Apply for an EIN by Mail: The 6-11 Week Route
Mail is the slowest of the 4 EIN filing routes: 6 to 11 weeks from receipt at the IRS Cincinnati center. Fax at 855-215-1627 lands the same form in 4 to 7 business days for $0.
This page prints the mail address, the timeline, and the reason 9 out of 10 non-US applicants skip mail for fax. einnumber.co files by fax within 5 business days at $67, or within 24 hours at $97.
Is mail the right route for your EIN application?
Mail fits 1 scenario: no fax service and no online fax tool. Every other applicant should choose fax to 855-215-1627 for a 4 to 7 business day EIN, or the online assistant with an SSN or ITIN for a 15-minute EIN.
The IRS accepts Form SS-4 through 4 channels: online, fax, mail, and phone. Mail is the only channel with a 6 to 11 week window. Fax cuts that to 4 to 7 business days. Phone is limited to international applicants calling 267-941-1099 between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. Eastern.
Where do you mail Form SS-4?
Mail Form SS-4 to Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN International Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999. Non-US applicants use this address; US-based applicants use the same Cincinnati center for mail filings.
| Applicant type | Mail address | ZIP |
|---|---|---|
| Non-US, no principal US office | IRS, Attn: EIN International Operation, Cincinnati, OH | 45999 |
| US-based entity | IRS, Attn: EIN Operation, Cincinnati, OH | 45999 |
Source: IRS Form SS-4 instructions, verified July 2026.
How long does a mailed EIN application take?
The IRS assigns EINs by mail in 6 to 11 weeks. Add 3 to 14 days for postal transit each way. Total wall-clock time reaches 15 weeks for international mail with no expedited return.
| Stage | Days |
|---|---|
| Postal transit to Cincinnati | 3 to 14 |
| IRS mailroom intake | 1 to 3 |
| EIN queue processing | 42 to 77 |
| CP-575 letter mailed back | 3 to 30 |
Fax to 855-215-1627 replaces the first 3 stages with a same-day intake and cuts total time to 4 to 7 business days. That single swap is why einnumber.co never mails.
What does postage cost to mail Form SS-4 in 2026?
USPS First-Class charges $1.55 for a 1 oz international letter and $0.68 for a 1 oz domestic letter. Certified Mail adds $4.85. FedEx International Priority runs $75 to $120 with 3 to 5 day delivery. UPS Worldwide Expedited runs $65 to $110.
How do you prepare the mailer for Form SS-4?
Print 1 signed original of Form SS-4. Enclose 0 attachments; the IRS reads only the form. Use USPS Certified Mail for 1 tracked confirmation at about $4, or a courier for 3 to 5 day international delivery.
- Line 1 must match the state-approved legal name character for character.
- Line 7b takes SSN, ITIN, or the word Foreign. 1 field, 3 valid inputs.
- Line 4b takes the foreign mailing address including postal code and country.
- Line 18 signature block: signed by the responsible party from line 7a.
- Include 0 photocopies of passports; the IRS asks for none.
Can non-US applicants mail Form SS-4 without an SSN?
Yes. Line 7b of Form SS-4 accepts the word Foreign. The IRS charges $0 for the mail route with or without an SSN. Mail costs the applicant only postage: about $1.55 domestic or $30 for international courier.
The mail route rejects nothing for a Foreign line 7b entry. What it does reject is a company on line 7a (the IRS requires 1 person), a blank line 13 (all 3 boxes must show a number), and a start date on line 11 that predates state approval.
How do you track a mailed EIN application?
The IRS provides 0 online status pages for Form SS-4. Tracking ends at the IRS mailroom via USPS or courier waybill. After 45 days, call 267-941-1099 between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. Eastern for a status update.
The IRS phone agent asks for the entity legal name, the responsible party name on line 7a, and the mail date. 1 call answers the status question. A rejected filing arrives by mail 6 to 8 weeks in, and the wait restarts from day 0 after correction.
Why is fax faster than mail for the same Form SS-4?
