ITIN vs EIN
One is for the company, one is for you.
It's usually not a choice between the two — it's about knowing which number belongs to which entity.
The difference in one paragraph.
An EIN identifies a business entity; an ITIN identifies an individual person. Your US company gets an EIN so banks, payment processors, and the IRS can identify the company. You, personally, get an ITIN only if you have your own US tax filing or reporting obligation and can't get an SSN. A foreign founder may hold an EIN for their company and an ITIN for themselves — two numbers, two subjects.
EIN
For your company
- –Identifies your company, not you
- –Applied for with Form SS-4
- –Needed for bank accounts and payments
- –No SSN required for foreign owners
ITIN
For you, personally
- –Identifies you, the individual
- –Applied for with Form W-7
- –For your own personal filing needs
- –Does not authorize work or residency
Which one do you need?
- 01
You need an EIN if your company will do almost anything
Bank account, payment processing, tax returns, payroll — the EIN is the company's operating number. If you're forming a US company, plan on the EIN. See our walkthrough on getting one without an SSN. EIN without an SSN.
- 02
You need an ITIN only if you have a personal obligation
Owning a US company does not automatically create one. If you personally must file or report to the IRS and can't get an SSN, an ITIN becomes relevant — a question for a tax professional. ITIN explained.
Start with the number your company needs.
We form your company and file its EIN together, so the entity and its tax ID arrive as one working whole.
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