Form SS-4 line by line: an EIN without an SSN

Why do founders without an SSN use Form SS-4?

The IRS online EIN application needs the responsible person to have a valid taxpayer identification number, such as an SSN or ITIN. The SS-4 instructions also say that applicants with no legal residence, principal place of business or office in the United States cannot use the online application. Form SS-4 is the route that remains.

An EIN is the company's federal tax ID. Banks, payment providers and marketplaces ask for it, and the IRS lists getting one as free on its EIN page. This post follows the Instructions for Form SS-4 (revision 12/2025, accessed 31 October 2026). For how we handle the application, see our EIN without an SSN page.

What do you need before you fill in Form SS-4?

The LLC must exist before it can get an EIN, so the state's approved formation document comes first. You also need the company's exact legal name and address, the name of the responsible party and a short description of the business. Write the name exactly as it appears on the state filing.

If you are still choosing a state, our Wyoming vs Delaware comparison lists the differences that matter after formation.

Which lines of Form SS-4 matter most without an SSN?

Three parts cause most of the questions: the responsible party's tax number on line 7b, the entity type on line 9a and the third-party designee section. The instructions answer each one directly. Copy the wording they give rather than inventing your own, because the IRS reads these entries before it assigns a number.

1. Line 7a and 7b, responsible party. Line 7a takes the owner's name. On line 7b, the instructions say to enter "foreign" or N/A if the responsible party does not have and is not eligible for an SSN or ITIN. An entry is required; do not leave it blank.
2. Line 9a, type of entity. A single-member LLC that is a disregarded entity checks "Other" and writes "disregarded entity". If it is wholly owned by a foreign person and needs the EIN for Form 5472, the instructions give the wording "Foreign-owned U.S. disregarded entity-Form 5472".
3. Line 10, reason for applying. A new LLC usually checks "Started new business" and names its type.
4. Third-party designee. Use this section if you want someone else to answer the IRS's questions about the form and receive the EIN. The signature area must be completed for the authorisation to be valid, and it ends once the EIN is released.
5. Signature. The responsible party signs and dates the form.

The Form 5472 reference on line 9a ties into a yearly filing; our Form 5472 post explains it.

How does Form SS-4 reach the IRS from outside the US?

The SS-4 instructions list three routes for applicants without a US place of business: telephone, fax and mail. Each needs the same information as the form. The IRS sets its own processing times for each route and does not commit to a date, so plan your Stripe or bank application around the IRS letter, not a calendar.

What does LaunchUS do with your EIN application?

LaunchUS prepares your Form SS-4 from the details you enter in the dashboard and sends it for your signature. After you sign, we submit the application and follow it. The IRS reviews it and issues the EIN on its own schedule; we cannot speed that up. The EIN letter is filed in your document vault when it arrives.

Read what happens after you order for the waiting steps, and see LLC formation and pricing for the full picture. If you plan to accept card payments, our US company for Stripe guide explains where the EIN fits.

An EIN belongs to the company; how it differs from a personal ITIN is explained in ITIN vs EIN.

How long the IRS takes and what slows a file down is covered in how long it takes to get an EIN. Where the EIN fits in formation is shown in how to form a US LLC from abroad.