How to fill out SS4 application for European Limited Company applying for EIN in USA

I've helped several European clients with this exact situation. For a European limited company (Ltd, GmbH, SARL, etc.) applying for an EIN on Form SS-4, you should generally select "C - Corporation" in section 9a. The IRS typically treats most foreign limited companies as C corporations by default for U.S. tax purposes unless you specifically elect different treatment. This is because limited companies in Europe usually have similar characteristics to U.S. corporations - limited liability and separate legal entity status. Just make sure you complete the rest of the form accurately, particularly the foreign address sections and the reason for applying (likely "Started new business" or "Banking purpose" if you need it for a U.S. bank account).

I went through this headache last year with my Spanish SL company. After trying multiple routes, I finally found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it was incredibly helpful for my EIN application. Their system analyzed my company docs and confirmed I should select C-Corporation for my limited company structure. I was particularly impressed because they were able to review my Spanish company registration documents and provide specific guidance for the SS-4 form that matched my situation. Saved me from a ton of back-and-forth with the IRS.

Just wanted to update after checking out taxr.ai. I was initially concerned about using an online service for something so important, but I decided to try it for my French SARL. The analysis was spot-on! It confirmed I should use C-Corporation designation and highlighted several sections I would have completed incorrectly. They explained that my SARL should be treated as a corporation for US tax purposes and showed exactly how to handle the foreign address portions. Got my EIN within 4 days of faxing the completed form! Would have spent weeks figuring this out on my own.

If anyone's struggling to reach the IRS international line to follow up on your SS-4, try using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was trying for WEEKS to get through to verify my Dutch BV's application status without success. Claimyr connected me with an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes when I'd previously spent hours on hold only to get disconnected. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. After months of frustration, I finally got confirmation that my application was received and processing.

I need to apologize to Profile 18 and anyone else I dismissed. After struggling for another week trying to check on my Italian SRL's EIN application, I broke down and tried Claimyr. I'm still shocked, but it actually worked exactly as described. Got connected to an IRS representative in about 15 minutes. They confirmed my EIN application was approved and gave me the number over the phone since it had been over 4 weeks since I faxed my SS-4. For foreign companies dealing with the IRS, this service is worth every penny. I've literally never been able to get through to them so quickly before.

Something else to consider: depending on your business activities in the US, selecting C-Corporation might affect your tax liability. If you're just using the EIN for banking or payments, it's probably fine, but if you'll be generating significant US-source income, you might want to consult with an international tax specialist. Some European companies might benefit from checking if there's a tax treaty between their country and the US. This could affect withholding rates on certain payments.

Has anyone done this recently? I filled out SS-4 for my Polish sp. z o.o. two weeks ago, marked C-Corporation, and faxed it in. No confirmation yet. Is there any tracking system or do I just wait?

For what it's worth, I just went through this process for my Dutch B.V. last month and can confirm that selecting "C - Corporation" is the right choice for European limited companies. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned - make sure you're really careful with the "Reason for applying" section (question 7). I initially put "Started new business" but that caused some confusion since my Dutch company had been operating for years. I had to resubmit with "Banking purpose" since I was specifically getting the EIN to open a US bank account for receiving payments from US clients. Also, double-check that you're using the correct international fax number (+1-304-707-9471) and not the domestic one. I made that mistake on my first attempt and it delayed everything by two weeks. The whole process took about 3 weeks from fax to receiving the EIN letter, which seems pretty standard based on what others are saying here.

Just wanted to add my experience from getting an EIN for my Irish Limited Company last year. I also selected "C - Corporation" as recommended here, and it worked perfectly. One additional tip that helped me: when filling out the "Name of responsible party" section, I used my own name as the director rather than trying to put the company name there. The IRS seems to prefer having an actual person listed as the responsible party for foreign entities. Also, for anyone still struggling with the phone lines, I found that calling right at 7:00 AM EST (when they open) gave me the best chance of getting through, though it still took multiple attempts. The time zone difference actually worked in my favor since I was calling from Dublin in the early afternoon. Total processing time was about 2.5 weeks via fax, which seems consistent with what others are reporting here.

I went through this process for my German GmbH about 6 months ago and can confirm everything mentioned here is spot on. Selected "C - Corporation" on the SS-4 form and had no issues. One thing I'd emphasize is to be really careful with the address formatting. The IRS form expects US-style addresses, but obviously we're dealing with foreign addresses. I made sure to clearly write out the full country name and postal code format that would be recognizable to a US clerk processing the form. Also, when I called to check status (before I knew about those callback services mentioned here), the IRS agent specifically told me that European limited companies are almost always processed as C-Corps unless there's a specific election made otherwise. So you're definitely on the right track with that selection. The fax method worked great for me - got my EIN in about 18 business days. Just make sure you get a successful transmission confirmation when you fax it.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently preparing my EIN application for my Austrian GmbH and was completely lost on the business structure question. The consensus here about selecting "C - Corporation" for European limited companies gives me confidence to move forward. I particularly appreciate the practical tips about address formatting and the "reason for applying" section. Since we've been operating in Austria for 3 years and only need the EIN for US payment processing with Stripe, I'll definitely use "Banking purpose" rather than "Started new business." One question for those who've completed this process: Did anyone have to provide additional documentation about their European company registration after submitting the SS-4, or did the form submission alone suffice? I want to make sure I'm prepared in case the IRS requests follow-up information. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community knowledge is invaluable for navigating these bureaucratic processes!

I'm working on this exact same situation for my Romanian SRL and wanted to share some additional insights after going through most of the process. One thing I discovered that might help others: if you're unsure about any section of the SS-4, the IRS actually has a dedicated helpline for international applicants at 267-941-1099. While it's still difficult to get through (definitely recommend that Claimyr service others mentioned), they can provide specific guidance for foreign entity classifications before you submit. Also, for Romanian SRLs specifically, I confirmed with an IRS representative that "C - Corporation" is indeed correct, just like other European limited companies mentioned here. The agent explained that most European limited liability companies fall under this classification because they share the key characteristics: separate legal entity status and limited liability for owners. I'm still waiting on my EIN (submitted 2 weeks ago via the international fax), but everything seems to be processing normally. The address formatting advice from previous comments was spot-on - I used the exact format from my Romanian business registration with "ROMANIA" clearly marked at the end. Thanks to everyone who contributed their experiences here - it made navigating this process much less stressful!

I've been following this thread as someone who recently completed the EIN application process for my Hungarian Kft., and I wanted to add a few observations that might help future applicants. First, the C-Corporation designation advice here is absolutely correct - I can confirm this worked perfectly for my Hungarian limited company. The IRS processed it without any questions or delays. One thing I'd add that I haven't seen mentioned: if you're applying during peak tax season (January-April), expect longer processing times. I submitted my SS-4 in March and it took nearly 4 weeks instead of the typical 2-3 weeks others have reported. The IRS international line confirmed this was due to higher application volumes during tax season. Also, regarding the international fax number (+1-304-707-9471), I recommend calling your fax service provider first to confirm they can send to US numbers. Some European fax services have restrictions on international transmissions that I discovered the hard way after my first attempt failed. For anyone still on the fence about those callback services mentioned earlier - I was initially skeptical but ended up using Claimyr when I needed to check my application status. It genuinely worked as described and saved me hours of frustration trying to get through on my own. The key takeaway is that this process is very manageable once you know the right steps. European limited companies should confidently select C-Corporation, use "Banking purpose" if that's your intent, and be patient with processing times. This community's collective experience makes it much easier for newcomers to navigate successfully.