Fax to 855-215-1627 skips 4 handling stages: postal transit, envelope opening, mailroom scanning, and mailed CP-575 return. The IRS returns the EIN by fax within 4 to 7 business days, versus 6 to 11 weeks by mail.
| Route | Time to EIN | IRS fee | Tracking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mail to Cincinnati | 6-11 weeks | $0 | 0 IRS tracking |
| Fax to 855-215-1627 | 4-7 business days | $0 | 0 IRS tracking |
| IRS online, SSN or ITIN required | 15 minutes | $0 | Same-session EIN |
| einnumber.co Standard | 12-14 business days | $67 | Email confirmation |
| einnumber.co Fast | 6-8 business days | $97 | Email confirmation |
Source: IRS Form SS-4 instructions and einnumber.co pricing, verified July 2026.
See the full field-by-field walkthrough on the Form SS-4 page, or the fax route breakdown at EIN by fax.
What else do people ask about mailing Form SS-4?
9 more questions from applicants weighing mail versus fax. The IRS fee stays $0 for every route. Mail runs 6 to 11 weeks, fax runs 4 to 7 business days, and online runs 15 minutes with an SSN or ITIN.
How long does it take to apply for an EIN by mail?
Mail applications take 6 to 11 weeks from the day the IRS receives Form SS-4. Fax filings take 4 to 7 business days at 855-215-1627. The online tool issues an EIN in 15 minutes, but only accepts an SSN or ITIN on line 7b. Mail is the slowest of the 4 filing routes and carries no tracking.
What is the IRS mailing address for Form SS-4?
Non-US applicants mail Form SS-4 to Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN International Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999. US-based applicants use the same Cincinnati center. The IRS accepts 1 signed original per envelope. Certified mail with tracking costs about $4 and confirms delivery within 3 to 5 business days.
Is applying by mail free?
Yes. The IRS charges $0 for an EIN by mail and $0 for the form itself. Postage costs the applicant, from about $1.55 for a standard letter to $30 for international courier. einnumber.co files by fax at $67 within 5 business days, or at $97 within 24 hours.
Why is fax faster than mail for an EIN?
Fax bypasses 4 mail-handling steps: postal transit of 3 to 14 days, envelope opening at the IRS mailroom, scanning into the EIN case queue, and mailed return of the CP-575 letter. Fax to 855-215-1627 lands the form on the IRS EIN queue the same day. The IRS returns the EIN by fax within 4 to 7 business days.
Can I apply for an EIN by mail without an SSN?
Yes. Line 7b of Form SS-4 accepts the word Foreign when the responsible party holds no SSN and no ITIN. The IRS charges $0 for the mail route with or without an SSN. Mail is the only option for applicants with no fax access; every other applicant should use fax at 855-215-1627.
Do I need a signed original for the mail route?
Yes. The IRS requires 1 signed original of Form SS-4 for mail filings. Copies, photocopies, and unsigned forms get returned unprocessed after 6 to 8 weeks. The signature block sits below line 18. The responsible party listed on line 7a signs; a Third Party Designee on line 8 does not replace that signature.
How do I track a mailed EIN application?
The IRS provides 0 tracking numbers for Form SS-4 filings. Applicants track only up to the IRS mailroom via USPS Certified Mail or a courier waybill. After delivery, no online status page exists. Call 267-941-1099 after 45 days to request a status update. Reference the entity legal name and the mail date.
What arrives after a mailed EIN application?
The IRS mails the CP-575 confirmation letter to the address on line 4 of Form SS-4. The letter prints the 9-digit EIN and the legal name copied from line 1. International addresses on line 4b add 2 to 4 weeks of postal transit. The IRS issues 1 CP-575 per EIN and never reprints it.
Can einnumber.co mail the form for me?
No. einnumber.co files by fax, not by mail, because fax cuts turnaround from 11 weeks to 4 to 7 business days. Standard filing costs $67 within 5 business days for a 12 to 14 business day total. Fast filing costs $97 within 24 hours for a 6 to 8 business day total.
When should I still choose mail over fax?
Choose mail in 2 scenarios: no fax service is available and no online fax tool works, or the responsible party lacks a scanner for the signed page. In every other case, fax to 855-215-1627 saves 4 to 10 weeks. Mail carries a 40 to 60 percent longer wait than the fax route on identical Form SS-4 filings.
einnumber.co files by fax within 5 business days at $67, or 24 hours at $97.