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How to Get an EIN by Fax Without an SSN or ITIN

Without an SSN or ITIN you can't use the IRS online EIN application. Faxing Form SS-4 is generally faster than mail: about 4 business days instead of about 4 weeks. No fax to receive the reply? We can receive it for you.

Published: 2026-10-19

If you formed a US company but the owner has no Social Security number (SSN) or individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN), the IRS online EIN application is not available to you. The online tool requires the responsible party's SSN or ITIN. That leaves fax, mail and, only for applicants outside the United States, phone. The difference in time is large: the IRS says that by fax you generally receive your EIN within 4 business days, while by mail it takes approximately 4 weeks. You can send Form SS-4 by fax from your phone or computer with AnytimeFax, without a fax machine. The IRS faxes the EIN back to the fax number you write on the form. If you don't have a fax line that can receive it, AnytimeFax can receive the IRS reply for you and forward it within 1 business day after it arrives.

No fax line to receive the EIN? We can receive it

Add EIN reception ($29.99) when you send your SS-4. We show you AnytimeFax's return fax number to write in the applicant's fax number box before you sign. When the IRS reply arrives, we forward it to you within 1 business day through the Track Order page. We only receive and forward what the IRS sends; we can't guarantee that the IRS will issue an EIN or when. If no IRS reply reaches us within 15 business days after your SS-4 fax is delivered, we refund the $29.99 EIN reception fee.

No SSN or ITIN: what to write on line 7b

The IRS instructions say to enter "foreign" or N/A on line 7b if the responsible party doesn't have and is ineligible to obtain an SSN or ITIN. The responsible party must generally be an individual, not a company.

What you need

  • A completed and signed Form SS-4. The IRS says foreign applicants may have any duly authorized person sign it.
  • The IRS fax number for your situation, taken from the Instructions for Form SS-4 on IRS.gov. There are separate options for applicants in the 50 states or D.C. and for applicants with no legal residence, principal place of business or principal office there.
  • A fax number where you can receive the EIN, or the EIN reception add-on, which gives you AnytimeFax's return fax number.
  • The form as a PDF, DOC or DOCX file — up to 10 MB in total and 20 pages per order.
  • An email address to receive a one-time verification code.

Step-by-step

  1. Confirm you can't apply online

    The IRS online application requires the responsible party's SSN or ITIN, and it can't be used if your principal place of business is outside the US. In those cases the IRS points you to phone, fax or mail.

  2. Complete Form SS-4

    Fill in every line that applies. The IRS says it will be unable to issue an EIN unless you provide all the requested information that applies to your entity. If the responsible party has no SSN or ITIN and can't get one, write "foreign" or N/A on line 7b.

  3. Add the return fax number

    Write the fax number where the IRS should send the EIN, before you sign. If you add EIN reception, use the AnytimeFax return number shown in the send flow. If someone else, such as your accountant, will receive it, you can instead fill in the Third Party Designee section; the IRS says the designee can answer questions about the form and receive the new EIN.

  4. Sign and scan to PDF

    Sign the form as the IRS instructions describe for your type of entity. Scan it so every line is readable; dark ink on white paper works best for fax.

  5. Upload and enter the IRS fax number

    On Send a Fax, upload the SS-4 and type the IRS fax number from the official instructions page. The number depends on where you are, so compare it with the source before you send.

  6. Verify your email and pay

    Enter the one-time code sent to your email. Because the form contains tax information, you'll confirm at checkout that you're sending it on your own behalf. Your first one-page fax is free (once per email address). If you already used it, a single page costs $4.99 (Standard) or $20 (Urgent, processed within 90 minutes of payment confirmation). EIN reception is $29.99 on top of the fax price.

  7. Keep your proof and wait for the reply

    Save your order ID (it starts with AF-). The IRS says the EIN generally arrives within 4 business days. If you added EIN reception, check Track Order: we forward the IRS reply within 1 business day after it arrives.

Tips

  • Use only one method. The IRS says to use only one method for each entity so you don't receive more than one EIN.
  • If you mail the form instead, the IRS recommends sending it at least 4 to 5 weeks before you need the EIN.
  • If you're outside the United States, the IRS also offers a phone option that is available only to applicants outside the US and its territories.
  • If you name a third party designee, the IRS says the EIN notice will be mailed to the taxpayer.

Common mistakes

  • Writing a return fax number that can't receive faxes.
  • Adding the return fax number after signing; write it before you sign.
  • Leaving line 7b blank instead of writing "foreign" or N/A when the responsible party can't get an SSN or ITIN.
  • Naming a company as the responsible party; the IRS says it must generally be an individual.
  • Faxing the form and also mailing it, which can lead to more than one EIN.
  • Using an IRS fax number from an unofficial website instead of the Instructions for Form SS-4.
  • Assuming a delivered fax means the IRS has issued the EIN.

Delivery expectations

Standard orders are delivered within 24 hours, and the free one-page option can take up to 3 days. Urgent orders ($20, up to 20 pages) are processed within 90 minutes of payment confirmation. A successful delivery confirms that the fax was transmitted to the IRS fax number; it does not confirm that the IRS has reviewed the form or issued an EIN. The IRS sets its own processing time, which it describes as generally within 4 business days for faxed applications. With EIN reception, we forward the IRS reply within 1 business day after it arrives on our fax line.

Alternatives

  • Mail Form SS-4 to the IRS address in the instructions; the IRS says the EIN arrives in approximately 4 weeks.
  • Phone, only if you are applying from outside the United States, as described in the Instructions for Form SS-4.
  • Online, if the responsible party has an SSN or ITIN and the principal place of business is in the US.
Fax Your Form SS-4

Frequently asked questions

The IRS says that under the Fax-TIN program you generally receive your EIN by fax within 4 business days. By mail, it says approximately 4 weeks.

No. The IRS online application requires the responsible party's SSN or ITIN. Without one, apply by fax or mail, or by phone if you are outside the United States.

The IRS instructions say to enter "foreign" or N/A on line 7b if the responsible party doesn't have and is ineligible to obtain an SSN or ITIN.

Yes, with the EIN reception add-on ($29.99). Write AnytimeFax's return fax number on your SS-4 before signing, and we forward the IRS reply within 1 business day after it arrives. We can't guarantee that the IRS will issue an EIN or how long it will take. If no IRS reply reaches us within 15 business days after your SS-4 fax is delivered, we refund the $29.99 EIN reception fee.

The IRS instructions say foreign applicants may have any duly authorized person sign the form.

Official sources

Last verified: 2026-10-18

AnytimeFax is an independent service operated by Rise & Built Corp. It is not affiliated with the IRS or any government agency, and it does not prepare or file tax forms for you. IRS requirements were checked on the date shown above; always confirm current instructions and fax numbers on IRS.gov. This page is general information, not tax or legal advice.