What an EIN is for
The Employer Identification Number is your US company’s federal tax ID. You need it to open a US bank account, file returns such as Form 1120 or Form 5472, work with payment processors, and pay US staff or contractors. Every US corporation — and in practice every foreign-owned LLC — needs one.
Three ways to apply from India
| Route | How | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Phone (international applicants) | Call the IRS on +1 267-941-1099 (not toll-free), Monday–Friday, 6 a.m.–11 p.m. US Eastern time, with your completed SS-4 in front of you | Issued during the call |
| Fax | Fax Form SS-4 to the IRS number for applicants outside the US (304-707-9471), including a return fax number | About 4 business days |
| Post Form SS-4 to the IRS address given in the current SS-4 instructions | About 4 weeks |
Eastern time is 9½ to 10½ hours behind India, so the phone line’s morning hours fall in the Indian late afternoon and evening. The IRS online application isn’t available when the responsible party has no SSN or ITIN.
Filling Form SS-4 correctly
- Legal name — exactly as on the Certificate of Incorporation or Formation, including “Inc.” or “LLC”.
- Responsible party (lines 7a–7b) — an individual who controls the entity. If they have no SSN or ITIN and aren’t eligible for one, the IRS instructions tell you to enter “FOREIGN” in line 7b.
- Entity type (line 9a) — corporation, or for a single-member LLC the “other” / disregarded-entity treatment per the instructions; a foreign-owned single-member LLC should reflect its Form 5472 filing status.
- Addresses — the mailing address where the IRS can reach the company, and the principal business location.
- Reason for applying and start date — usually “started new business” and the formation date.
- Third-party designee — if your advisor applies on your behalf, complete this section so they can receive the EIN.
Mistakes that cause delays
- Company name not matching the state filing.
- Applying before the company is actually formed.
- Wrong entity classification for an LLC — which then conflicts with how you file later.
- Missing return fax number, or an unsigned form.
- Applying twice — creating two EINs for the same company is painful to unwind.
After you get the EIN
- Save the IRS confirmation — banks will ask for it.
- Open the company’s bank account — see open a US business bank account from India.
- Put the federal deadlines on your calendar — Form 1120 or pro forma 1120 + Form 5472 by 15 April.
- Complete the India-side investment reporting — ODI rules for US companies.
The full sequence is in how to register a US company from India, or let us handle it: US company registration.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get an EIN without an SSN or ITIN?
How long does it take to get an EIN from India?
What do I write in line 7b of Form SS-4 if I don't have an SSN?
Is an ITIN required to open a US company?
Please note: this guide is general information based on the rules as they stood on the review date above. Regulations and RBI/CBDT procedures change often — please get advice on your specific facts before acting.