What Is a Federal EIN (Employer Identification Number)?
An EIN — full form: Employer Identification Number — is a unique 9-digit federal tax identification number assigned by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to businesses operating in the United States. It is sometimes called a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) or Federal Tax Identification Number (Federal Tax ID).
The format is always: XX-XXXXXXX — two digits, a hyphen, then seven digits. For example: 47-1234567. The IRS uses this number to identify your business entity for all federal tax purposes.
EIN — Employer Identification Number
For businesses · Available to foreignersFederal tax ID for your LLC, corporation, or other business entity. Applied for via IRS Form SS-4. Required for business banking, Form 5472, Stripe, and hiring. No citizenship or SSN required to obtain one.
SSN — Social Security Number
For individuals · US citizens & residents onlyPersonal federal tax ID for US citizens and authorized US residents. Required for US employment, personal tax returns, and most US financial services. Not available to non-resident foreigners.
ITIN — Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
For individuals · Foreigners filing US taxesPersonal tax ID for non-residents who must file US personal tax returns but are not eligible for an SSN. Applied for via IRS Form W-7. Not a replacement for an EIN — these serve different purposes.
FTIN — Foreign Tax Identification Number
Issued by your home countryThe tax ID issued by your home country government (e.g., Turkey's T.C. Kimlik No., Germany's Steuernummer, UAE's TRN). Referenced on Form 5472 for foreign LLC owners but not a US-issued number.
Why Non-US Residents Need a Federal EIN
The federal EIN is the single most important number for operating your US LLC as a real business. Without it, you cannot do any of the following:
| What You Need EIN For | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Open a US business bank account | Mercury, Relay, and every US bank requires your LLC EIN before opening a business checking account |
| File Form 5472 | The mandatory annual IRS return for foreign-owned single-member LLCs requires your EIN on every page |
| Accept Stripe & PayPal Business payments | Stripe and PayPal Business require an EIN to verify your US business entity and issue 1099-K |
| Sell on Amazon | Amazon Seller Central requires your EIN for US marketplace tax verification |
| Hire US contractors | Issuing 1099 forms to US contractors requires your business EIN |
| Sign contracts as an LLC | Enterprise clients and B2B platforms often require your EIN for vendor setup and W-9 completion |
| Apply for US business credit | Building US business credit requires an EIN attached to your LLC |
How Foreigners Get a Federal EIN: The IRS Form SS-4 Method
US residents with an SSN can apply for an EIN online at IRS.gov and receive it instantly. Non-US residents without an SSN or ITIN cannot use the online application.
The official IRS method for foreigners is to submit IRS Form SS-4 — the Application for Employer Identification Number — by:
- Fax: IRS International Fax Line: +1 267-941-1099 — response in 2–4 weeks
- Mail: IRS Cincinnati Service Center, PO Box 268, Stop 8010G, Memphis, TN 38101 — response in 4–8 weeks
Form SS-4: How to Fill It Out as a Foreign LLC Owner
IRS Form SS-4 is a one-page form available for free at IRS.gov. Here are the critical fields for a foreign-owned single-member LLC:
Step-by-Step: Getting Your Federal EIN as a Non-US Resident
Form your LLC first
You need your LLC's legal name, formation state, and Articles of Organization date before you can complete Form SS-4. The EIN application requires the exact legal entity name as registered with the state. If you haven't formed your LLC yet, that comes first. Monezzi handles formation in 48 hours.
Fill out IRS Form SS-4
Download the current Form SS-4 from IRS.gov (free). Complete all required fields as described in the section above. Pay special attention to Line 7b (SSN/ITIN field) — write "FOREIGNUS" or leave blank. Sign the form. The responsible party signature is required on the form before submission.
Fax to IRS International line
Fax your completed Form SS-4 to the IRS International Fax Line: +1 267-941-1099. This line is specifically for international applicants and processes EIN applications faster than mail — typically 2–4 weeks. Keep your fax confirmation as proof of submission.
Or mail to IRS Cincinnati
If fax is not available, mail your Form SS-4 to: Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN International Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999, USA. Processing by mail takes 4–8 weeks. The EIN assignment letter (CP 575) is mailed to the address on Line 4 of your form.
Receive your EIN assignment letter
The IRS sends your EIN in a CP 575 letter to the mailing address on your SS-4. This letter is your official EIN confirmation. Keep the original — many banks and services require the CP 575 as proof of EIN issuance. If you lose it, you can obtain a replacement 147C letter by calling the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line: +1 800-829-4933.
Open Mercury/Relay and set up Stripe
With your EIN in hand, you can immediately open a Mercury or Relay business checking account (fully remote), set up Stripe Business, and onboard to Amazon Seller Central or other US platforms. Your LLC is now fully operational as a US business entity.
What About the IRS Phone Option?
The IRS does offer an international phone line for EIN applications: +1 267-941-1099 (Monday–Friday, 6am–11pm ET). In theory, a responsible party can call this number, answer questions about the LLC, and receive an EIN verbally at the end of the call — immediately.
