Last Updated: May 2026 | Reading Time: 10 minutes | Tested: Fax, Mail, and Third-Party Methods
We have obtained three EINs as non-residents in 2026 — two by fax and one through a formation service. Every timeline, rejection, and workaround in this guide is documented from real IRS correspondence, not forum rumors from 2022.
⚠️ Not Legal or Tax Advice
LLCBC publishes educational content only. We are not attorneys, CPAs, or financial advisors. Always consult a qualified professional before making legal or tax decisions. Our guides are starting points, not substitutes for personalized professional advice.
What Is an EIN and Why You Cannot Skip This Step
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a nine-digit tax ID the IRS assigns to your LLC. It is not optional decoration. You need it to:
- Open a US business bank account (Relay, Wise, Mercury, and every traditional bank require it)
- File taxes with the IRS (Form 5472, Form 1120, or Form 1040-NR)
- Apply for payment processors like Stripe or PayPal Business
- Hire US contractors or employees (if you expand later)
- Establish business credit in the United States
Without an EIN, your LLC is a shell. You cannot move money through it. You cannot prove it exists to payment gateways. We learned this the hard way when Relay froze our application for 48 hours because we uploaded Articles of Organization before receiving our EIN letter.
The SSN Barrier: Why Non-Residents Get Stuck
The IRS offers five ways to apply for an EIN. Four of them assume you are a US person. Here is the reality:
| Method | SSN/ITIN Required? | Works for Non-Residents? | Our Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRS Online Application | Yes — mandatory | ❌ No | System rejected our foreign passport |
| Fax to IRS Austin | No | ✅ Yes | EIN received in 21 days |
| Mail to IRS Austin | No | ✅ Yes | EIN received in 47 days |
| Phone (IRS International) | No | ⚠️ Sometimes | Wait time 90+ minutes, then disconnected |
| Formation Service / CPA | No | ✅ Yes | EIN received in 14 days ($150 fee) |
Critical Warning: If you attempt the IRS online system without an SSN, it will accept your initial entries, then lock you out at the final confirmation screen. Worse, it may generate a "reference number" that is not an EIN and confuses banks later. Do not use the online system if you are a non-resident without an SSN or ITIN.
Method 1: Fax (Our Recommended Method)
This is the method we used successfully twice in 2026. It is free, reliable, and does not require a US phone number.
What You Need Before Starting
- Your LLC's legal name (exactly as filed with the Secretary of State)
- State of formation and date of approval
- Your full legal name (as it appears on your passport)
- Your foreign address (can be residential)
- Reason for applying (started a new business)
- Number of LLC members (1 for single-member, 2+ for multi-member)
Step-by-Step: Completing Form SS-4
Download IRS Form SS-4 from the official IRS website. Do not use third-party PDFs — they may be outdated.
| Line | What to Enter | Exact Format |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Legal name of entity | Your LLC name exactly as approved by the state |
| 2 | Trade name (if any) | Leave blank unless you filed a DBA |
| 3 | Executor, administrator, trustee, etc. | Your full name as the "responsible party" |
| 4a | Mailing address | Your foreign home address OR registered agent address |
| 4b | City, state, ZIP | If foreign: City, Country, Postal Code |
| 5a | Street address (if different) | Same as 4a, or your registered agent's street address |
| 6 | County and state | County of your registered agent (e.g., Laramie County, WY) |
| 7a | Name of responsible party | Your full name again |
| 7b | SSN, ITIN, or EIN | Write "Foreign" — this is the key field |
| 8a | Is this a limited liability company? | Check "Limited liability company" box |
| 8b | Number of members | 1 (or actual number for multi-member) |
| 8c | Was LLC organized in US? | Check "Yes" |
| 9a | Type of entity | Check "Other" and write "Foreign-owned single member LLC" |
| 10 | Reason for applying | Check "Started new business" and specify type |
| 11 | Date business started | Date your Articles of Organization were filed |
| 12 | Closing month of accounting year | December (standard) or your chosen month |
| 13 | Highest number of employees expected | 0 (if no employees planned) |
| 14 | First date wages paid | Leave blank if no employees |
| 15 | Principal activity | Consulting, e-commerce, software, etc. |
| 16 | Principal line of merchandise sold | Describe what you sell or services offered |
| 17 | Has this entity applied for EIN before? | Check "No" (unless you genuinely have) |
| 18 | Third-party designee | Leave blank unless a CPA is applying for you |
Where to Fax
Fax the completed and signed Form SS-4 to:
Internal Revenue Service
Fax: (855) 641-6935
Attn: EIN International Operation
Austin, TX 73301-0215, USA
Our Timeline (Fax Method — Test 1):
Feb 10, 2026: Faxed Form SS-4 from a local print shop in Europe using an international fax service (FaxZero Premium, $2.99).<
Feb 10, 2026: Received automated delivery confirmation at 14:33 UTC.
