You set up your US LLC. Now you need an EIN-an Employer Identification Number-to use it. It’s your business’s social security number. You can’t open a bank account, hire anyone, or handle taxes without it. The IRS gives it to you for free. Most guides assume you’re in the US with a social security number.

This guide covers the actual process, including what to do when you don’t have a US SSN. No paid services doing what you can do yourself.

What is an EIN and Why Does Your LLC Need One?

An EIN is a nine-digit number the IRS assigns to your business. It identifies your LLC for federal tax purposes-like your personal tax number works in Pakistan. Banks require it. Most US banks won’t open a business account without it, even if you’re running a single-member LLC with no employees.

You’ll need it to hire employees, apply for business licenses, or file certain tax returns. Some people think they can skip this if they’re running a small operation. That stops working the moment you try to get paid through a US payment processor or set up Stripe.

The IRS doesn’t charge for an EIN. Anyone asking you to pay is just filling out a form you can handle yourself.

Eligibility and Preparation: What You Need Before Applying

Your LLC has to be registered with a US state first. You can’t get an EIN for a business that doesn’t exist yet. Check your state’s online portal to confirm your LLC shows as active. You’ll need the exact legal name from your formation documents.

Gather these before you start:

• Your LLC’s legal name and state of formation
• The date your LLC was formed
• Your passport if you don’t have a US SSN or ITIN
• A physical US address for the LLC-not a PO Box
• Your actual mailing address in Pakistan

The “Responsible Party” is whoever controls the LLC. For most single-member LLCs, that’s you. This has to be a person, not another company. People get confused here, especially if they’re used to corporate structures where entities own other entities. The IRS wants an individual’s name.

If you’re using a registered agent service for your LLC, they’re not the Responsible Party. You are.

Step-by-Step IRS EIN Application Methods

The IRS offers four ways to get an EIN. Which one works depends on whether you have a US social security number and how long you want to wait.

Method	Time	Best For	Catch
Online	Instant	US residents with SSN/ITIN	Won’t work for most international applicants
Phone	Same day	International applicants	Only certain hours, possible wait times
Fax	4 business days	Non-US residents without SSN	Need to fill Form SS-4 correctly
Mail	4-6 weeks	People who like waiting	Slowest option, easy to mess up

Most Pakistani founders use fax or phone because the online system rejects you without a US tax number.

The Online Application (For those with SSN/ITIN)

If you have a US Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, the online route is simple. Go to the IRS website, click through their EIN Assistant tool, and answer questions about your business.

It takes about 15 minutes. They give you your EIN immediately. You can download a confirmation letter (CP 575) right there. Banks want to see this, so save it.

The problem? The system kicks you out if you select “I do not have an SSN or ITIN.” That’s where most international founders get stuck.

The Fax/Mail Method (Form SS-4 for Non-US Residents)

Form SS-4 is the application form the IRS uses. Download it from their website as a PDF. It’s two pages, but you only fill out the first page unless you’re doing something unusual.

Here’s where Pakistani applicants mess up: Line 7b asks for your SSN, ITIN, or EIN. If you don’t have any of those, write “FOREIGN” in that box. Don’t leave it blank. Don’t make up a number. Just write the word in capital letters.

Line 8b is where you put your foreign address-your Pakistan address works here. The LLC’s address (Line 4a) needs to be the US address. That’s usually your registered agent’s address or a virtual office.

For the Responsible Party section, use your full name exactly as it appears on your passport. The IRS might cross-reference this later when you’re setting up banking.

Fill it out, then fax it to the number listed on the form. The international fax number is 1-304-707-9471. If you don’t have a fax machine, online services let you send faxes through email. You should get your EIN confirmation letter by fax or mail within four business days, depending on what you indicated on the form.

Mail works the same way but takes weeks instead of days. Skip that option unless you’re in no rush.

Non-US Steps: Applying from Pakistan Without an SSN

If you’re in Karachi with no US tax number, the fax method works, but there’s also a phone line for international applicants. Call 1-267-941-1099 between 6 AM and 11 PM Eastern Time (evening in Pakistan).

Have your completed Form SS-4 in front of you. The IRS agent will ask you the same questions from the form. They’ll verify your LLC details, ask for your passport information, and confirm the Responsible Party. The call takes 10 to 20 minutes if the line isn’t busy.

They’ll read your EIN to you at the end. Write it down immediately. They’ll also fax or mail the confirmation letter to you within a few days.

Using your Pakistan passport is fine. The IRS works with foreign founders all the time. They’re not checking your immigration status. They just need to verify you’re a real person running a real business.

If you’re using a virtual address service in the US (like in Delaware or Wyoming), make sure you have access to the mail forwarding. The confirmation letter sometimes gets sent there, and you need it for banking later.

Common Pitfalls for International Applicants

PO Boxes get rejected. The IRS wants a physical street address for your LLC. Put down a PO Box and your application gets kicked back-you start over. Registered agent addresses work because they’re actual street addresses, even if they’re handling mail for dozens of companies.

The “Responsible Party” field confuses people. If you’re a single-member LLC, put your own name. Multiple members? Pick one person-whoever has the most control. You can’t list your LLC as the Responsible Party, and you can’t list multiple people. One individual only.

Another mistake: not keeping a copy of your CP 575 confirmation letter. Banks need this document. Some founders apply, get their EIN, and lose the letter. You can request a duplicate from the IRS, but it takes time. Save a digital copy somewhere safe.

Address inconsistencies cause problems. If your LLC formation documents show one address but your EIN application shows another, banks get suspicious. Use the same US address across all your paperwork.

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What Happens After You Get Your EIN

Once you have your EIN and the CP 575 confirmation letter, you can move forward with banking. Most US banks require this document along with your LLC formation papers. Some will also ask for proof of address and passport copies, especially if you’re opening the account remotely from Pakistan.

The EIN doesn’t expire. You use the same number for the life of your LLC. Close the business later? You don’t “return” it-it just becomes inactive.

You’ll use this number on any tax forms you file. Even if your LLC has no income, you might need to file informational returns depending on your tax structure. That’s a separate topic, but the EIN ties everything together.

Keep your confirmation letter with your other important business documents. Scan it, save it in a cloud folder, email it to yourself-whatever makes sure you don’t lose it. You’ll reference this number constantly.

For more details on broader tax obligations and compliance requirements, check out our guide on US EIN requirements for foreign-owned LLCs.

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Frequently Asked Questions for NRPs

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