Home / Formation / EIN / Tax ID
EIN / Tax ID
Your EIN, even without a Social Security number.
The EIN is your company’s federal tax ID. Banks, Stripe and Shopify Payments all ask for it. We prepare the application with you and follow it until the IRS issues your number.
At a glance
What is included.
Form SS-4, prepared with you
We complete the application using your company documents and the details you provide.
Submission to the IRS
The signed application is sent to the IRS through the channel open to your situation.
Follow-up
We track the application and tell you where it stands.
EIN confirmation letter
The official IRS letter showing your number, added to your company file.
The basics
What an EIN is
An Employer Identification Number, or EIN, is the federal tax number the Internal Revenue Service issues to a business. It has nine digits and identifies your company to the IRS in the same way a Social Security number identifies an individual. Despite the name, a company needs one whether or not it has employees. An LLC or corporation formed by a non-US resident uses it from its first week.
The EIN is requested on IRS Form SS-4. The form asks for the company’s legal name, its type, the date it was formed, its main activity and the identity of its responsible party. The responsible party is the individual who ultimately owns or controls the company. The EIN can only be requested once the state has formed the company, because the IRS needs the exact legal name and formation date.
The IRS offers an online application, but it requires the responsible party to hold a Social Security number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. Founders who have neither apply by fax or by mail, and international applicants may also apply by telephone. The application is just as valid. It takes longer, because an IRS employee processes it by hand.
Why it matters
What an EIN makes possible
Almost every step that follows formation depends on this number.
Opening a US business bank account
Banks ask for the EIN and the IRS confirmation letter as part of their review of the company. Without it, an application for a US business account cannot usually proceed.
Applying to Stripe and Shopify Payments
Payment providers verify the company’s legal name against its tax number. The name and EIN you enter must match the IRS record exactly, or the verification is likely to stall.
Filing the company’s federal returns
Every federal filing carries the EIN, including the Form 5472 and pro forma Form 1120 that a foreign-owned single-member LLC generally files each year.
Selling on marketplaces
Marketplaces and platforms collect tax information from their sellers. A company with an EIN can complete those tax interviews in its own name.
Registering for state sales tax
If your store reaches economic nexus in a state or holds inventory there, the state registration will ask for the company’s federal number.
Before we start
What we need from you
If Atiko formed your company, we already hold most of this. If the company was formed elsewhere, please send the following.
The process
How your EIN is obtained
We confirm the company exists
The EIN application starts after the state has accepted the formation filing. We check that the legal name and formation date on your file match the state’s record exactly.
We prepare Form SS-4
A filing specialist completes the form from your file, including the entity type, the responsible party and the business activity. Each entry is checked, because an error on this form is slow to correct afterward.
You review and sign
You receive the completed form with a short explanation of each answer. You sign it electronically and, if you wish, authorize us to deal with the IRS on this application.
We submit to the IRS
If the responsible party has an SSN or ITIN, the online route is available. Otherwise we send the form by fax or mail, the routes the IRS provides for applicants without those numbers.
The IRS assigns the number
The IRS processes the application and assigns the EIN. Processing time is set entirely by the IRS and varies with its workload through the year.
You receive the confirmation
We send you the EIN and the IRS confirmation as soon as they arrive, and store a copy in your company file. You can then begin the bank application.
Set by the government, not by Atiko
Government fees in the United States.
| Official fee | Paid to | When | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming LLC, Articles of Organization | $100 | Wyoming Secretary of State | At formation |
| Wyoming LLC, annual report license tax (minimum) | $60 | Wyoming Secretary of State | Every year, anniversary month |
| Delaware LLC, Certificate of Formation | $110 | Delaware Division of Corporations | At formation |
| Delaware LLC, annual tax | $400 | Delaware Division of Corporations | Every year, by June 1 |
| Delaware C Corp, Certificate of Incorporation (minimum) | $109 | Delaware Division of Corporations | At formation |
| Delaware C Corp, minimum franchise tax + annual report | $175 + $50 | Delaware Division of Corporations | Every year, by March 1 |
| New Mexico LLC, Articles of Organization | Confirmed before filing | New Mexico Secretary of State | At formation |
| EIN (Employer Identification Number) | Free | IRS | After formation |
Official fees were checked in October 2026 on the website of each authority. They are the same whoever files, they change from time to time, and they are shown separately from Atiko’s own fee on your written quote.
