LLCroadGuide
ITIN vs EIN: the company number and the personal number
Verified on October 23, 2026 · By LLCroad
Short answer
The EIN is your LLC’s tax number, used for its bank account, Stripe and IRS forms, while the ITIN is a personal tax number for individuals who are not eligible for an SSN. To form an LLC and open its bank account, you need the EIN, not an ITIN.
The EIN: your company’s number
The Employer Identification Number is issued by the IRS to the company itself. Despite its name, you do not need employees to get one: every LLC that opens a bank account, signs up for payment tools or files federal forms uses its EIN.
A founder abroad without an SSN applies with Form SS-4, sent by fax to the IRS international line at +1 304-707-9471. The IRS usually replies by fax in about 4 business days. The full process is in EIN without SSN.
- Opening the LLC’s US bank account.
- Creating a US Stripe account and selling on marketplaces as a US company.
- Filing Form 5472 with the pro forma 1120, due April 15 for a calendar-year company.
- Invoicing clients and filling in their supplier forms.
The ITIN: a personal tax number
The Individual Taxpayer Identification Number identifies a person, not a company. The IRS issues it to individuals who need a US tax number but are not eligible for an SSN. The application uses Form W-7, usually sent together with a federal tax return. An ITIN does not give work authorization or any immigration status; it exists only for tax purposes. The IRS explains the details on its ITIN page.
Side by side
| Point | EIN | ITIN |
|---|---|---|
| Identifies | Your LLC | You as an individual |
| IRS form | SS-4 | W-7 |
| LLC bank account | Required | Not needed |
| US Stripe account for the LLC | Required | Not needed |
| Form 5472 and pro forma 1120 | Filed under the EIN | Not needed |
| Work authorization | No | No |
Which one you need to start
To form a Wyoming LLC and run it from abroad, the EIN is the number that matters. Form SS-4 can be filed without an SSN or ITIN: the field for the responsible party’s tax number is completed to show a foreign owner, and the IRS issues the EIN all the same. There is no need to apply for an ITIN first, and no reason to wait for one before opening the bank account.
With LLCroad, the EIN request is part of formation. One price, $489, covers the state fee, the registered agent for the first year, the EIN, your documents, help with the bank account and the first Form 5472. See the details on our pricing page or start your order.
When an ITIN can be useful
An ITIN becomes relevant on the personal side, not the company side. It can help if you have to file a US tax return as an individual, if you claim a treaty benefit in your own name, or if a financial service asks for a personal US tax number. Whether you need one depends on your own situation, so check with a tax professional in your country before applying.
For everything the company does, from the bank account to a US Stripe account, the EIN is enough.