Honest answers to questions we hear weekly

In nearly all cases, yes. Banks, payment processors, and most platforms require an EIN before they'll engage with your business. Multi-member LLCs also need an EIN to file their federal partnership return.

Yes — you apply with Form SS-4 by phone, fax or mail instead of the IRS online tool. The IRS targets about 4 business days for fax and about 4 weeks for mail; with our IRS status follow-up, our clients typically receive their EIN within 1–2 weeks. Most rejections come from small SS-4 mistakes, which is what we help prevent.

From your application with us: 2–3 business days for SS-4 preparation, then IRS processing — the IRS targets about 4 business days for fax, and with our status follow-up our clients typically receive their EIN within 1–2 weeks. Without follow-up, faxed applications can take 1–3 months because the IRS often replies by mail.

Only one document: your company certificate (Articles of Organization or Certificate of Formation). We also ask for the responsible party's passport details — name, nationality and passport number — but never a passport copy, plus a short description of what your LLC does.

Form it first. The IRS says to form the entity with the state before applying — applying early may delay your EIN. The SS-4 needs the LLC's exact legal name, which is only final once the state approves the filing.

No. EINNumber.io is a private service. We are not the IRS, not a government agency, and not a law firm, CPA, or bank. The IRS issues EINs free of charge to those who apply directly. Our fees cover preparation, review, filing assistance, and ongoing support.

You can absolutely apply yourself — and if your case is simple and you have time to research the SS-4 carefully, that's the cheapest path. People hire us because they want it done right the first time, they've been burned by previous attempts, or they don't have the time to navigate IRS procedures from outside the U.S.

If the IRS does not assign your EIN, we resubmit at no extra cost. If new information surfaces (e.g. a name mismatch on your formation documents), we'll explain what needs to change before we resubmit.

No — we focus on EIN applications. If you also need LLC formation, we can refer you to formation services we trust. Most clients arrive after their LLC is already formed.

We work in English. If English isn't your first language, write naturally — we're used to it and will work with you.

Yes. These platforms accept the standard IRS-issued EIN. What sometimes trips applicants up is name matching — the EIN-holder name must exactly match your formation documents and the platform's expected legal name. We catch these mismatches before submission.

No, just the standard EIN. What they care about is that the EIN matches the legal name and entity type you declare during their account setup. We coordinate your SS-4 with what you'll submit to these platforms.

Yes — neo-banks like Mercury, Relay, and Wise support non-U.S.-resident-owned LLCs. Traditional banks (Chase, Bank of America) typically require in-person visits. Most of our clients open with Mercury.

Most rejections come down to name mismatches, industry restrictions, or sanctioned-country residence. We help prevent the first issue. The other two we flag during onboarding so you know what to expect.

The IRS won't mail a second CP 575 — but they will issue a 147C verification letter, which serves the same purpose. We can help you request the 147C — contact us for a quote.

No. Once issued, your EIN is permanent — it doesn't expire and doesn't need renewal. It stays attached to your legal entity for the entity's lifetime.

Having an EIN doesn't automatically mean you owe U.S. taxes. Single-member foreign-owned LLCs file Form 5472 + a pro forma 1120 annually. Multi-member LLCs file Form 1065. If your LLC has U.S.-source income or U.S. employees, additional obligations apply. We're not your tax advisor — but we can refer you to one.

No. An EIN is tied to a specific legal entity. If you operate multiple LLCs or businesses, each needs its own EIN.

Nothing is charged when you apply. A specialist first reviews your details; once we confirm your case fits the package, we email you a secure PayPal checkout link for the fixed USD price. In most countries PayPal checkout also accepts debit and credit cards, so you don’t need a PayPal balance. Your card details go to PayPal, never to us.

Yes — you can get a full refund any time before we file your SS-4 with the IRS. Refunds go back through PayPal to the account or card you paid with. See our refund policy for what happens after filing.

No. The IRS issues EINs free of charge, and you can apply yourself by phone, fax or mail with Form SS-4. Any private service, including ours, charges for its own help, not for the EIN. Be wary of any site that suggests the EIN itself costs money.

You sign the SS-4 and can name us as third-party designee on it. That lets the IRS give us your EIN and talk to us about that form only, and it ends once the EIN is assigned. For later requests, such as a 147C letter, you can sign Form 8821 so the IRS can share information with us. We don't represent clients before the IRS; that requires a CPA, enrolled agent or attorney (Form 2848).

The IRS says to write "Applied For" and the date you applied in the space for the number. Don’t send a second SS-4 while you wait: the IRS issues one EIN per responsible party per day, and a duplicate can create a second EIN.

It depends on how your LLC is taxed. A single-member LLC owned by a non-U.S. person is a disregarded entity, and the IRS Form W-9 instructions say the foreign owner gives an appropriate Form W-8 instead, even if they have a U.S. tax number. A multi-member LLC taxed as a partnership is a U.S. person and gives a W-9 with its EIN. Check your case with a tax professional.

Generally yes, even with no U.S. income: a pro forma Form 1120 with Form 5472 each year, reporting transactions between the LLC and its foreign owner (including money put in or taken out). Penalties for not filing start at $25,000, so speak to a tax professional before your first deadline.

Not for a company formed in the United States. FinCEN’s rules (an interim final rule in March 2025, made permanent in August 2026) exempt U.S.-created companies from beneficial ownership reporting. Companies formed abroad and registered to do business in a U.S. state still have to report. See fincen.gov/boi for the current rules.

An EIN is never cancelled — it stays with the entity permanently. If you close the business, the IRS can deactivate the business account: send a letter with the legal name, EIN, address and reason for closing (and a copy of the CP 575 if you have it) after filing any final returns and paying any taxes owed.