Apply for an EIN
Illustrative image, AI-generatedShort answerThe EIN (Employer Identification Number) is the nine-digit tax number of your US company and a prerequisite for every business account. You apply with Form SS-4, free of any government fee. Online filing needs an SSN or ITIN for the responsible party and a US principal place of business. Everyone else applies by phone, fax or mail.
Key points
- The EIN belongs to the company, not to the person. It is the business counterpart to the ITIN.
- The company must first be registered with the Secretary of State. Without that registration, the authority says, the application may be delayed.
- The responsible party is a natural person who owns or controls the company. A registered agent or any other nominee must not be listed there.
- The authority charges no fee and warns against websites that charge for the number. A service provider bills for the preparation, not for the number.
- The authority's confirmation is the most important document of the business setup. Every bank asks for it.
What you apply for an EIN for
In the business setup the EIN plays the same role as the ITIN in the personal one. Without it, no institution opens an account. It therefore comes early in the process, directly after the company is formed.
- Business bank account, at branch banks as well as online banks
- Business credit cards in the name of the company, usually with personal liability
- Connecting payment service providers for USD revenue
- DUNS number and building business credit
- Annual filings of the company with the tax authority
Requirements
- A US company registered with the Secretary of State, with formation documents
- A natural person as the responsible party, identifiable by passport
- Company name, address and business purpose as recorded at formation
- No Social Security Number (SSN). Without an SSN or ITIN for the responsible party, or with a principal place of business outside the US, the online form is not available
What goes into Form SS-4
- The company name, exactly as in the formation document
- Legal form and number of members, that is single-member or multi-member LLC
- Reason for applying, for a new company the start of a new business
- The responsible party's full name and, on line 7b, an SSN or ITIN. If the person has neither and cannot obtain one, line 7b says "Foreign" or N/A
- The mailing address the authority writes to
- Principal activity, stated concretely rather than "trade" or "consulting"
- For an LLC wholly owned by a foreign person, the Form 5472 note on line 9a
- Third party designee: whoever applies on your behalf needs your signature on the form, and their authority ends once the number is assigned
Step-by-step process
- Complete the formation. The authority expects an LLC or corporation to be registered with the Secretary of State first. Otherwise the application may be delayed.
- Complete Form SS-4. We prepare it. The responsible party, the legal form and the business purpose need the most care.
- Choose the route. With a principal place of business outside the US, phone, fax and mail remain. By fax the authority generally states four business days, by mail about four weeks.
- Submit and secure the confirmation. We store the letter securely as soon as the number is issued, because a replacement takes time.
- On to the account. With the EIN, formation documents, business address and US phone number, the business account becomes possible.
Application routes compared
| Route | Who can use it | Timeline per the authority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online | Responsible party with SSN or ITIN, principal place of business in the US | immediately after review | number at once, confirmation to print |
| Phone | international applicants only, Monday to Friday 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern time | no timeline stated | notice by mail |
| Fax | everyone, with Form SS-4 | generally 4 business days | number by return fax |
| everyone, with Form SS-4 | about 4 weeks | number by letter |
Costs and timeline
| Item | Cost | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Fee of the tax authority | $0 | fax generally 4 business days, mail about 4 weeks |
| Application via a service provider (third-party costs) | from $200, one-time | depending on the route |
Common mistakes
- Applying for the EIN before formation. The authority expects registration with the Secretary of State first, otherwise the application may be delayed.
- Entering the registered agent or another service provider as the responsible party. The authority explicitly excludes such nominees.
- Stating the business purpose too vaguely, so that bank onboarding fails because of it.
- Not securing the confirmation. A replacement takes time.
- Applying through several routes because the first response has not arrived. The authority advises one route per entity so that no second EIN is created.
When it is not worth it
The EIN itself costs nothing at the authority. What you pay us for is preparation, handling follow-up questions and the link to account, cards and DUNS. In these cases that is not worth it.
- You, as the responsible party, have an SSN or ITIN and the company's principal place of business is in the US. Then you apply online yourself and receive the EIN immediately after review.
- You only need the EIN and nothing else from the business setup. A fax application carries no fee, and with a carefully completed Form SS-4 you save the service fee.
