EIN, ITIN, SSN: Which Tax Number You Actually Need

An EIN identifies your business, an ITIN identifies you as an individual taxpayer who can't get an SSN, and an SSN is reserved for US citizens and people authorized to work in the US. If you're a non-resident founder, the number you almost always need first is the EIN — and you can get it without an SSN or an ITIN. The confusion comes from assuming these are interchangeable: they aren't, and you rarely need all three.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Tax rules are time-sensitive; confirm current guidance with the IRS or a qualified advisor before you file. As of June 2026, the rules below reflect the IRS instructions in force.

What is an EIN and why do you need one?

An EIN is your business's federal tax ID — think of it as a Social Security Number for the company.

The IRS issues an Employer Identification Number to identify a business entity for tax filing and reporting. Your Wyoming LLC or Delaware C-Corp uses it to file returns, hire contractors, and — the part that matters most for founders — open a US bank account. An EIN is required to open a US business bank account; applications without one are rejected.

Here's the point that trips up non-residents: you do not need a Social Security Number to get an EIN.

How do you get an EIN without an SSN?

You file Form SS-4 as the foreign responsible party — by phone, fax, or mail, since the online tool requires a US taxpayer ID.

On Form SS-4, line 7b asks for the responsible party's SSN, ITIN, or EIN. Per the Instructions for Form SS-4, if the foreign responsible party has no SSN or ITIN and is ineligible to get one, you enter "Foreign" (or "N/A"). In practice, some filers leave line 7b blank and the EIN still issues — but the IRS instruction is to write "Foreign" or "N/A."

International applicants can call the IRS to get an EIN by phone at 267-941-1099 (not toll-free), or fax Form SS-4 to 855-215-1627 from inside the US or 304-707-9471 from outside, with a turnaround of roughly four business days.

StableCorp files the SS-4 for you and opens the US bank account that needs the EIN — see pricing for what that costs end-to-end. For the full walkthrough, read how to form a US company from abroad.

What is an ITIN and who actually needs one?

An ITIN is a personal tax ID for individuals who must deal with the US tax system but can't get an SSN.

Per the IRS, an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number is a 9-digit number for people who are required to furnish a US taxpayer ID — to file a federal return or be reported on one — but who aren't eligible for an SSN. You apply with Form W-7, usually attached to a tax return, and you can apply regardless of immigration status.

Crucially, an ITIN is for tax purposes only. It does not authorize you to work in the US, does not grant Social Security benefits, and creates no inference about your immigration status.

So when does a non-resident founder need one? Usually not to start the company — the EIN handles the business side. An ITIN becomes relevant when *you* have a personal US filing obligation: for example, if your LLC's income is treated as effectively connected to a US trade or business and you must file a Form 1040-NR, or you're claiming a treaty benefit. Many remote, services-only founders never trigger that — which is exactly why so many ITIN applications are unnecessary.

What is an SSN and can a non-resident get one?

An SSN is the tax and identity number issued to US citizens and individuals authorized to work in the US — and a founder living abroad generally can't just apply for one.

The Social Security Administration issues SSNs to citizens and to non-citizens who have work authorization in the United States. If you're a non-resident running a US LLC from India, the EU, or anywhere else without US work authorization, the SSN simply isn't on the table — and that's fine, because the EIN and (when needed) the ITIN are the numbers built for your situation.

This is the single biggest source of confusion we see: founders assume they're blocked because they lack an SSN. You're not. The US tax system has parallel numbers precisely so non-residents can form, bank, and file without one.

EIN vs ITIN vs SSN: a side-by-side comparison

Here's the whole thing on one screen.

Which number do non-resident founders actually need?

For the company itself: an EIN, and only an EIN.

You form the entity, get the EIN, open the bank account, and start invoicing US clients — no SSN, no ITIN required for any of that. The ITIN enters the picture only if you personally pick up a US filing obligation down the line, and the SSN is generally irrelevant unless you become work-authorized in the US. Start with the EIN; add an ITIN only when a filing actually demands it.

For a fuller picture of the entity and its annual filings, see what a foreign-owned US LLC actually means.

How does StableCorp handle the tax-number setup?

StableCorp forms the entity, files the SS-4 to get your EIN, and opens the US bank account that EIN unlocks — then runs USD and USDC/USDT payments on top.

The non-obvious edge isn't the EIN itself — it's what happens after a US client pays you and you need that money home without tripping a regulator. A direct wallet-to-bank cash-out is the grey-area path. StableCorp runs a compliant off-ramp instead — purpose-code-based settlement with a real paper trail — so the entity you just gave a clean US tax ID stays clean on the way back to your home currency too. For Indian founders that means off-ramping USDC against supported RBI purpose codes (P0802, P1004, P1005, P1006, P1007, P1009; others on request).

It's also cheaper where it counts. For clients incorporated with StableCorp, off-ramps run 0.5% and on-ramps 1.5%; a direct off-ramp to INR is 1%, and payroll for freelancers is 1% (sometimes volume-negotiated) — versus the market's ~2.9% headline fee plus ~2% hidden FX markup, roughly 5% effective by the time money lands. See pricing for the full breakdown.

Get your EIN, US bank account, and a compliant USD/USDC rail in one flow — StableCorp files the SS-4 so you don't navigate the IRS alone. See pricing.

The bottom line

EIN for the business, ITIN for the individual without an SSN, SSN for the work-authorized — three numbers, three jobs.

As a non-resident founder, get the EIN first (you can, without an SSN), add an ITIN only if a personal filing forces it, and stop worrying about the SSN you can't get and don't need. Match the number to the job and the confusion disappears.

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