What Is an EIN and Why Does Every Indian Seller Need One Before Selling in the USA?
If you are researching how to sell on Amazon USA from India, you will hit three letters very early: EIN. Most Indian sellers have heard of it but do not fully understand what it is, why it is a hard requirement, or how to get one without a US Social Security Number. Here is everything you need to know, in the right order.
EIN = Employer Identification Number, a 9-digit IRS tax ID for your US business (the US equivalent of India’s PAN, but for the company).
You do not need employees, an SSN, or US residency.
Sequence matters: form the US LLC first, then apply for the EIN as the LLC’s responsible party via Form SS-4.
It unlocks: your US bank account, Amazon payouts, and marketplace registration.
What's in this guide
What is an EIN
EIN stands for Employer Identification Number. It is a 9-digit number (format XX-XXXXXXX) issued by the IRS that identifies your US business entity for tax purposes, the US equivalent of India’s PAN, but for your business rather than you personally. Despite the name, you do not need employees to get one. Any US LLC, regardless of size or activity level, needs an EIN for IRS filings and marketplace registration. It is separate from your personal Indian PAN, your GST number, and your passport; it belongs specifically to your US LLC.
Why Amazon requires an EIN
Amazon requires an EIN at two critical points in seller onboarding. First, the tax interview in Seller Central: when you register, Amazon walks you through a mandatory tax information interview, and you must provide either an EIN (for business entities) or an SSN (for individual US taxpayers). Without completing it, your account stays restricted and you cannot list products. Second, payout setup: Amazon disburses your sales revenue to a US bank account, and to connect that account your tax identity must be verified via EIN.
Without an EIN you cannot complete registration on Amazon USA, Walmart USA, Newegg, or any major US marketplace. It is a hard requirement, not optional. (Deciding between marketplaces? See our Amazon vs Walmart comparison.)
Can an Indian citizen get an EIN without an SSN
Yes, but the sequence matters. An Indian citizen cannot apply for an EIN as an individual foreign national. You need a US business entity first. Once your US LLC is formed, you apply for an EIN as the responsible party of the LLC. The IRS Form SS-4 (Application for Employer Identification Number) has a specific path for foreign applicants without SSNs. Think14 prepares and submits this on behalf of every seller we onboard.
The correct sequence: form the US LLC first, then apply for the EIN as responsible party of the LLC, then open the US bank account, then complete the Amazon tax interview. Never try to get an EIN before forming the LLC; the IRS will not issue one to a foreign individual without a US entity. We cover the application detail in our guide to getting an EIN without an SSN.
How to get an EIN, step by step
Step 1 — Form a US LLC. Register a Texas LLC. Think14 handles Texas LLC formation; it is the right state for sellers using our warehouse because your LLC address and warehouse are in the same state, simplifying compliance.
Step 2 — Prepare IRS Form SS-4. Complete Form SS-4 with your LLC details, your name as responsible party, and your Indian passport information. On the line requesting an SSN, ITIN, or EIN for the responsible party, foreign applicants enter “Foreign.” Think14 prepares this document as part of the LLC formation service.
Step 3 — Submit to the IRS. Foreign-owned LLCs submit Form SS-4 to the IRS by fax (or mail), since the IRS online EIN tool requires an SSN and the international phone line for EIN issuance is no longer available. Think14 manages this submission and follow-up for you.
Step 4 — Open a US business bank account. Use your LLC documents and EIN to open a US business bank account. Relay or Mercury both support foreign-owned LLCs and can be opened remotely without visiting the US.
Step 5 — Complete the Amazon tax interview. In Seller Central go to Account Info, then Tax Information, enter your EIN when prompted, and select the business entity type. This activates your account for US payouts and removes the selling restriction.
Why Think14 forms LLCs in Texas
Indian sellers sometimes ask whether Wyoming or Delaware might be better. The practical comparison: Texas has no state income tax, and the annual franchise tax is zero for most sellers (below the $2.47M threshold). Think14’s warehouse is in Austin, Texas, so your LLC address and your warehouse are in the same state, keeping compliance clean, and the US business address is included in Think14’s service. Delaware, by contrast, charges a $300+ annual franchise fee regardless of revenue. For Indian sellers using Think14’s warehouse, Texas is the cleanest choice: your LLC, warehouse, inventory, and compliance filings all live in one state.
The two most common mistakes
- Trying to get an EIN before forming the LLC. The IRS will not issue an EIN to a foreign individual without a US entity; the application will be rejected or ignored. Always form the LLC first.
- Forming an LLC in the wrong state. Many Indian sellers form a Delaware LLC because it sounds familiar. Delaware charges $300+ annually regardless of revenue and has no operational advantage for sellers using a Texas warehouse. Choose the state that matches your operations.
What comes after the EIN
Once you have your LLC and EIN, the full setup sequence is: open a US business bank account, complete the Amazon Seller Central tax interview, register on the marketplace, connect the US bank for payouts, ship your first inventory from India to Think14’s Austin warehouse, and Think14 preps and sends it to Amazon FBA. The whole setup, LLC, EIN, bank account, and marketplace registration, runs in parallel with your first inventory shipment. For the full cost picture, use our US LLC cost calculator, and for the tax obligations that follow, read our tax guide.
Think14’s US LLC formation service forms your Texas LLC, files for your EIN without an SSN, and helps open your US bank account, all remotely from India.
Frequently asked questions
What is an EIN?
A 9-digit IRS-issued number identifying your US business for tax purposes, the US equivalent of India’s PAN. You need it to sell on any major US marketplace.
Can an Indian citizen get an EIN without a US SSN?
Yes. You apply as the responsible party of your US LLC via IRS Form SS-4, entering “Foreign” where it asks for an SSN or ITIN. Think14 handles this submission for you.
Why does Amazon require an EIN from Indian sellers?
Amazon requires it to complete the mandatory tax interview in Seller Central, verify your business identity, and process payouts to your US bank account.
How long does it take to get an EIN as an Indian seller?
A Form SS-4 submitted by fax for a foreign-owned LLC typically takes a few weeks to process. Think14 manages the LLC formation and EIN application together as part of onboarding.
What is the correct sequence for setting up on Amazon USA from India?
Form a US LLC, get an EIN, open a US bank account, complete the Amazon tax interview, register on the marketplace, then ship inventory. Never try to get an EIN before forming the LLC.