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If you need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) but do not have a Social Security number (SSN), you may still be able to obtain one from the IRS. The IRS has a specific procedure for responsible parties who do not have and are not eligible to obtain an SSN or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).

For many international applicants, the key document is Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number. The application asks for the responsible party’s taxpayer identification number, but the current IRS instructions allow a responsible party who does not have and is ineligible for an SSN or ITIN to enter “foreign” or “N/A” on line 7b.

The process depends on where you and the entity are located and whether you qualify to use the IRS online application. Here is how to approach an EIN application without an SSN.

Can You Get An EIN Without An SSN?

Yes, in certain circumstances, you can get an EIN without an SSN.

The IRS does not require every EIN applicant to have an SSN. The current Form SS-4 instructions specifically address responsible parties who do not have and are ineligible to obtain an SSN or ITIN.

There is an important distinction, however, between: 

• Not having an SSN
• Not being eligible for an SSN

If you simply do not have an SSN but are eligible to obtain one, you should not assume that you can skip the taxpayer identification requirement. The IRS procedure for entering “foreign” or “N/A” on line 7b applies when the responsible party does not have and is ineligible to obtain an SSN or ITIN.

You should also provide accurate information throughout Form SS-4. An EIN application is not an opportunity to substitute someone else’s taxpayer identification number or create a number yourself.

Who Can Apply For An EIN Without An SSN?

People who may encounter the EIN-without-SSN process include:

• Foreign individuals
• Non-US residents
• Foreign business owners
• Responsible parties who are not eligible for an SSN or ITIN
• International applicants applying for an EIN for an eligible business or other entity

Being a foreigner or living outside the United States does not, by itself, mean that every applicant automatically qualifies for every EIN procedure. The reason for requesting the EIN, the entity involved, the responsible party and the applicant’s circumstances all matter!

The IRS also distinguishes between domestic and international applicants when determining which application methods are available.

What Is An EIN?

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a nine-digit federal tax identification number issued by the IRS.

The IRS uses EINs to identify certain businesses, organizations, estates, trusts and other taxpayers for federal tax filing and reporting purposes.

An EIN is different from:

• SSN: Social Security number used to identify individuals for federal purposes.
• ITIN: Individual Taxpayer Identification Number used for certain individuals who need a US taxpayer identification number but are not eligible for an SSN.
• EIN: Federal identification number used for eligible businesses, entities and other taxpayers.

An EIN should not be used as a substitute for an individual’s SSN or ITIN.

What Do You Need Before Applying For An EIN Without An SSN?

Before completing Form SS-4, gather the information that applies to your situation.

EIN application checklist

You may need:

• Legal name of the individual or entity applying
• Trade or business name, if different
• Name of the responsible party
• Mailing address
• Physical address, where applicable
• Entity type
• Reason for applying
• Date the business started or was acquired, where applicable
• Principal business activity
• Expected number of employees, if applicable
• First date wages will be paid, if applicable
• SSN, ITIN or EIN of the responsible party, if one exists

The exact information required depends on the type of applicant and entity.

How To Get An EIN Without An SSN: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Confirm That You Need an EIN

First, determine that your circumstances require or demand an EIN.

The IRS when applicable, issues EINs for entities and taxpayers for federal tax administration. The nature of the applying is disclosed on Form SS-4.

Don’t ask for an EIN in the event you don’t have an SSN. An EIN & and SSN serve entirely various purposes.

Once you have decided that applying for an EIN is the right choice for you, proceed with the application.

Step 2: Determine Who the Responsible Party Is

Determining the responsible party is the most important part of Form SS-4.

Description: In most jurisdictions, the responsible party is the person who ultimately owns or controls (or has ultimate effective control over) the entity or the funds or assets being processed.

The responsible party is not automatically:

• The registered agent
• The individual submitting formation paperwork
• A business manager
• A lawyer
• An accountant

In most cases, the IRS assumes that you should have been able to locate an individual who owns or controls the entity.

Step 3: Gather the Information Needed for Form SS-4

Gather the applicable business & responsible-party data ready previous to starting the form.

This minimizes the likelihood of submitting contradicting data.

For instance, ensure the legal name on the application corresponds to the one listed on the relevant formation or legal document. When employing a trade name, do not combine it with the legal name found on line one of Form SS-4.

Step 4: Complete Form SS-4

Form SS-4 is the IRS application for an EIN.

Some of the fields that commonly require attention include

Line 1 (Legal name): Enter the legal name of the individual or entity applying for the EIN.

Line 2 (Trade name): Enter the business or DBA name if it differs from the legal name.

Lines 4a-4b (Mailing address): Provide the address where IRS correspondence should be sent. Foreign addresses need the applicable city, province or state, postal code & country information.

Lines 5a-5b (Street address): Provide the physical address when it differs from the mailing address.

Lines 7a-7b (Responsible party): Enter the responsible party’s name & taxpayer identification information as necessary.

Line 8 (LLC information): Complete this section if the applicant is an LLC.

Line 9a (Type of entity): Select the entity classification that applies.

Line 10 (Reason for applying): Select the appropriate reason, such as starting a new business, hiring employees or another applicable reason.

Lines 11-17: Complete the information that applies to the applicant, including business start date, accounting year, employees, wages & principal activity where needed.

Do not complete fields based on assumptions. If a field does not apply, follow the current IRS instructions rather than inventing information.

