Most non-US founders hit the same wall at the same moment. The LLC is filed, the operating agreement is ready, and then they go to apply for an EIN and discover the IRS online application rejects them immediately. The reason: the online portal requires a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to complete. If you don't have either, you can't use it.
That's not a bug or an oversight. The IRS built that tool for US residents. Non-US founders have a different path.
This article covers exactly what that path is, what it takes, how long it realistically takes in 2026, and where things go wrong.
What an EIN actually is and why you need one
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a nine-digit tax ID the IRS assigns to a business entity. Despite the name, you don't need employees to need one. You need it to open a US business bank account, set up payment processors like Stripe, file US tax returns, and in many cases sign contracts with US clients who need to issue you a 1099.
Without an EIN, your Wyoming LLC exists on paper but can't operate in practice. No bank will open a business account without one. That's the real reason it matters.
The three ways to apply without an SSN
Non-US residents without an SSN or ITIN have three application methods available. Each has a different timeline and a different failure mode.
Phone (Form SS-4 submitted verbally)
This is the fastest legitimate path. You call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line, answer questions from Form SS-4 verbally, and if everything goes cleanly, the agent reads you your EIN at the end of the call. Same day.
The catch: the IRS only accepts these calls during US business hours (7 AM to 7 PM Eastern, Monday through Friday), and wait times vary. More importantly, the agent will ask specific questions about your LLC's structure and purpose. If your answers are unclear or inconsistent with the SS-4, they'll redirect you to fax or mail instead.
In our experience, this method works well when the SS-4 is prepared correctly before the call and someone fluent in English and familiar with IRS terminology handles the conversation. We cover the mechanics in more detail in our post on same-day EIN for foreign founders.
Fax (Form SS-4 submitted by fax)
You complete Form SS-4 and fax it to the IRS. They fax your EIN back to the same number, typically within 4 business days. That's the official estimate. In practice, 2026 processing times have been running closer to 4–8 business days depending on volume.
Reliable, but slow relative to the phone path. It also requires a fax number that can receive incoming faxes — which most founders don't have personally.
Mail (Form SS-4 submitted by post)
The slowest option. The IRS estimates 4–5 weeks, but real-world times have stretched to 8–12 weeks during high-volume periods. Use this only if fax isn't available and the phone path isn't viable.
What Form SS-4 actually requires
Form SS-4 is a one-page document. It asks for the legal name of the entity, the responsible party's name and tax ID, the entity type, the reason for applying, and the principal business activity.
The responsible party section is where non-US founders most often make mistakes. For a single-member foreign-owned LLC, the responsible party is you — the individual owner. You list your name and your foreign address. You don't need an SSN or ITIN to appear as the responsible party on a paper or fax application. The IRS accepts foreign addresses and foreign identification in that field.
The reason for applying matters too. "Started new business" is the most common and appropriate answer for a newly formed LLC. Don't overcomplicate it.
The ITIN question
Some guides suggest getting an ITIN first, then applying for an EIN. That's backwards for most founders.
An ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) is for individuals who need to file US personal tax returns but aren't eligible for an SSN. If your LLC is a disregarded entity — a single-member LLC treated as a pass-through for tax purposes — and you have US-source income, you may eventually need an ITIN to file a personal return. But you don't need one to get an EIN.
Getting an ITIN is also significantly harder. It requires either filing a tax return simultaneously or qualifying for one of a limited set of exceptions, plus submitting original identity documents or certified copies. The process takes 7–11 weeks.
The short answer: get your EIN first. Evaluate the ITIN question separately, based on your actual tax filing obligations.
Timeline comparison in 2026
What goes wrong and why
The most common failure mode is a rejected or delayed application due to a mismatch between the LLC's state filing information and what's on the SS-4. The entity name, formation state, and responsible party details need to be consistent.
The second most common issue: the IRS flags an application for manual review when the business description is vague or the entity type is unclear. "Online services" is fine. "Various activities" is not.
Third: using a service that submits by mail when fax or phone was available. That adds weeks for no reason.
What happens after you have the EIN
The EIN unlocks the next steps. With it, you can open a US business bank account. Mercury is the most common choice for non-US founders in 2026 — it accepts foreign-owned LLCs and doesn't require a US address or in-person visit. We've written a detailed walkthrough of the Mercury bank account process for non-US founders if you're heading there next.
You'll also need the EIN to set up Stripe, file your annual Form 5472 (the informational return required for foreign-owned disregarded entities), and handle Wyoming annual report filings. The compliance obligations that follow formation are real and carry real penalties for missing them. More on that in the taxes and compliance section of our blog.
How Mizu handles this
At Mizu, EIN filing is part of the formation package. We prepare the SS-4 with you listed as the responsible party and work the fastest IRS path available during US business hours. Standard processing runs about 3 weeks. If you need it faster, we offer a same-day option that goes through the phone path.
The EIN lands in your Mizu dashboard alongside your Articles of Organization and other formation documents. You don't manage IRS correspondence or wait on a fax machine.
FAQs
Can I get an EIN without an SSN or ITIN?
Yes. Non-US residents can apply using Form SS-4 submitted by phone, fax, or mail. The IRS online portal requires an SSN or ITIN, but the paper-based methods don't. You list your foreign address and name as the responsible party.
How long does it take to get an EIN as a non-US resident in 2026?
By phone, you can receive your EIN the same day if the call goes cleanly. By fax, expect 4–8 business days. By mail, 6–12 weeks. Phone is the fastest path for most founders.
Do I need an ITIN before applying for an EIN?
No. An ITIN is for personal tax filing, not business entity registration. You can get your EIN without one. Whether you eventually need an ITIN depends on your personal US tax obligations — that's a separate question.
What is Form SS-4?
Form SS-4 is the IRS application for an Employer Identification Number. It's a one-page document asking for the entity's legal name, structure, responsible party, and business purpose. For non-US founders, it's submitted by fax or phone rather than online.
Can a third party apply for an EIN on my behalf?
Yes. You can authorize a third-party designee on Form SS-4. That designee can communicate with the IRS about the application and receive the EIN on your behalf. This is how formation services like Mizu handle the process.
What's the responsible party on Form SS-4 for a foreign-owned LLC?
For a single-member LLC owned by a non-US individual, the responsible party is the individual owner. You list your legal name and foreign address. A foreign tax ID or passport number can be used in place of an SSN.
What do I do with my EIN once I have it?
Use it to open a US business bank account, set up payment processors like Stripe, and file any required US tax returns. Your EIN is also required on Form 5472, the annual informational return for foreign-owned disregarded entities.
The path exists. It's not fast by default, but it's not complicated when the SS-4 is prepared correctly and the right submission method is used. If you want the full formation-to-banking pipeline handled without managing each piece separately, that's what Mizu is built to do.
