Get an EIN From Abroad by Fax

The IRS online EIN tool rejects founders without an SSN or ITIN. The fax route works from every country and returns your EIN in about 4 business days. Here is exactly how to do it.

📠 Fax Your SS-4 Now From $2.99

Non-US residents without an SSN or ITIN cannot apply for an EIN online. The IRS accepts Form SS-4 by fax instead. As of July 2026, applicants located outside the United States fax SS-4 to +1 304-707-9471 per the official IRS instructions, and the IRS returns the EIN by fax in about 4 business days. Always verify the current number on IRS.gov before sending. OverseasFax delivers your SS-4 from any country for $2.99.

🚫 Why the Online EIN Application Rejects You

The IRS online EIN tool requires the responsible party to have a US Social Security Number or ITIN. If you are a non-US founder forming a Wyoming or Delaware LLC, you almost certainly have neither. That leaves two application routes: mail, which takes 4 to 5 weeks from abroad with no tracking into the IRS, or fax, which the IRS processes in about 4 business days. This is why virtually every non-US founder gets their EIN by fax, and you cannot skip it: no EIN means no US bank account, no Stripe, and no ability to file the annual Form 5472 your LLC will owe.

📌 The Fax Numbers, Dated and Sourced

As of July 2026, per the official Instructions for Form SS-4 on IRS.gov:

Where you are applying fromSS-4 fax number
Outside the United States (no US residence or principal office)+1 304-707-9471
Inside the US but no legal residence in any state (for example US territories)+1 855-215-1627
Legal residence or principal office in one of the 50 states or DC+1 855-641-6935

Verify before you send: IRS fax numbers change without much announcement. The international fax number for Form 2848, for example, changed from 267-941-1017 to 267-466-1017 and the old line went dead. Open the current Form SS-4 instructions at irs.gov before faxing. It takes thirty seconds.

📝 Filling Out Form SS-4 Without an SSN

Download Form SS-4 from IRS.gov and complete it for your LLC. On line 7b, where the responsible party's SSN or ITIN goes, non-US persons without either write "Foreign". Use the address where you reliably receive mail, which can be a foreign address. Use only one application method for the entity: if you fax, do not also mail or call, or you risk being issued duplicate EINs that take months to untangle.

📥 How the IRS Sends Your EIN Back

Here is the part most guides skip: the IRS returns the EIN by fax to the applicant fax number you write on the form, generally within 4 business days. OverseasFax is a sending service, so you cannot receive the reply on it. You have two honest options. If you have no fax number at all, leave the applicant fax line blank and the IRS mails your EIN letter instead, which takes several weeks to a foreign address. The faster route: our sister service GetAFax.com gives you a dedicated US fax number for 24 hours for $5, and anything received is delivered to your email as a PDF. Put that number on the SS-4 applicant fax line. Note the timing: since the IRS reply usually arrives in about 4 business days rather than within 24 hours, the practical approach is to fax your SS-4 first, then activate a receiving number and call the IRS international EIN line to have the confirmation faxed to it, or simply let the IRS mail the letter if you are not in a hurry.

🌎 Sending the SS-4 From Your Country

Scan the signed form as one clear PDF, go to overseasfax.com from any browser, upload it, enter the IRS number in full international format, and pay $2.99. Delivery usually completes in 5 to 15 minutes with an email confirmation, and a failed fax is refunded automatically in full. Founders fax us their SS-4s from the UK, Germany, India, Pakistan, and the rest of our 93 supported countries, with no fax machine or account required. Once the EIN arrives, bookmark our Form 5472 filing guide: that annual filing is the next fax your LLC will need.

