Foundation · EIN up to 22 days
EIN, ITIN, US business banking and ongoing compliance
The EIN is the key that unlocks banking and marketplaces. Without an SSN it cannot be issued online, so it goes by fax or mail and the wait is the longest single stretch in the whole sequence.
What is included
Everything in this engagement
- Form SS-4 prepared and filed with the correct exception code for non-residents
- EIN confirmation letter delivered on issue
- Form W-7 ITIN application with supporting documents, when you need one
- Applications to Wise, Payoneer, Mercury, Stripe or ElevatePay, prepared with your documents
- Identity verification support through to account activation
- Federal returns, state annual reports, sales tax and registered agent renewal
Questions about banking and compliance.
How long does an EIN take without an SSN?
The IRS quotes roughly four business days for a faxed SS-4, but real processing for international applicants routinely runs longer. We plan for up to 22 days so nothing downstream is scheduled on an optimistic date.
Do I need an ITIN as well as an EIN?
They do different jobs. The EIN identifies your company and is required for banking and marketplaces. An ITIN identifies you personally, for individual US tax filing and some payment platforms. Many e-commerce owners never need one, which is why we treat it as optional and start it early only if you do.
Is this a real bank account or a payment platform?
Both are available. Wise and Payoneer are payment platforms with US account details. Mercury is a banking service. Which one fits depends on where your customers pay from and what your marketplace requires, and we match it on the call.
Tell us where you are stuck.
Twenty minutes, no pitch. We map your situation against the sequence and tell you what to do next, whether or not you hire us.