ITIN of the company's "responsible party", usually the owner. If you don't have one, you can't finish it. Instead, international applicants use Form SS-4, the paper version of the same application, and send it in one of three ways.
Three ways to apply
By phone
International applicants can call the IRS at +1 (267) 941-1099. It isn't a toll-free number, and hold times can be long, so call from a line where international minutes are cheap. Have a completed SS-4 in front of you; the agent will go through it with you and give you the EIN at the end of the call. The person calling must be authorized to receive the EIN. Check IRS.gov for current hours before you call.
By fax
Fax the completed SS-4 to +1 (304) 707-9471 from outside the U.S., or (855) 215-1627 from inside the U.S. Include a return fax number; the IRS usually faxes your EIN back in about four business days. Online fax services work fine if you don't have a machine.
By mail
Mail the form to Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN International Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999. It's the slowest route, typically four weeks or more, plus international postage time.
Filling in Form SS-4
Most of the form is straightforward: the legal name exactly as it appears on your formation documents, your entity type, the state you formed in and the reason you're applying. A few lines trip people up:
Responsible party's tax ID (line 7b). If you have no SSN or ITIN, write "Foreign" here rather than leaving it blank.
Mailing address. Use an address where you can reliably receive post. Your EIN confirmation letter, the CP 575, goes there.
Phone number. Near the signature there's a field for the applicant's phone number. If something on your form is unclear, the IRS may call it. Use a number you can answer during U.S. business hours, from wherever you are.
One note: TwinNumber receives calls today, including from the IRS, but calling out from the browser is still coming soon. If you apply by phone, place that call from another line.
After you get your EIN
Write it down the moment you receive it, then keep the CP 575 letter somewhere safe; banks often ask for a copy. If you lose it, you can request a replacement confirmation, Letter 147C, from the IRS. Then add the EIN to your bank application and payment processor, and note your filing deadlines.
Common mistakes
A name that doesn't match. The legal name on SS-4 must match your formation documents exactly, including "LLC" or "Inc."
Applying twice. If your fax hasn't come back yet, wait and call before resending. Duplicate applications can create two EINs.
An unreachable phone number. A number you can't answer means a question about your form can stall the whole process.
Paying for something free. The IRS doesn't charge for an EIN. Filing services can save you time, but they're optional.
This guide is general information, not tax advice. IRS numbers, hours and processing times change; check IRS.gov before you apply, and talk to a tax professional about your company's filing obligations.