Doing Business with the U.S.: Getting Your TIN/EIN
The Form SS-4 which you'd have to wait four weeks for processing. Alternately, you can call the IRS and fax it to them (see link below).
The IRS requires companies in the United States to maintain a list of vendors, including a record of each company's Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) also known as an Employer Identification Number (EIN). Individuals and most small companies don't seem to bother with it—at least for foreign businesses—but when the client has its own accounting department they'll be asking for your TIN.
Even for foreign businesses this isn't much of a hassle. Last summer a client asked for me to complete a form W-9, which requires a TIN. We determined it would take weeks to mail the form SS-4 and get the number so they decided not to worry about it. I was saved from that bit of aggravation.
However, trouble came knocking again—another W-9. I did a bit of poking around and discovered that foreign companies can apply for the number by phone. Their online application is restricted to U.S. businesses but at least we're not required to mail in.
I phoned the (non-toll free) number and held for several minutes before being connected but once in I was quickly setup with my new ID.
If you've been asked to fill out a W-9 and you don't have a U.S. taxpayer ID, you'll find the following resources helpful:
- The IRS's page on applying for an EIN, including the phone number I used.
- Do You Need a Federal Tax ID Number from About.com
- How to Obtain an EIN from eHow.com
