Do you need an EIN, an ITIN, or both? For most non-US founders the answer is an EIN, not an ITIN. An EIN is your company's federal tax ID and you almost always need it to open a U.S. bank account, connect a payment processor, and file the forms a foreign-owned LLC must file. An ITIN is a personal tax ID for an individual who has a U.S. tax filing obligation but cannot get a Social Security Number, so you only need one if you personally have to file or claim a treaty benefit. Both are free from the IRS.
Your company's federal tax ID. Almost every non-US founder needs one, and it comes first.
A personal tax ID for someone with a U.S. filing duty who cannot get an SSN. Many founders never need one.
The IRS charges nothing for an EIN or an ITIN. Be wary of anyone charging for the number itself.
Here is the full picture for founders outside the United States:
Do you need an EIN, an ITIN, or both?
The two get confused constantly, so start with the distinction: an EIN identifies your business, and an ITIN identifies you as an individual taxpayer. Most non-US founders need the first and not the second. You apply for an ITIN only when you personally have a U.S. tax filing obligation and are not eligible for a Social Security Number.
Here is how it usually falls out by situation:
Your situation | EIN? | ITIN? |
|---|---|---|
You formed a U.S. LLC to invoice clients or sell online, with no personal U.S. filing | Yes | Usually no |
Your foreign-owned single-member LLC must file Form 5472 | Yes | No (the LLC files using its EIN, not your ITIN) |
You personally owe U.S. tax or have effectively connected income to report | Yes | Yes (to file your personal return) |
You want to claim a tax-treaty benefit on a personal U.S. return | Maybe | Yes |
A specific bank or processor asks you for an ITIN | Yes | Only if they require it (many accept the EIN alone) |
Whether you owe U.S. tax personally is a question for a qualified tax professional, since it depends on your facts. CORPBOLT can prepare and submit the applications, but it does not decide your tax position for you.
What is an EIN, and why you need one
An EIN, or Employer Identification Number, is the nine-digit federal tax ID the IRS assigns to a business. It is what U.S. banks, payment processors like Stripe, and the IRS use to identify your company. For a deeper walkthrough, see what an EIN is and how to get one as a non-resident.
The short version for non-residents: you cannot use the instant online tool, because it requires the responsible party to have an SSN or ITIN. Instead you apply on Form SS-4 by fax, which usually returns the EIN in about four business days, or by mail, which takes roughly four weeks. The EIN itself is free.
What is an ITIN, and when you actually need one
An ITIN, or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, is a nine-digit number the IRS issues to a person who needs a U.S. taxpayer ID for federal tax purposes but is not eligible for a Social Security Number. In the IRS's words, you need one if you "need a U.S. taxpayer identification number for federal tax purposes, but you aren't eligible for a Social Security number."
That wording matters. An ITIN is tied to a personal tax purpose. If you have no personal U.S. filing obligation, you generally do not need one, even though your company has an EIN. It is also limited on purpose: an ITIN does not authorize you to work in the U.S., does not change your immigration status, and is not an ID outside the federal tax system.
You are likely to need an ITIN if you personally must file a U.S. return, have U.S.-source or effectively connected income to report, or want to claim a tax-treaty benefit. You are unlikely to need one if your only U.S. footprint is a foreign-owned LLC whose reporting is handled at the company level.
How to get an ITIN
An ITIN is applied for on Form W-7, and the process is more involved than the EIN:
Complete Form W-7 and, in most cases, attach it to a valid federal tax return. The IRS issues ITINs for a tax purpose, so a return is the usual trigger unless you meet a documented exception.
Prove identity and foreign status. Your passport is the one document that does both. You either mail the original or a certified copy, or use a Certifying Acceptance Agent who verifies it so you do not have to mail your passport.
Submit and wait. The IRS asks you to allow about seven weeks, and nine to eleven weeks during tax season (mid-January to the end of April) or when you apply from abroad.
EIN, ITIN, and your LLC's U.S. taxes
This is where the EIN and ITIN line up against your actual filing duties. A foreign-owned single-member LLC generally must file IRS Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 each year, and that filing uses the company's EIN, not your personal ITIN. Whether you also have a personal return to file, which is what would require an ITIN, depends on your own facts, including whether you have income that is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business.
Those are tax determinations, not administrative steps. CORPBOLT is a formation service and does not give tax advice. For where that line sits and when to bring in a professional, see whether CORPBOLT provides legal or tax advice.
The right order: EIN first, ITIN only if you need it
Sequencing saves weeks. The path that works for most non-US founders is:
Form the LLC by filing with the state. This is the administrative step in the full company-formation guide for non-residents.
Apply for the EIN right away, because it gates everything that follows.
Open the bank account and payment processor with the EIN, which is usually all they need to start.
Apply for an ITIN later, only if a personal U.S. filing obligation actually arises. Most founders reach this step at tax time, if at all.
The mistake we see most
By far the most common confusion we see from non-US founders is treating the ITIN as a required part of company formation. People apply for an ITIN they do not yet need, attach it to no return, and then wait weeks while their banking stalls, when an EIN alone would have let them move. The reverse mistake is paying a service for the EIN as if the number had a cost. It does not. Get the EIN, get moving, and let the ITIN follow your personal tax situation rather than the other way around.
Quick FAQ
Do I need both an EIN and an ITIN?
Usually not. Most non-US founders need an EIN for the business and do not need an ITIN unless they personally have a U.S. tax filing obligation and cannot get an SSN.
Are the EIN and ITIN free?
Yes. The IRS charges no fee for an EIN on Form SS-4 or for an ITIN on Form W-7. Any fee you pay a service is for handling the application, not for the number.
How long does each take?
For non-residents, an EIN is typically about four business days by fax or four weeks by mail. An ITIN takes about seven weeks, and nine to eleven weeks during tax season or from abroad.
Can I get an EIN without an ITIN or SSN?
Yes. A foreign responsible party with no SSN or ITIN applies on Form SS-4 and enters "Foreign" on the responsible-party line. You do not need an ITIN first.
Do I need an ITIN to open a U.S. bank account or Stripe?
Usually no. Banks and payment processors generally identify the business by its EIN. Some may ask for more, but the EIN is the standard requirement, and approval is always the provider's decision.
Official references
How this article was prepared
CORPBOLT prepared this guide to clear up the EIN-versus-ITIN confusion for founders outside the United States and to help them apply in the right order. The definitions, eligibility, the ITIN limitations, the Form W-7 process, and the timelines are drawn from the IRS sources linked above. It is written as plain-language education, reviewed for accuracy and for honesty about which steps a formation service handles and which are tax questions for a professional, and refreshed when the IRS changes its EIN or ITIN process. This article is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Approval note: Eligibility and approval decisions are made by each bank, fintech, and payment processor. Requirements can vary by provider, country, business model, and account history.