EIN
How to get an EIN for a US LLC from Pakistan
Find out when to apply, how international founders use Form SS-4, and what to do if the responsible party has no SSN or ITIN.
What is an EIN number?
An Employer Identification Number is a federal tax identifier. You may use it for filings and share it with banks or payment providers when they request it. An EIN is separate from the state file number on your LLC formation paperwork and from a personal SSN or ITIN.
Once your state approves the LLC, use its exact legal name on your EIN application. Even small differences in punctuation or the entity suffix can make subsequent verification harder if your records disagree.
How Pakistani founders can apply
If your principal place of business is outside the US, the IRS directs international applicants to its phone, fax or mail procedures. Use the latest Form SS-4 and check the IRS instructions for where to send it.
The responsible party is generally the person who owns or controls the entity. If that person has no SSN or ITIN and is ineligible to obtain one, the IRS instructions allow “foreign” or “N/A” on line 7b. Follow the instructions for your situation and give accurate mailing and physical addresses where requested.
- Gather your state formation record, entity address details and responsible-party information.
- Complete Form SS-4 and choose the applicable international filing route.
- Save your submitted form and the IRS confirmation together.
EIN vs. ITIN for Pakistani founders
An EIN identifies the LLC. An ITIN identifies an individual who needs a US taxpayer identification number for a federal tax purpose and is ineligible for a Social Security number. Use the identifier that a form or provider actually requests.
If a payment provider asks for both the LLC’s federal tax ID and an owner’s personal identification, check each field separately. The IRS rules for issuing an EIN and a processor’s identity checks apply to different applications.
Timeline, costs and record keeping
The IRS issues EINs free of charge. A formation provider may include application assistance in its fee. The IRS gives processing guidance by submission method, so budget separately for state approval and EIN issuance.
If the IRS application is already pending, check its status before submitting another one for the same company. Keep the confirmation available for bank and processor applications. Ask your tax adviser which returns or information reports, if any, use your new EIN.