- Your company has no reason to be active in the US. An EIN without an account, payment provider or filing obligation brings nothing, more in Can a foreign company get a US EIN?
- The company is not yet registered. Until then there is nothing to apply for.
Distinction from tax adviceWhich reporting obligations the company has once the EIN is issued is assessed by your tax advisor or a certified public accountant (CPA). For an LLC wholly owned by a foreign person, the Instructions for Form SS-4 name the annual filing on Form 5472. We organize the application, not the tax assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an SSN for the EIN?
No. Without an SSN or ITIN for the responsible party, or with a principal place of business outside the US, the online form is not available. Phone, fax and mail remain.
Can I apply for the EIN online with an ITIN?
Yes, if two conditions are met. The responsible party has an SSN or ITIN, and the company has its principal place of business in the US. If either is missing, phone, fax and mail remain. Online, the authority issues the number immediately after review.
How long does the EIN take by fax, mail or phone?
According to the US tax authority's instructions, the number generally arrives by fax within four business days and by mail after about four weeks. The authority now issues EINs by phone only to international applicants. These figures are not a commitment, so we plan in a buffer.
Can I get the EIN without traveling to the US?
Yes. Phone, fax and mail are open to applicants outside the US, and the entire process runs from abroad.
Who is the responsible party?
The natural person who ultimately owns or controls the company. For a single-member LLC that is usually you. A registered agent or other service provider never is.
What do I enter for the responsible party without an SSN or ITIN?
The person's full name and, on line 7b of Form SS-4, "Foreign" or N/A if they have neither an SSN nor an ITIN and cannot obtain one. The responsible party must be a natural person who owns or controls the company. A nominee or service provider must not be listed.
Does the EIN cost anything?
Not at the US tax authority. It charges no fee and explicitly warns against websites that charge for the number. A service provider bills for preparation, filing and support, not for the number. Third-party costs for that start at $200.
What is the difference between an EIN, an ITIN and an SSN?
All three are US tax identification numbers. The EIN identifies a business, the SSN and the ITIN identify people, and the ITIN goes to those not eligible for an SSN. The business account runs on the EIN, your personal US credit report on the personal number. More in What separates a Social Security number from an ITIN?
Do I have to report a change of responsible party?
Yes. If the person in control of the company changes, the company reports it on Form 8822-B to the US tax authority within 60 days. If no confirmation arrives within 60 days, a copy marked "Second Request" goes out again.
What if I lose the confirmation?
The number also appears on the notice, at your bank and on past tax returns. If all of that fails, the US tax authority provides it by phone after verifying your identity. Banks usually want the letter itself, though, which is why we store it securely right after the number is issued.
Sources and review
- IRS, application routes, fax and mail timelines, responsible party, lines 7b and 9a, third party designee: Instructions for Form SS-4, December 2025 revision, retrieved on 6 October 2026.
- IRS, formation before applying, no fee, warning about paid websites, one EIN per responsible party per day: Get an employer identification number, retrieved on 6 October 2026.
- IRS, international applicants and lost EINs: Employer identification number, retrieved on 6 October 2026.
- IRS, nominees and change of responsible party on Form 8822-B: Responsible parties and nominees, retrieved on 6 October 2026.
- Account opening requirements of the institutions we approach for business accounts.
- Third-party costs from our own calculation, as of 6 October 2026.
- Our own experience from applications we have supported since 2021.
No tax or legal adviceBenefit Systems supports the organizational process. Tax and legal assessments remain with your tax advisor and your lawyer. Decisions on accounts, cards, limits and entry into the US are made exclusively by banks and authorities.
Terms on this page
- Employer Identification Number: An Employer Identification Number is the nine-digit identifier under which the US tax authority holds a company and under which banks and partners identify it.
- Individual Taxpayer Identification Number: An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number is the US number for people not eligible for a Social Security number, issued strictly for tax purposes.
- Personal guarantee: A personal guarantee is the applicant's promise to cover the liabilities of a business account if the company itself fails to pay them.
- Service fee: A service fee is the intermediary's own charge for making the booking, added on top of the fare or room rate and not passed to the provider.
- Credit report: A credit report is the collection of reported credit accounts held on a person by a bureau, with limit, balance, payment status and the inquiries other lenders made.
Next step
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