❓ EIN by Fax Questions, Answered

How do I get an EIN for my LLC if I don't have a Social Security Number?
Fax Form SS-4 to the IRS. The online application requires an SSN or ITIN, but the fax route does not. Write "Foreign" on line 7b, sign the form, and fax it to the IRS international applicant number. The IRS returns the EIN in about 4 business days by fax, or by mail if you provide no fax number.
What is the IRS fax number for Form SS-4 from outside the US?
As of July 2026, applicants with no legal residence or principal office in the United States fax Form SS-4 to +1 304-707-9471, per the official IRS Form SS-4 instructions. Verify the current number on IRS.gov before sending, because IRS fax numbers change.
Do IRS fax numbers change, and how do I verify the current one?
Yes. IRS numbers are retired and replaced without much notice; the international Form 2848 number, for example, moved from 267-941-1017 to 267-466-1017 and the old line went dead. Before sending, open the current Form SS-4 instructions on IRS.gov and confirm the number for your applicant category.
Can I apply for an EIN online as a non-US resident?
No, not without an SSN or ITIN. The online tool requires one for the responsible party. Non-US founders apply by fax or mail instead, and fax is dramatically faster: about 4 business days versus 4 to 5 weeks.
How long does it take to get an EIN by fax from the IRS?
About 4 business days when you include an applicant fax number for the reply. If you leave the fax line blank, the IRS mails the EIN confirmation letter, which can take several weeks to reach a foreign address.
Does the IRS fax my EIN back to me, and do I need my own fax number?
Yes, the IRS faxes the EIN to the applicant fax number written on your SS-4, generally within 4 business days. You need a number capable of receiving. OverseasFax only sends, so either use a receiving service such as our sister site GetAFax.com, which provides a dedicated US fax number for 24 hours for $5 with received faxes delivered to your email, or leave the line blank and receive the letter by mail.
I'm in Germany starting a Wyoming LLC. How do I send Form SS-4 to the IRS?
Complete and sign the SS-4, write "Foreign" on line 7b if you have no SSN or ITIN, scan it as a PDF, and fax it from overseasfax.com to the IRS international applicant number for $2.99. Germany to a US toll-free line delivers in minutes, and you get an email confirmation.
Can I fax Form SS-4 from my phone without a fax machine?
Yes. OverseasFax runs in any phone browser. Upload the scanned form from your files or camera roll, enter the IRS number with the +1 country code, and pay. No app, no account, no fax machine.
What do I put on Form SS-4 line 7b if I have no SSN or ITIN?
Write "Foreign". That tells the IRS the responsible party is a non-US person without a US taxpayer identification number, which is normal and accepted for foreign-owned LLCs.
What address do I use on Form SS-4 if my business address is outside the United States?
Use the address where you reliably receive mail, which can be your foreign address. Many founders use their registered agent's US address as the street address and their own foreign address for mailing. What matters is that IRS correspondence actually reaches you.
Is 304-707-9471 the right IRS number for international EIN applications?
As of July 2026, yes: +1 304-707-9471 is the SS-4 fax number for applicants outside the United States per the IRS instructions. Note it is a West Virginia area code, not toll-free, which is normal. Confirm it on IRS.gov before sending, since numbers change.
Can my registered agent receive the EIN fax for me?
Yes, if your registered agent or a US contact has a fax number and agrees, you can list it as the applicant fax number. Make sure they will actually forward it promptly; the EIN letter is a document you will need for banking and Stripe.
What happens if I apply for an EIN twice by mistake?
You risk being issued two EINs for the same entity, which confuses banks and IRS records and takes months to fix. Use exactly one application method. If you faxed, wait out the processing time rather than also mailing or calling.
How many pages is a Form SS-4 fax?
Usually 1 to 2 pages: the signed form, plus an optional one page cover sheet. With OverseasFax that is $2.99 total, since the first 3 pages are included.
Do I need an EIN before filing Form 5472?
Yes. Form 5472 cannot be filed without an EIN, and a rejected filing does not stop the $25,000 penalty clock. Get the EIN first by faxing SS-4, then calendar the annual Form 5472 deadline of April 15. Our Form 5472 guide covers that filing step by step.
Can I get an EIN without forming a US LLC first?
You apply for the EIN after the entity legally exists, because the SS-4 asks for the entity name, formation state, and start date. Form the LLC with your state first, then fax the SS-4.
Does getting an EIN mean I owe US taxes?
No. An EIN is an identification number, not a tax liability. What you owe depends on your LLC's activities and your treaty position. Note that a foreign-owned single-member LLC does owe an annual Form 5472 information filing even with zero income.
Can I call the IRS to get an EIN from abroad instead of faxing?
There is an IRS international applicants phone line, but reaching it from abroad involves long hold times on an international call at your own cost, and the agent completes the same SS-4 with you. Most founders find faxing the form simpler: no hold music, and a written confirmation trail.
What happens if my SS-4 fax fails to deliver?
OverseasFax refunds the full amount automatically whenever a fax fails, and you can retry immediately. IRS fax lines run around the clock but can be busy during US business hours; early morning US Eastern time or weekends often connect fastest.
How do I get proof the IRS received my SS-4?
The IRS does not send an acknowledgment of receipt. Your fax transmission confirmation is your proof. OverseasFax emails you a delivery confirmation after successful transmission; keep it until your EIN arrives.
What resolution should my scanned SS-4 be?
300 DPI or higher. Fax transmission compresses images, and an unreadable entry can stall your application. A clean black and white scan of the signed form works best.
Can I use my new EIN before the confirmation letter arrives?
Once the IRS faxes back your SS-4 with the EIN assigned, that number is active and you can generally use it. Some banks and platforms insist on the formal CP 575 confirmation letter, which arrives by mail, so keep both.
Is it safe to fax a form with my personal details through OverseasFax?
Yes. Uploads travel over encrypted HTTPS, documents are deleted from servers after sending, and payment is handled by Stripe with no card details stored. The fax is a point-to-point transmission to the IRS line.
Do I need an ITIN before I can get an EIN?
No. An EIN for your LLC does not require you to hold an ITIN. Write "Foreign" on line 7b. Whether you separately need an ITIN for your personal US tax situation is a different question for a tax professional.
Can I fax the SS-4 for a corporation or partnership from abroad too?
Yes. The fax application route covers all entity types, and the same international applicant number applies to those outside the US. Complete the SS-4 for your entity type and follow the same steps.
Which countries can I fax the IRS from with OverseasFax?
Any of the 93 countries we support, including the UK, Germany, France, India, Pakistan, the UAE, Japan, and Australia. The destination is a US number, so the price is the US tier: $2.99 for up to 3 pages, $0.99 per extra page.

Fax Form SS-4 to the IRS Today

Upload your signed SS-4, enter the IRS fax number, pay $2.99. Email confirmation in minutes. Automatic refund if delivery fails.

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