Last reviewed October 7, 2026 · By the NYBACS advisory team
Short answer
Yes — a foreign founder can get an EIN for a US company without an SSN or ITIN. The IRS online application is closed to responsible parties without one, so you file Form SS-4 by fax, mail or the IRS international phone line, entering "foreign" or N/A for the responsible party's taxpayer number. A third-party designee you authorize on the form can make the call or send the fax for you.
Key takeaways
- The online EIN application requires the responsible party's SSN or ITIN; without one, Form SS-4 is the route.
- Line 7b cannot be left blank: the instructions say to enter "foreign" or N/A when the responsible party has no SSN or ITIN.
- International applicants can call 267-941-1099 (not toll-free), 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday.
- Applicants outside the US can fax Form SS-4 to 304-707-9471; the IRS says faxed applications are generally processed within four business days and mailed ones in about four weeks.
- A third-party designee's authority ends as soon as the EIN is assigned and released to them.
Why the online route does not work for most foreign founders
The IRS online EIN application asks for the responsible party's SSN or ITIN and will not proceed without one. Most non-US founders have neither, and that is not a problem: Form SS-4 was designed to cover them.
Some founders try to get an ITIN first so they can use the online tool. That is usually a detour. An ITIN is issued only where an individual has a genuine US tax filing or reporting need, the application on Form W-7 must normally accompany a tax return or meet an exception, and processing takes weeks. If you already have an ITIN, use it; if you do not, apply for the EIN without one.
Three routes compared
| Route | How it works | Indicative timing per the IRS | Practical notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone | Call 267-941-1099 and answer the SS-4 questions; the EIN is given during the call | Same call | Wait times vary; the caller must be authorized to receive the number |
| Fax | Fax a signed Form SS-4 to 304-707-9471 from outside the US | Generally within 4 business days | Include a return fax number so the EIN can be faxed back |
| Send Form SS-4 to the IRS EIN International Operation in Cincinnati | About 4 weeks | Slowest; international post adds further delay |
Fax is the most common choice for foreign-owned companies because it creates a paper trail and does not depend on reaching an agent by phone across time zones.
Before sending a fax, check three things: the form is signed and dated by someone with authority to sign for the company, a return fax number is included so the IRS can reply by fax, and line 9a uses the write-in the instructions require for your entity type. A missing signature is the most common reason a faxed application simply goes unanswered.
How the third-party designee route works
Form SS-4 has a section near the signature where the applicant can authorize a named individual — often a formation provider or accountant — to receive the EIN and answer IRS questions about the form.
- The designee prepares Form SS-4 with the company's details.
- An authorized person for the company (a principal officer for a corporation, a member or manager for an LLC) reviews and signs it, including the designee section.
- The designee faxes the form or calls the IRS international line.
- The IRS releases the EIN to the designee, by return fax or on the call.
- The designee's authority ends at that point; later IRS correspondence goes to the company.
The IRS will not send the EIN to a designee whose address is the same as the taxpayer's, and in that case the form must be mailed or faxed rather than handled by phone.
Choosing the right responsible party
The responsible party must be an individual, not a company, and should be the person who ultimately owns or controls the entity and its funds. For a founder-owned company that is normally the founder. For a US subsidiary of a foreign company it is an individual with ultimate control, such as a principal officer of the parent.
Do not name the formation agent or a nominee. The responsible party appears on IRS records, is expected to match what you report on Form 5472 and to the bank, and any later change must be reported on Form 8822-B within 60 days.
After the EIN arrives
A faxed or phoned EIN can be used immediately for bank and processor applications. The formal CP 575 notice is posted to the mailing address on Form SS-4, which may be abroad and may take weeks to arrive, so keep the faxed confirmation with your formation documents in the meantime. If the CP 575 never arrives, request Letter 147C rather than reapplying.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaving line 7b blank instead of entering "foreign" or N/A, which delays or derails the application.
- Naming the formation agent or a company as the responsible party instead of the individual who controls the business.
- Re-faxing Form SS-4 after a few days of silence and ending up with two EINs.
- Spending months obtaining an ITIN solely to use the online EIN application.
- Forgetting to sign the designee section, so the IRS will not release the number to the person handling the application.
- Entering a P.O. box as the street address on line 5, which the instructions do not allow.
NYBACS 360° support
How NYBACS helps
- Prepares Form SS-4 for foreign-owned companies, including the correct line 7b and line 9a entries.
- Acts as your third-party designee and obtains the EIN by fax, typically without you needing to call the IRS across time zones.
- Follows up on delayed applications without creating duplicate EINs.
- Adds the EIN confirmation to your bank, payment-processor and Form 5472 records as soon as it is issued.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I need an ITIN later even if the EIN does not require one?
Only if you personally have a US filing need — for example a Form 1040-NR because your LLC earns effectively connected income, or a treaty claim that requires a US number. Many foreign owners of C-Corps never need one.
Can my foreign parent company be the responsible party?
No. The IRS requires the responsible party to be an individual unless the applicant is a government entity. Name the individual who ultimately controls the US company, such as a principal officer of the parent.
Is the phone route faster than fax?
The EIN is issued during the call, so it can be. In practice, hold times and time-zone differences often make a faxed application within about four business days the more predictable option.
I already have an ITIN. Should I still use Form SS-4?
You can apply online, entering your ITIN as the responsible party's number, provided the company and application otherwise meet the online tool's requirements. The result is the same EIN, issued faster.
Where will the IRS send the EIN confirmation letter?
To the mailing address on Form SS-4, which can be outside the US if you include the city, province or state, postal code and country. International post can be slow, so keep the faxed confirmation.