What Should You Enter On Form SS-4 If You Do Not Have An SSN?

This information is one of the most important parts of the EIN application.

Under the current IRS Form SS-4 instructions, the responsible party’s name & SSN, ITIN or EIN generally go on line 7a and line 7b.

If the responsible party does not have & is ineligible to obtain an SSN or ITIN, the IRS instructs the applicant to enter:

“foreign” or “N/A”

online 7b.

An entry is required.

Do not:

• Invent an SSN
• Enter a random nine-digit number
• Use another person’s SSN
• Borrow an SSN
• Enter an incorrect ITIN
• Misrepresent your eligibility for an SSN

The correct entry depends on the applicant’s actual circumstances, so review the current IRS instructions before submitting the form.

How Can You Apply For An EIN Without An SSN?

The IRS currently provides several EIN application methods, but not every applicant can use every method.

Method	Who May Use It	Key Consideration
Online	Applicants with a legal residence, principal place of business, or principal office/agency in the U.S. or U.S. territories who meet the online requirements	The responsible party must have a valid taxpayer identification number for the online application
Telephone	International applicants meeting the IRS requirements	Available only to international applicants; the authorized caller must be able to answer Form SS-4 questions
Fax	Domestic and international applicants, using the applicable IRS fax number	EINs are generally issued by fax within about four business days
Mail	Domestic and international applicants	The IRS says to allow approximately four weeks for a mailed application

Online application

The IRS online application is not available to applicants who have no legal residence, principal place of business, or principal office or agency in the United States or US territories.

In addition, the person using the online application must have a valid SSN, EIN or ITIN as required by the IRS system.

Therefore, an international applicant without an SSN or ITIN will generally need to use another application method.

Telephone application

International applicants without a US legal residence, principal place of business, or principal office or agency can use the IRS international EIN telephone procedure.

The IRS currently lists:

267-941-1099

as the international EIN telephone number. It is not toll-free, and the IRS lists operating hours of 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

The caller must be authorized to receive the EIN and answer questions about Form SS-4.

It is useful to complete Form SS-4 before calling because the IRS representative will use the information on the form to establish the account.

Fax application

Applicants can also submit Form SS-4 by fax.

For international applicants, the IRS currently provides separate fax numbers depending on whether the fax is sent from inside or outside the United States.

The IRS states that fax applications are generally processed within four business days when the required fax information is provided.

Mail application

Applicants can submit Form SS-4 by mail.

The IRS advises applicants to complete the form at least four to five weeks before they need the EIN. The current instructions state that a mailed EIN is received in approximately four weeks.

Always check the latest IRS Form SS-4 instructions before mailing because addresses and procedures can change.

Can A Non-US Resident Get An EIN Without An SSN?

Yes, a non-US resident may be able to obtain an EIN without an SSN.

Living outside the United States does not automatically prevent someone from obtaining an EIN.

For international applicants, the IRS provides specific application procedures. A foreign responsible party who does not have & is ineligible to obtain an SSN or ITIN can follow the applicable Form SS-4 instructions.

However, an EIN does not give someone US immigration status, residency or permission to work in the United States.

An EIN is a federal tax identification number. It should not be treated as an immigration document.

Do You Need An ITIN To Get An EIN?

Not necessarily, an ITIN and EIN serve different purposes.

An ITIN identifies certain individuals for federal tax purposes when they are not eligible for an SSN. An EIN is a separate federal identification number used for eligible businesses, entities & other taxpayers.

The IRS specifically provides a Form SS-4 procedure for a responsible party who does not have and is ineligible to obtain an SSN or ITIN. In that situation, the current instructions say to enter “foreign” or “N/A” on line 7b.

Whether you need an ITIN for another tax purpose is a separate question from whether you can obtain an EIN.

How Long Does It Take To Get An EIN Without An SSN?

Processing time depends on the application method.

• Online: Eligible applicants can receive an EIN during the online session.
• Telephone: International applicants may receive the EIN through the IRS international telephone process.
• Fax: The IRS says an EIN is generally issued within about four business days.
• Mail: The IRS says to allow approximately four weeks.

These are processing expectations, not a guarantee that every application will be completed within a particular period.

If your application contains errors or the IRS needs additional information, processing may take longer.

Also remember that the IRS limits EIN issuance to one EIN per responsible party per day, regardless of whether the application is made online, by telephone, by fax, or by mail.

What Happens After You Receive Your EIN?

Once the IRS assigns your EIN:

1. Save the EIN assignment notice.
2. Keep a copy with your business or entity records.
3. Use the EIN consistently on applicable federal tax documents.
4. Provide the EIN to financial institutions or other organizations when legitimately required.
5. Keep your IRS information current.

If the responsible party or other reportable information later changes, follow the IRS procedure for updating the information.

Receiving an EIN does not automatically mean that your business has satisfied all federal, state or local tax and registration requirements.

EIN Without SSN vs EIN Without ITIN

Situation	What It Means
No SSN	The applicant does not have a Social Security number
No ITIN	The applicant does not have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
EIN	A federal identification number issued by the IRS for eligible entities and other taxpayers

Not having an SSN or ITIN does not automatically prevent every applicant from obtaining an EIN. The applicable IRS procedure depends on the applicant’s circumstances.

Official IRS Resources: 

• IRS (Employer Identification Number (EIN))
• IRS ( Instructions for Form SS-4)
• IRS — Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TINs)