In practice, this route has significant challenges for foreign applicants:
- Long hold times (often 30–90 minutes)
- The IRS agent must be able to verify your identity — a non-SSN foreign applicant may be asked questions that are difficult to verify
- The call must be made during US Eastern Time business hours, which may be inconvenient from Turkey, UAE, Germany, or other time zones
- No written confirmation is issued during the call — you receive the EIN verbally and must document it yourself
For most non-US residents, the fax method is more reliable. Monezzi manages the entire SS-4 fax submission process on your behalf.
What to Do After You Receive Your Federal EIN
Open US Business Bank Account
Mercury · Relay · BrexMercury and Relay both allow fully remote account opening with your EIN and LLC formation documents. No US address visit required. Mercury takes 1–3 business days to approve.
Set Up Stripe Business
Stripe · PayPal · Shopify PaymentsWith your EIN, you can verify your LLC as a US business entity on Stripe, PayPal Business, and similar platforms. This unlocks proper business payment processing vs. personal accounts.
File Form 5472 Annually
Due March 31 every yearYour EIN is required on every Form 5472 and pro-forma 1120 submission. Missing this $25,000-penalty filing is the most common compliance error for foreign LLC owners. Monezzi files this for you.
Complete W-9 for US Clients
B2B contracts · Freelance platformsUS clients and freelance platforms (Upwork, Toptal) will ask for a W-9 form. Your EIN goes in Box 2 of the W-9 as your business taxpayer identification number.
EIN for Foreigners — Frequently Asked Questions
Can a non-US resident get a federal EIN?
Yes. There is no citizenship or residency requirement to obtain a federal EIN. The IRS issues EINs to foreign nationals and non-resident business owners via Form SS-4 submitted by fax (+1 267-941-1099) or mail to the IRS Cincinnati service center. The process takes 2–4 weeks by fax and 4–8 weeks by mail.
What is the difference between an EIN and an SSN?
An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is a federal tax ID for business entities — LLCs, corporations, partnerships. An SSN (Social Security Number) is a personal federal tax ID for US citizens and authorized residents. Non-US residents cannot obtain an SSN but can obtain an EIN for their business. You do not need an SSN to get an EIN for your LLC.
How do I apply for an EIN with Form SS-4?
Download IRS Form SS-4 from IRS.gov. Complete all fields including your LLC name (Line 1), your name as responsible party (Line 7a), entity type as LLC (Line 8a), number of members (Line 8b), and leave Line 7b blank or write "FOREIGNUS." Sign the form and fax it to +1 267-941-1099 (IRS International). The IRS mails your EIN assignment letter (CP 575) in 2–4 weeks.
Can I apply for an IRS EIN online without an SSN?
No. The IRS online EIN application at IRS.gov requires a valid SSN or ITIN to complete. Without a US individual tax ID, the online portal blocks the application before completion. Non-US residents without an SSN or ITIN must use Form SS-4 submitted by fax or mail. There is no workaround for the online portal restriction.
How long does it take to get an EIN as a foreigner?
By fax to the IRS International line (+1 267-941-1099): approximately 2–4 weeks. By mail to IRS Cincinnati: approximately 4–8 weeks. The IRS does not offer expedited processing for SS-4 submissions. The IRS phone option (+1 267-941-1099) can theoretically provide an EIN on the same call, but hold times and verification challenges make it impractical for most foreign applicants.
Do I need an EIN to open a Mercury business bank account?
Yes. Mercury requires your LLC's EIN as part of the account opening verification process. You cannot complete Mercury's business account application without providing your EIN. The same requirement applies to Relay and most other US business banking platforms. This is why obtaining your EIN is step one after forming your LLC — before you can set up banking.
What is an FEIN (Federal Employer Identification Number)?
FEIN and EIN are the same number. FEIN stands for Federal Employer Identification Number — it is simply a longer version of the abbreviation that emphasizes the "federal" nature of the tax ID. The IRS officially uses "EIN" in all publications and forms. When a bank, platform, or contract asks for your FEIN, you provide your EIN. They are identical.
What is Line 7b on Form SS-4 for foreign applicants?
Line 7b asks for the responsible party's SSN, ITIN, or EIN. Foreign nationals without a US individual tax ID should either leave this field blank or write "FOREIGNUS" in the field. The IRS accepts both approaches. Do not invent or use someone else's SSN for this field — doing so constitutes fraud. If you have an ITIN (from prior US tax filings), you may use that instead.
Can I use my EIN instead of an SSN on a W-9?
Yes. When a US client or platform asks you to complete a W-9 (Request for Taxpayer Identification Number), you provide your LLC's EIN in the TIN field (Box 2) and check "Limited Liability Company" as your entity type. This is the correct W-9 completion method for a foreign-owned single-member LLC. Do not use your personal SSN on a W-9 for business payments made to your LLC.
A federal EIN (Employer Identification Number) is essential for every US LLC. As a foreign national without an SSN, you obtain it by submitting IRS Form SS-4 by fax to +1 267-941-1099 or by mail to IRS Cincinnati. The process takes 2–8 weeks and costs nothing. Once you have your EIN, US banking, Stripe, Amazon, and full LLC compliance are unlocked.
Monezzi handles the complete EIN application process — Form SS-4 preparation and fax submission — as part of every LLC formation package. Start your LLC and EIN today →