Getting an EIN without an SSN or ITIN
Non-resident founders can get an EIN with no US Social Security number or ITIN — here's how the channel changes and what to expect.
One of the most common worries for non-resident founders is that they can't get an EIN without a US Social Security number (SSN) or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). You can. The IRS issues EINs to companies with foreign responsible parties — the difference is only in how the application is submitted, not whether you qualify.
How the channel changes
| Your situation | How the EIN agent submits |
|---|---|
| You have a US SSN or ITIN | The application can go through the faster online channel, so approval is typically quicker. |
| You have no SSN or ITIN | The SS-4 is submitted through the channel the IRS provides for foreign responsible parties (historically fax or mail), which takes longer but works. |
The only thing you need to do is answer honestly whether you hold a US SSN or ITIN in your founder profile. The EIN agent reads that and routes your SS-4 through the correct channel automatically — you don't pick the method yourself.
What to expect
- No SSN or ITIN required — a foreign responsible party is fully supported.
- Longer, not blocked — the non-online channel simply takes more time to come back from the IRS.
- Tracked the whole way — the agent follows the application and posts the EIN to your company page the moment it's issued.
FormBridge prepares and submits the SS-4 and describes the process; it doesn't give individual tax advice. Processing times are set by the IRS and can vary — we track your application but can't guarantee a specific date.
For the full flow, see getting your EIN. Once it's issued, it feeds straight into your banking and payments applications.