How to Fax Form SS-4 to the IRS and Get an EIN

Form SS-4 is the paper application for an Employer Identification Number. Faxing it can be useful when the IRS online EIN application is not available to you, including some applications involving a foreign responsible party.

Do not rush the first page. A missing signature, an entity that has not been legally formed yet, or a fax sent to the wrong IRS office can slow the application down.

Before you send Form SS-4

Download the current Form SS-4 and its instructions from IRS.gov. Make sure the legal name and mailing address match the entity records. The responsible party should be a real person who ultimately owns or controls the entity, not another business.

If the entity is an LLC, corporation, or partnership, form it with the relevant state before requesting the EIN. The IRS also advises applicants to use only one application method for each entity. Sending the same request online, by mail, and by fax can create duplicate work.

Which SS-4 fax number should you use?

The IRS currently lists these numbers on its Form SS-4 filing page:

• Principal business, office, or legal residence in the United States: 855-641-6935.
• No principal business, office, or legal residence in the United States, faxing from within the US: 855-215-1627.
• No principal business, office, or legal residence in the United States, faxing from outside the US: 304-707-9471.

Check that IRS page again on the day you send. Government contact details can change.

How to fax the application

1. Complete every applicable field and sign the form.
2. Add a return fax number where the IRS can send the EIN notice.
3. Scan the application as a clear PDF. Check small text, signatures, and page edges.
4. Enter the IRS number that matches the entity’s location.
5. Review the final page count, send once, and save the transmission confirmation.

The IRS says an EIN can generally be faxed back within four business days when the application includes a return fax number. That is a target, not a guarantee, so leave time for corrections.

If the responsible party has no SSN or ITIN

The SS-4 instructions explain that an eligible foreign responsible party without an SSN or ITIN may enter “foreign” or “N/A” on line 7b. That does not remove the need to complete the rest of the application accurately.

For a foreign-owned entity, read the IRS instructions closely or ask a qualified tax professional to review the form. The EIN application affects the entity’s tax record, and a small classification mistake can become a larger correction later.

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