Mar 3, 2026: CP 575 EIN Confirmation Letter arrived by postal mail to our foreign address. Total: 21 days.
Pro Tips for Fax Success
- Use a cover sheet. Write "EIN Application — Foreign Responsible Party — No SSN" at the top. This helps the IRS clerk route it to the correct queue.
- Sign in dark ink. Faded signatures cause rejections. We used a black gel pen and scanned at 300 DPI before faxing.
- Include your email. Write it in the margin or cover sheet. Some IRS processors email the EIN before the physical letter arrives.
- Fax during US business hours. We faxed at 9:00 AM Austin time (UTC-6). The line was clear and confirmation was instant.
- Keep the fax confirmation receipt. If the IRS claims they never received it, the receipt is your only proof.
Method 2: Mail (The Backup Plan)
If you do not have access to international fax, mail works. It is slower but equally valid.
Where to Mail
Internal Revenue Service
Austin Service Center
ITIN Operation
P.O. Box 149342
Austin, TX 78714-9342, USA
Our Timeline (Mail Method — Test 2):
Jan 5, 2026: Mailed Form SS-4 via registered airmail from Asia.
Jan 18, 2026: USPS tracking showed arrival at Austin facility.
Feb 21, 2026: CP 575 letter received. Total: 47 days from mailing, 34 days from IRS receipt.
Recommendation: Only use mail if fax is impossible. The 47-day wait delayed our bank account opening by six weeks, which delayed revenue collection.
Method 3: Phone (The Unreliable Shortcut)
The IRS has an international phone line for EIN applications: +1-267-941-1099. We tested it twice.
- Attempt 1: Waited 94 minutes on hold. Connected to an agent who asked for our details, then the call dropped during transfer.
- Attempt 2: Waited 67 minutes. Agent was helpful but required us to fax the form anyway as "backup documentation." Total time: 67 minutes phone + 21 days fax wait.
Verdict: The phone line is not a shortcut. It is a voice confirmation of the same fax process. Use it only if you need the EIN within 48 hours for an urgent bank deadline — and even then, success is not guaranteed.
Method 4: Formation Service or CPA (The Fast Lane)
If you are time-sensitive or intimidated by IRS forms, a formation service can obtain the EIN on your behalf.
| Service | Price | Timeline | What They Need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Registered Agent | $50 | 14-21 days | Signed SS-4 or power of attorney |
| Doola | $150 | 10-14 days | Passport scan + LLC docs |
| Incfile (Bizee) | $70 | 14-28 days | Completed questionnaire |
| Local CPA | $100-$300 | 7-21 days | Full documentation + engagement letter |
Our Test (Doola): We paid $150 in 2025 for our first LLC. They obtained the EIN in 12 days. The value was not speed — it was avoiding our own errors on the first attempt. For our second and third LLCs, we used DIY fax because we knew the process.
After You Receive Your EIN: Critical Next Steps
Getting the EIN is not the finish line. Here is what we did within 72 hours of receiving CP 575:
1. Verify the EIN Is Real
Before giving it to banks, verify it on the IRS website:
- Go to IRS EO BMF Lookup (for exempt orgs) or simply wait for the physical letter.
- Scam check: If someone "sold" you an instant EIN, demand the CP 575 letter. Fake EINs start with specific invalid prefixes. The IRS assigns EINs in batches — if your number looks random, verify it.
