You do not need a Social Security Number to get a US Employer Identification Number. The IRS issues EINs to non-residents through three methods: phone, fax, and mail. The online portal is the only option that requires an SSN or ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number). It is not available to Pakistani applicants.

So, if you are a Pakistani entrepreneur with a US LLC, this is your next step. The EIN is your business tax ID. You need it for bank accounts, Stripe, and Amazon.

This post walks through all three application methods. It covers Form SS-4 line by line for non-SSN filers. And it tells you exactly what to do the moment your EIN arrives.

TL;DR Box

• Pakistani entrepreneurs can get a US EIN without an SSN. Online application is not available to non-residents, but phone, fax, and mail all work.
• Fastest method: phone call to the IRS international line. EIN is issued during the call.
• You must have formed a US LLC before applying. The EIN is assigned to the entity, not to you personally.
• After receiving your EIN, you can open a US bank account, set up Stripe, and register as an Amazon seller.

What You Need Before You Apply

The EIN is a taxpayer identification number assigned to a legal entity. It can not be issued to an individual. Your US LLC must be fully formed before you submit anything.

Have these ready before you start:

• LLC formation documents: Articles of Organization or Certificate of Formation. The legal name on these documents must match your Form SS-4 exactly.
• Your LLC’s registered agent address: This is your principal business address for IRS purposes. You do not need a US address of your own.
• Your passport: Required for identity verification if applying by phone.
• Your Pakistani address: You will enter this on the form as the responsible party’s address.

You do not need a US phone number or a US bank account. Your US LLC formation documents and your registered agent’s address are enough to start.

EIN vs ITIN: Which One Do You Need

These are two different taxpayer identification numbers. One is for your business, and the other is for you personally.

• Employer Identification Number (EIN): This is assigned to a business entity. Stripe, US banks, and Amazon require it from your LLC. This is the number you are applying for.
• Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN): This is assigned to an individual who cannot get an SSN. It is used for personal tax filing when you have US-sourced income. It is not used for your business.

Most Pakistani LLC owners only need an EIN at this stage. You may need an ITIN later if you file US personal taxes, but that comes after your EIN.

Note: A common mistake is applying for an ITIN first, thinking it will unlock the online EIN system. It does not. The online portal requires an SSN, and an ITIN does not replace it. Skip the ITIN for now and apply for your EIN directly.

The Three Ways to Apply (and Which to Use)

There are three methods to apply for an EIN. All of them are valid and accepted by the IRS. You can choose between fax vs mail vs phone when applying for your EIN. Each method is valid, but the speed and convenience are very different. Some methods give you the EIN the same day, while others can take several weeks.

Method 1: Phone (Fastest, same day)

Call the IRS international applicant line at +1-267-941-1099. Hours: Monday to Friday, 6 am to 11 pm Eastern Time. Have your completed Form SS-4 in front of you before you dial. The IRS agent will ask for the information on the form and issue your Employer Identification Number during the call.

Your EIN is usable immediately after the call. The official CP 575 confirmation letter arrives by mail 4 to 6 weeks later. It is also considered your official EIN confirmation. It arrives later by mail, but your EIN is active before that. You do not need it to start using the EIN, though.

• Timeline: Same day.
• Best for: Anyone who can make the call during IRS hours.

Method 2: Fax (4 to 7 business days)

Complete Form SS-4 and fax it to the IRS. Pakistani applicants with a non-US principal business address must use the international fax number: +1-304-707-9471. Do not use the domestic fax number (855-641-6935). That number is for US-address applicants only. International applications sent there are rejected.

Before you fax, set up a return fax number. If the IRS cannot fax your EIN back, they mail it instead, which takes weeks. If you do not have a physical fax machine, an online fax service like eFax, Fax.Plus, or mFax gives you a return fax number in minutes.

• Timeline: 4 to 7 business days with a return fax number. Up to 12 weeks without one.
• Best for: Anyone who cannot reach the IRS phone line during operating hours.

Method 3: Mail (last resort only)

Mail your completed Form SS-4 to: Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999, USA

• Timeline: Officially 4 to 6 weeks. Realistically, 8 to 12 weeks for international mail. IRS processing backlogs and international delivery both add time.
• Best for: Use this only if phone and fax are both unavailable to you.

Which Method to Use?

• Fastest and most reliable: A phone call is the best option because it does not require a fax machine. You get your EIN the same day.
• If the phone is not available: You can fax your Form SS-4 using an online fax service. Make sure you set up a return fax number first.
• Last resort only:  Mail your application only if other methods are not possible, as it can take up to 12 weeks. Do not plan anything that depends on the EIN until it arrives.

How to Complete Form SS-4 Without an SSN

Download Form SS-4 from the IRS, and the instructions are here. Below are the fields that cause the most confusion for Pakistani non-resident alien applicants.

