Guide 01 · Before you can open a bank account
Getting an EIN without a Social Security number
An EIN is your LLC's US federal tax ID. Banks, payment processors, and the IRS itself ask for it. If you have no SSN, the familiar online application is closed to you — but there is a paper route built for exactly your situation, and it is the one Sethhost runs for Launch clients.
Why the online form turns you away
The IRS online EIN application requires the responsible party to enter a US taxpayer ID — an SSN or an ITIN. A founder abroad usually has neither, and does not need either to own an LLC. The IRS route for international applicants is Form SS-4, submitted by fax (or mail, or the IRS international phone line). Nothing about this is a workaround: it is the documented process for applicants without a US taxpayer ID.
The fax workflow, step by step
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Form the LLC first | The EIN application names an existing entity. State filing comes before the SS-4, not after. |
| 2. Complete Form SS-4 | Entity name and address, responsible party details, reason for applying. On the line that asks for the responsible party's SSN/ITIN, a founder who has neither and is not eligible for one writes "Foreign" — the IRS-accepted entry. |
| 3. Name a third-party designee (optional) | The SS-4 lets you authorize a designee to receive the EIN and speak to the IRS about the application. This is how a formation handler can track the application for you. |
| 4. Fax it to the IRS | Include a return fax number. The IRS returns the EIN confirmation (the CP 575 notice) by fax. |
| 5. Keep the CP 575 permanently | Banks and processors ask for it years later. Losing it means a slow replacement process, so it goes in your client file and portal documents. |
How long it really takes
Sethhost's published expectation for the no-SSN fax workflow is typically 15–25 business days, and the service agreement tracks EIN progress on that basis. IRS-published processing for faxed SS-4s can be faster when volume is low; it stretches when volume is high, when a form is incomplete, or when the return fax fails. We never promise to shorten the IRS — anyone who guarantees you a faster EIN is promising something that is not theirs to control. What a handler can do is file a complete, correct form the first time, because an incomplete SS-4 restarts the clock.
What slows founders down
- Applying before the LLC exists. The entity must be formed first; an EIN issued to the wrong name or a not-yet-formed entity creates a mismatch banks will flag.
- Leaving the taxpayer-ID line blank instead of writing "Foreign" — a blank reads as an incomplete form.
- Assuming you need an ITIN first. Most non-US founders do not need an ITIN to form an LLC or get an EIN. An ITIN (Form W-7) is for personal US tax filings; whether you need one is a question for a tax preparer, not a formation step.
- Losing the confirmation notice. Photograph it, store it, and keep it with your formation documents.
What Sethhost does — and does not do
Launch includes EIN handling, including this no-SSN fax workflow: paperwork prepared at your direction, submitted, and tracked, with progress visible against the 15–25 business-day expectation. Sethhost does not issue EINs (only the IRS does), does not advise whether you personally need an ITIN, and does not prepare tax returns. Sources: IRS, "How to apply for an EIN" and the Form SS-4 instructions (irs.gov).
Sethhost is not a law firm and does not provide legal or tax advice. This guide is general information, not advice about your situation. Tax filings are performed by a qualified tax preparer engaged for that service or by your own CPA; legal questions go to your own attorney.
Reading is step one. The paperwork is the rest.
Sethhost handles formation paperwork, the EIN workflow, registered agent service, official mail handling, your website, a US number, and a compliance calendar — one company, one bill. Launch is $499 one-time; Hosted is $79 per month; the state filing fee is always shown separately.