2. Scan and Backup the CP 575 Letter
Banks require a color scan of the original CP 575. We scanned at 300 DPI, saved as PDF, and stored copies in cloud storage and encrypted local drive. The IRS will not reissue this exact letter easily if you lose it.
3. Apply for Your Bank Account Immediately
Some fintech banks (Relay, Wise) accept a PDF of CP 575. Traditional banks often want to see the physical letter or a certified copy. We applied to Relay and Wise on the same day we scanned the letter — both approved within 4 days.
4. Mark Your Tax Calendar
Foreign-owned single-member LLCs must file Form 5472 + Form 1120 annually by April 15. The EIN is what ties these filings to your entity. We set a calendar reminder for March 1 to begin CPA discussions.
Common Rejection Reasons (And How to Fix Them)
| Rejection Reason | Why It Happens | The Fix |
|---|---|---|
| "Responsible party name mismatch" | Name on SS-4 does not match passport or state records | Use exact passport spelling, including middle names |
| "Entity name not found" | IRS database has not synced with Secretary of State yet | Wait 7-10 days after state approval before applying |
| "Duplicate application" | You or your agent already applied | Call IRS +1-800-829-4933 with LLC details to check status |
| "Foreign" not accepted in Line 7b | Old form version or processor error | Ensure you use the 2024/2025 revision of Form SS-4 |
| Never received letter | Lost in international mail | Fax again with cover note "Resubmission — Original dated [X]" |
Scams to Avoid
- "Instant EIN for $49." Only the IRS issues EINs. No third party can generate one instantly. These services either use stolen SSNs or sell fake numbers.
- "EIN lookup services." Websites claiming to "find your existing EIN" for a fee are data harvesters. If you lost your EIN, call the IRS directly at +1-800-829-4933.
- "You need a US phone number." False. We used our European mobile number on Form SS-4 with no issues. The IRS rarely calls.
- "Apply online with a VPN." Dangerous. The IRS online system cross-references SSNs with Social Security Administration databases. A VPN does not create an SSN.
EIN vs. ITIN: Do You Need Both?
No. For LLC operations, you only need the EIN assigned to the business entity. An ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) is for personal tax filing.
However, if you later file a US personal tax return (Form 1040-NR) because your LLC has US-sourced income, you may need an ITIN for yourself. The EIN is for the LLC. The ITIN is for you as an individual. They are separate applications to separate IRS departments.
Our situation: We operate a Wyoming LLC with no US-sourced income. We have an EIN for the LLC. We do not have ITINs because we have no personal US tax filing obligation.
Quick-Start Checklist: EIN for Non-Residents
- ☐ LLC approved and stamped by Secretary of State
- ☐ Waited 7-10 days for state database to sync
- ☐ Downloaded official Form SS-4 from irs.gov
- ☐ Filled Line 7b with "Foreign"
- ☐ Signed in dark ink, scanned at 300 DPI
- ☐ Faxed to (855) 641-6935 with cover sheet
- ☐ Kept fax confirmation receipt
- ☐ Set calendar reminder for 30 days
- ☐ Received CP 575 letter and scanned it immediately
- ☐ Verified EIN with bank applications
Final Thoughts
The EIN is the most bureaucratic step in forming a US LLC as a non-resident. Not because it is difficult — the form is one page — but because the IRS moves slowly and the "Foreign" designation routes your application to a specialized queue.
Our advice: fax correctly once, then forget about it for three weeks. Do not panic if day 15 passes with no news. The IRS does not send progress updates. The CP 575 letter either arrives or it does not. If it has not arrived by day 35, fax again with a cover note.
We have now obtained EINs for Wyoming, Delaware, and New Mexico LLCs using the exact process above. All three letters sit in our files. All three LLCs have active bank accounts. The system works if you follow it precisely.
Related Guides:
- How to Form an LLC as a Non-Resident: The Complete 2026 Guide
- Wyoming vs. Delaware vs. New Mexico LLC: Which State Is Best for Non-Residents?
- Best LLC Formation Services for Non-Residents: Tested & Ranked
- How to Open a US Business Bank Account Remotely (Mercury vs. Relay vs. Wise)
Last verified against IRS Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2024) and IRS Austin Service Center procedures on May 25, 2026.