Comparison
Applying with and without an SSN
| With an SSN or ITIN | Without an SSN or ITIN | |
|---|---|---|
| Application route | Online, fax or mail | Fax or mail, or phone for international applicants |
| Form used | Form SS-4 information entered online | Form SS-4, signed |
| Processing | Automated | Handled manually by the IRS |
| Typical timing | Shortest route | Several days to a few weeks |
| Confirmation | Issued by the IRS on approval | Sent by the IRS after manual processing |
| Validity of the EIN | Full | Full, exactly the same number |
The EIN is identical whichever route is used. Only the method and the waiting time differ.
After the EIN
Keeping the number in good order
An EIN does not expire and has no renewal. What continues every year is the filing duty attached to it. A foreign-owned single-member LLC generally must file Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120, and the penalty for not filing starts at $25,000. A corporation files its own income tax return. These returns are prepared by independent licensed professionals, and Atiko tracks the deadlines.
The IRS expects its record of the company to stay accurate. If the responsible party or the company’s address changes, the IRS is notified on a dedicated form. If you lose the confirmation letter, the IRS can issue a verification letter on request. Atiko prepares these requests for your signature and keeps the confirmation on file so that you can retrieve it whenever a bank or provider asks.
Avoidable problems
Common mistakes to avoid
Believing an ITIN is required first
Founders sometimes delay for months trying to obtain an ITIN before applying. The IRS issues EINs to companies whose responsible party has neither an SSN nor an ITIN, through the fax and mail routes.
Applying before the company is formed
The legal name and formation date on Form SS-4 must match the state’s record. An application made too early risks an EIN issued under details that do not match the company.
Naming the wrong responsible party
The responsible party must be the individual who actually owns or controls the company. Naming a third party in order to use the online route gives the IRS inaccurate information.
Using a slightly different company name
A missing comma or a dropped LLC ending is enough for a bank or payment provider to find a mismatch. Copy the name exactly as it appears on the IRS confirmation.
The IRS sets the timetable
Atiko prepares and submits your application correctly and follows it up, but the IRS alone assigns the number and decides how long that takes. We cannot shorten its processing time or guarantee a date. We also do not give tax advice, which is the role of an independent licensed professional.
Questions founders ask about the EIN
Can I get an EIN without an SSN or ITIN?
Yes. The online application requires the responsible party to have one of those numbers, but the IRS also accepts Form SS-4 by fax or mail, and international applicants may apply by phone. The EIN issued is the same as any other.
How long does it take?
For applicants without an SSN or ITIN, the EIN takes from several days to a few weeks. The time depends on the IRS’s workload when your form arrives. We send the form promptly and pass the number to you as soon as it is assigned.
Is an EIN the same as an ITIN?
No. An EIN identifies a business. An ITIN identifies an individual who needs a US tax number and is not eligible for a Social Security number. Your company needs an EIN, and whether you personally need an ITIN is a separate question for a licensed tax professional.
Do I need an EIN if my company has no employees?
Yes, in practice. Banks and payment providers ask for it, and the company’s federal filings require it. The word employer in the name reflects the number’s history and does not limit who needs one.
Who is the responsible party?
It is the individual who ultimately owns or controls the company and directs its funds and assets. For a single-member LLC owned by one founder, that founder is the responsible party. The IRS requires a real person, with limited exceptions.
Can I apply myself?
Yes. Form SS-4 is a public IRS form and the IRS does not charge for issuing an EIN. Founders use Atiko to have the form prepared accurately, submitted through the correct route and followed up.
Does having an EIN mean my company owes US tax?
No. The EIN is an identification number. Whether any US tax is due depends on the company’s structure, its activity and where its owners live, which a licensed tax professional assesses. Filing obligations can exist even when no tax is due.
Can I open a bank account while waiting for the EIN?
In most cases, no. Banks typically require the EIN and the IRS confirmation before they review a business account application. You can use the waiting time to prepare your store policies and the other documents the bank will ask for.
Related pages
This page is general information, last reviewed in October 2026. It is not legal or tax advice and may not reflect the latest rules in every state. Atiko is not a law firm or an accounting firm. Please consult a licensed attorney or tax adviser about your own situation.
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