Your LLC needs an EIN for banking and taxes. Here is how it works with anonymous formation.
By Alif Al Razi, Tax & Compliance Lead, Anonymousllc.co
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a 9-digit federal tax identification number issued by the IRS. Think of it as a Social Security Number for your business. Every LLC needs one - for opening bank accounts, filing taxes, hiring employees, and most business operations.
Non-US residents without a Social Security Number can still obtain an EIN. The IRS accepts Form SS-4 via fax for applicants without SSN. The EIN application requires a "responsible party" - the person who controls the LLC - but that person does not need an SSN. The timeline is different: 2-4 weeks via fax vs same-day online with SSN.
No. The EIN is tied to your LLC, and the IRS has the responsible party's information on file. The IRS always knows who is behind the LLC. EIN information is not publicly searchable - it is between you and the IRS - but it is not anonymous in the way that state filings are.
This is consistent with the scope of anonymous LLC anonymity: public state records do not show your name. The IRS, the bank, and courts can always identify you through proper channels.
EIN application and delivery is included in every Anonymousllc.co formation package. No additional fee. No need to contact the IRS yourself. Many competitors charge $79-149 separately for EIN service - Anonymousllc.co bundles it in the all-in price. If you already have an LLC and only need the federal tax ID, the standalone EIN service is $99.
The online EIN portal requires the responsible party to hold an SSN or ITIN, so non-resident founders take the paper route instead. We complete Form SS-4, list you as the responsible party, and submit it to the IRS by fax. Line 7b is left without an SSN or ITIN, which is the correct treatment for a foreign responsible party. The IRS assigns the EIN and returns the CP 575 confirmation letter, the official record every bank asks to see.
Fax processing runs about two to four weeks, longer than the same-day online result an SSN holder receives. Accuracy on the SS-4 is what protects that timeline. A mismatch between the responsible party name, the LLC legal name, and the state filing triggers an IRS rejection and a second cycle, so we reconcile all three against your accepted Articles of Organization before anything is submitted.
The EIN is the key that unlocks the rest of your business setup. With the confirmation letter in hand you can open a US business bank account, apply for a Stripe or PayPal merchant account, file federal returns, hire employees or contractors, and register for state sales tax where required. Banks will not open a business account without it, which is why we sequence the EIN immediately after the state approves your formation.
If you plan to file a US personal return as a non-resident owner, you may also need an ITIN, which is a separate individual number from the entity-level EIN. ITIN support runs $299 and is handled as its own workflow. The EIN identifies the LLC; the ITIN identifies you as an individual taxpayer. Most founders need only the EIN to operate and bank.
Two to four weeks. The IRS accepts Form SS-4 by fax for applicants who have no SSN or ITIN, then mails back the CP 575 confirmation letter. SSN holders can apply online and receive the number the same day.
No. The EIN is filed with the IRS, not the public state record, and EIN records are not publicly searchable. Your name still does not appear on state filings. The IRS simply knows the responsible party, the same as any bank or court would through proper channels.
The EIN identifies your LLC as a business entity and is $99 as a standalone. The ITIN identifies you personally for filing a US individual return and is $299. Almost every founder needs the EIN to bank and operate. The ITIN is only required when you personally file a US return.
The responsible party is the person who ultimately controls the LLC - in most filings, the owner. That person does not need an SSN. For a foreign owner we leave line 7b without a taxpayer number and submit by fax, which the IRS accepts.
Yes. Every Anonymousllc.co formation package bundles EIN preparation, submission, and delivery at no extra charge. A Wyoming formation is $397 all-in and a New Mexico formation is $347 total, EIN included in both.