• Line 1 (Legal name of entity): Enter your LLC’s exact legal name as it appears on your formation documents. Copy it character by character. Spelling, punctuation, and capitalisation must match exactly. A mismatch here is the most common reason for rejection.
• Line 4a (Mailing address): Use your registered agent’s US address. This is your LLC’s official principal business address for IRS purposes.
• Line 4b (City, state, ZIP): Your registered agent’s US city, state, and ZIP code. Not your Pakistani address.
• Line 7a (Name of responsible party): Enter your full legal name. You are the responsible party as the individual with ultimate control of the LLC. This must be a person’s name. Not a company name. Not your LLC’s name.
• Line 7b (SSN, ITIN, or EIN): This is the field every Pakistani applicant gets stuck on. You do not have an SSN or an ITIN. Here is what to do: enter “Foreign” or “N/A” in this field. You can also leave it blank. The IRS accepts all three for foreign entity applicants. This is confirmed in the IRS responsible parties guidance.
• Line 9a (Type of entity): Select “Limited liability company.” Enter the number of LLC members in the box. Most Pakistani sole owners enter 1.
• Line 10 (Reason for applying) Select “Started new business.”
• Line 11 (Date business started): Enter the date your LLC was officially formed. Use the date on your formation documents.
• Line 12 (Closing month of accounting year): Enter December unless you have a specific reason to use a different month.
• Signature Sign and date at the bottom. As the sole owner, you are a duly authorized representative of the LLC. You do not need a notary or witness.

Realistic Timelines for Pakistani Applicants

The IRS publishes official timelines. The realistic timelines for international applicants are longer. Here is the honest picture:

Method	Official timeline	Realistic timeline (Pakistan)
Phone	Same day	Same day
Fax (with return fax number)	4 business days	4 to 7 business days
Fax (without return fax number)	Defaults to mail	8 to 12 weeks
Mail	4 to 6 weeks	8 to 12 weeks

The gap between official and actual timelines exists for two reasons. First, international mail faces added transit time, and second, the IRS processes international applications separately from domestic ones. IRS processing time runs longer for foreign entity applications.

Your CP 575 confirmation letter (the official document) takes an additional 4 to 6 weeks after your EIN is issued, regardless of the method used. You do not need the CP 575 to start using your EIN. The EIN itself is valid immediately upon issuance. Banks, Stripe, and Amazon all accept the EIN itself.

Common Rejection Reasons (and How to Avoid Them)

Most rejections come from the same handful of mistakes. Avoid these, and your application goes through clean.

• Entity name mismatch: The name on Form SS-4 does not match your LLC formation documents exactly. Copy it character by character. One wrong letter triggers a rejection.
• Wrong fax number: Using the domestic fax number (855-641-6935) instead of the international one (+1-304-707-9471). The domestic number rejects applications without a US principal business address.
• Missing return fax number: The IRS defaults to mail if no return fax number is on the form. Set up an online fax service before you submit.
• Responsible party listed as an entity: Line 7a must be a person’s name. It should not be your LLC or a company name.
• Applying before business entity formation is complete: The LLC must be fully formed and its legal name confirmed before you submit Form SS-4. Applying early means the name may not yet exist in the IRS system.

What to Do Once Your EIN Arrives

Your EIN is usable immediately, so do not wait for the CP 575 notice. Your EIN acts as your business’s taxpayer identification number (TIN) for banking, Stripe, and compliance. Here is what comes next:

• US bank account: Apply through Mercury or Relay with your EIN and LLC formation documents. Both accept non-resident LLC owners. Mercury is the more accessible option for Pakistani applicants in 2026. Verify current eligibility before applying.
• Stripe: Sign up at Stripe using your LLC’s US address, EIN, and US bank account. Your EIN is your tax identification number for Stripe’s verification process.
• Amazon Seller Account: Your EIN is required during Amazon seller(LINK?) registration as your business tax ID.
• Pakistani tax obligations: A US EIN does not remove your obligation to declare foreign income to Pakistan’s Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). Talk to a Pakistani accountant before your first payout. Your NTN and EIN are separate identifiers for separate tax systems. Both apply to you.

For a full walkthrough of opening your US bank account after the EIN, see the IRS EIN overview page.

Closing

The EIN process is more straightforward than most guides make it appear. The two things that trip up Pakistani applicants most often are using the wrong fax number and not having a return fax number ready. Avoid both and use the phone method if you can. You can get your EIN in hand the same day. The bank account, Stripe, and Amazon all follow from there.

Ready to set up your US business from Pakistan? We handle LLC formation, EIN, and US bank account setup end-to-end. Book a free 20-minute consultation.

Book Free Consultation.