Short answer Yes. If the responsible party has no SSN or ITIN and is ineligible to obtain one, the IRS says to enter “foreign” or “N/A” on Form SS-4 line 7b. An entry is required. Choose the submission method separately from the applicant’s location and organizing-jurisdiction facts.

Why the online EIN application rejects you

The online application requires the principal officer, partner, owner or other responsible party to have a valid taxpayer identification number. It is also limited to applicants with a legal residence, principal place of business, or principal office or agency in the United States or U.S. territories.

If neither condition fits you, that is a routing issue—not proof that your U.S. LLC cannot receive an EIN.

What to put on line 7b

Line 7a identifies the responsible party: the individual who ultimately owns or controls the entity. Line 7b normally asks for that person’s SSN, ITIN or EIN.

For a responsible party who does not have and is ineligible to obtain an SSN or ITIN, the current IRS instruction is to enter “foreign” or “N/A.” Do not leave the field blank.

Choose one submission method

The fax and mail options below are for an applicant with no legal residence, principal place of business, or principal office or agency in a U.S. state or D.C. Phone has two additional restrictions: none of those connections may exist in a U.S. territory, and the principal business must have been created or organized outside the United States and its territories.

International phone+1-267-941-1099

Foreign-organized eligible applicants only; not a U.S.-organized LLC.

Fax from abroad+1-304-707-9471

For applicants outside the United States.

Fax while in the U.S.+1-855-215-1627

For an international case sent from within the U.S.

MailEIN International Operation

Cincinnati, OH 45999.

Phone

The IRS international line operates from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday. The March 2026 processing update limits telephone assignment to a principal business created or organized outside the United States and U.S. territories that also meets the location conditions. A foreign-owned LLC organized in a U.S. state uses another method. Eligible callers should complete Form SS-4 first.

Fax

When a return fax number is provided, the IRS says fax applications generally receive an EIN response within four business days.

Do not choose a fax from line 7b alone The number 855-641-6935 is for an applicant with a legal residence, principal place of business, or principal office or agency in one of the 50 states or Washington, D.C. A responsible party can qualify for “foreign” on line 7b while the applicant still follows this domestic route.

Mail

For an international applicant, address the form to Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN International Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999. The current IRS instructions say to mail it at least four to five weeks before the EIN is needed.

Before you call or send the form

  1. Use the exact legal entity name from the formation document on line 1.
  2. Name a natural person—not another company—as responsible party on line 7a.
  3. Enter “foreign” or “N/A” on line 7b only when the IRS eligibility condition applies.
  4. Complete the remaining LLC, tax classification and business activity fields.
  5. Use only one application method for the entity.
Primary source This guide is based on the IRS Instructions for Form SS-4, including line 7b and the phone, fax and mail sections, plus the March 2026 IRS procedural update for telephone processing.