USA EIN and ITIN: American tax identification number for LLCs and individuals

What is the US EIN code and how do you get it?

The EIN (Employer Identification Number), also called the FEIN (Federal Employer Identification Number), is the American VAT number assigned to all US companies: single-member or multi-member LLCs, corporations, and any other business entity registered in the United States. The EIN code is issued by the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) through Form SS-4 and is the mandatory tax identification number for every US company.

An EIN is required to open a bank account in the United States . No U.S. bank will accept account applications without a verified EIN. The EIN must include the applicant's first and last name on the IRS-approved application form, regardless of whether the LLC was formed anonymously. The U.S. bank uses the EIN to identify the beneficial owner of the account and verify its correspondence with the information on file with the IRS.

The EIN is the VAT number of your American LLC

Although the EIN is the tax identification number of a US company, it must be requested by the LLC's director—even if they act solely as managers and not as members of the LLC. Having an EIN does not automatically imply the obligation to pay US taxes. If the LLC is owned by a nonresident alien (foreign-owned LLC), does not physically operate in the US, and does not offer services to US residents or citizens, the business operates under a preferential tax regime with zero US federal taxes.

However, the EIN requires the LLC owner to file an annual return with the IRS using Forms 5472 and 1120, even without any income or assets. Failure to file the return carries penalties even for LLCs that generate no taxable income in the U.S.

EIN Confirmation Letter: CP 575 and Verification Letter 147C

When the IRS first issues an EIN, it sends a confirmation letter called CP 575. If you obtained the EIN online (only possible with an ITIN), CP 575 is available for immediate download. If you obtained the EIN by mail or fax, CP 575 is sent to the address listed on Form SS-4 (sections 4a and 4b) within 4–6 weeks.

The CP 575 letter is issued only once and cannot be regenerated. If you lose it, you can request an EIN Verification Letter (147C) from , which has the same legal value as the CP 575 and is accepted by all American banks for opening a corporate account. The 147C letter can be obtained exclusively by calling the IRS at 1-800-829-4933 and can be sent by mail or fax.

ITIN: the personal tax code for non-resident foreigners in the USA

The ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) is a personal U.S. tax identification number issued by the IRS to individuals who do not have and cannot obtain a Social Security Number (SSN). The ITIN is a 9-digit number beginning with "9" and has the same format as the SSN (NNN-NN-NNNN). The U.S. ITIN is intended for nonresident aliens, their spouses, and dependents who require a U.S. tax identification number for tax reporting purposes or to operate American financial services.

Who needs an American ITIN?

The American ITIN code is required for the following categories of people:

• Nonresident aliens required to file a U.S. income tax return
• Foreigners residing in the US (based on days of presence) who file a tax return and are not entitled to SSN
• Spouses or dependents of American citizens or resident aliens
• Spouses or dependents of non-resident foreign visa holders
• Non-resident foreigners claiming an international tax treaty benefit
• foreign students, professors or researchers filing a US income tax return or claiming an exemption

What you can do with a US ITIN

The U.S. ITIN unlocks a variety of financial and business services in the United States that are not accessible without a personal tax ID:

• Opening a personal bank account in the USA — starting in 2023, major American banks (Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo) will also require an ITIN for personal accounts of non-resident foreigners.
• Open a PayPal USA Personal and Business Account — PayPal requires both the corporate EIN and the beneficiary's personal ITIN.
• Open Stripe and Amazon FBA — platforms that require a US tax ID to operate
• Applying for mortgages, loans and loans — American banks, including commercial banks, accept ITINs to provide credit
• Renting real estate and offices in the USA — ITIN code is required for signing leases
• Financing a car or commercial vehicle in the United States
• Access PayPal Credit — up to $500,000 with a certain history of using the platform
• Using Klarna, Afterpay, Affirm and Scalapay — the ITIN (also called TIN) allows you to defer payments

How to Get a US ITIN Online Without Traveling to the US

Obtaining a U.S. ITIN typically requires physical validation of your passport at an IRS office in the United States. Studio Panama Italia, through its local company registered as a certified IRS Acceptance Agent , can validate your passport directly online and manage the entire U.S. ITIN process remotely, without requiring the applicant to travel to the U.S.

The procedure for requesting the American ITIN code online with Studio Panama Italia requires:

• Color copy of the applicant's
• Proof of tax residency in the country where you live (utility bill or equivalent document)
• Service fee: USD 490

three months to issue an ITIN from the date the documentation is submitted. The ITIN is sent via email and fax. The IRS form used for the request is Form W-7 , which Studio Panama Italia completes entirely on the client's behalf.

Download the American ITIN application form for Italians →

Frequently Asked Questions about the US EIN and ITIN