Country Guide

EIN for Brazilian Entrepreneurs

Apply for a US EIN from Brazil without an SSN or ITIN. ein.so handles the IRS fax filing for Brazilian Amazon sellers, e-commerce businesses, and real estate investors. $49 Standard. $97 Express.

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Brazilian entrepreneurs can get a US EIN by submitting IRS Form SS-4 by fax. Your Brazilian passport number replaces the SSN requirement on Line 7b. The IRS online tool is blocked for applicants without an SSN, so the fax method is your path. ein.so prepares your SS-4, faxes it to the IRS at 855-215-1627, and delivers your EIN by email. Standard processing costs $49 (4-7 business days). Express costs $97 (2-3 business days). The IRS charges $0 for the EIN itself.

Brazil is the largest economy in Latin America, with a GDP near $2.1 trillion and a population of 215 million. Brazilian founders increasingly build for the US market. Amazon and Shopify sellers ship products to American buyers. Real estate investors buy property in Florida. SaaS startups bill US customers in dollars. Every one of these needs a US EIN to run a US business entity. This guide explains how Brazilian applicants get an EIN without an SSN, how a CNPJ differs from an EIN, how Brazilian real estate investors use the structure, and how to set up US banking after approval.

Factor	Brazil	United States
Common entity	Ltda / S.A. / MEI / EIRELI	LLC / Corporation
Business ID	CNPJ (14 digits) / CPF (11 digits)	EIN (XX-XXXXXXX)
Tax authority	Receita Federal	IRS
Sales tax / VAT	ICMS, ISS, PIS, COFINS	State sales tax (varies)
Currency	Real (BRL, ~5.0 per USD)	USD
US real estate buying	Top-5 foreign buyer country	Domestic market

Use Cases

Why Do Brazilian Entrepreneurs Need a US EIN?

Brazilian entrepreneurs need a US EIN because a US LLC cannot open a bank account, accept US payments, or file US taxes without one. The EIN is the 9-digit federal tax ID that links your Brazil-owned company to the US financial system.

Brazil's high domestic tax burden and the strength of the US dollar push founders toward the US market, where customers, payment processors, and capital are concentrated. Here are the most common reasons Brazilian applicants come to ein.so:

Amazon FBA and E-Commerce

Brazilian entrepreneurs sell on Amazon.com through private label, wholesale, and arbitrage models. Your US EIN completes the Amazon tax interview and registers you as a US seller. FBA handles fulfillment while you manage sourcing and marketing from Brazil. The US marketplace dwarfs Amazon.com.br in volume.

US Real Estate Investment

Brazilians rank among the top foreign buyers of US real estate, concentrated in Florida cities like Miami, Orlando, and Fort Lauderdale. A US LLC with an EIN is the standard structure for holding investment property. Your EIN is needed for rental income reporting, property banking, and FIRPTA compliance.

Technology and SaaS

Brazilian tech founders form US LLCs to bill US customers in dollars, integrate Stripe on a US entity, and prepare for US investors who prefer a US structure. The EIN is required before any of this. See EIN for Stripe.

Freelancers and Consultants

Brazilian freelancers serving US clients form a US LLC to invoice in USD, avoid unfavorable PayPal conversion, and present a credible US business identity on contracts. The EIN connects to a US bank account for receivables.

Step-by-Step

How Do Brazilian Citizens Apply for a US EIN?

Brazilian citizens submit IRS Form SS-4 by fax to 855-215-1627, using a Brazilian passport number in place of an SSN. The IRS online tool requires an SSN, so the fax method is the only viable path. The IRS issues most correctly filed EINs within 4-7 business days at $0 cost.

Form Your US LLC

Most Brazilian founders register an LLC in Wyoming, Delaware, or Florida through a registered agent. Florida is popular due to the large Brazilian community and direct flights. You can form the LLC entirely online from Brazil.

Gather Your Documents

You need your Brazilian passport (Passaporte), valid and unexpired, plus your LLC details (name, state, formation date) and your Brazilian address. Do not use your CPF or CNPJ on the SS-4. The IRS requires a passport number for non-resident applications.

Complete Form SS-4

Enter your US LLC name on Line 1, your Brazilian address on Line 4, your full name as responsible party on Line 7a, and your Brazilian passport number on Line 7b. ein.so completes this for you to prevent errors and rejections.

Submit by Fax and Receive Your EIN

The SS-4 is faxed to the IRS. Standard delivery is 4-7 business days; Express is 2-3 business days. The IRS returns your EIN assignment letter (CP 575) and ein.so emails it to you.

Brazil-Specific SS-4 Field Guide

SS-4 Field	Brazilian Entry
Line 1 (Legal name)	Your US LLC name
Line 4 (Address)	Your Brazilian address (rua, numero, bairro, cidade, estado, CEP)
Line 7a (Responsible party)	Your full name as on your passport
Line 7b (SSN/ITIN/EIN)	Your Brazilian passport number
Line 10 (Reason)	Started new business
Line 16 (Principal activity)	E.g., "e-commerce," "real estate investment," "software"

The most common Brazilian rejection cause is address formatting. The 8-digit CEP, bairro, and estado fields do not map cleanly to the SS-4 layout, and the IRS silently rejects malformed international addresses. ein.so reformats Brazilian addresses to an IRS-accepted style. See the full SS-4 form guide and the complete EIN application process.

Comparison

CNPJ vs EIN: What Brazilian Entrepreneurs Need to Understand

Brazil's CNPJ has 14 digits and is issued by Receita Federal, while the US EIN has 9 digits and is issued by the IRS. Over 20 million active CNPJs exist in Brazil. Brazilian entrepreneurs operating in the US need both identifiers for their separate jurisdictions.

CNPJ vs EIN: Key Differences

Feature	Brazilian CNPJ / CPF	US EIN
Issuing authority	Receita Federal (Brazil)	IRS (United States)
Format	CNPJ 14 digits / CPF 11 digits	9 digits (XX-XXXXXXX)
US banking	Not accepted	Required for US bank accounts
Amazon.com	Not sufficient for US seller registration	Completes the US tax interview
US real estate	Not accepted for US tax filing	Required for rental income reporting
Cost to obtain	Receita Federal process	$0 from the IRS; ein.so service from $49

If you operate in both countries, you keep your CNPJ for Brazilian operations and add an EIN for US operations. They are complementary identifiers, not substitutes. The CPF is your personal Brazilian tax number and has no US standing. Learn more about getting an EIN without an SSN and the broader EIN for non-residents process.

Real Estate

How Do Brazilian Real Estate Investors Use a US EIN?

Brazilian investors hold US property through a US LLC, and that LLC needs an EIN for tax filing, rental income reporting, and banking. Brazilian buyers concentrate in Florida counties around Miami, Orlando, and Fort Lauderdale. The LLC structure is standard practice for foreign investors.

Why LLCs Are Essential for Brazilian Property Investors

Asset Protection

Holding US property through an LLC provides liability protection. If someone is injured on your property, the LLC shields your personal assets. This is standard practice for American and foreign real estate investors alike.

Tax Filing

Your LLC's EIN is used for filing US returns on rental income. Without an EIN, you cannot properly file taxes on US rental income, which creates compliance problems. Confirm your exact filing path with a US CPA who handles non-resident investors.

Banking and Mortgage

Your EIN lets you open a US bank account for rental income, property expenses, and mortgage payments. Some lenders offer mortgages to foreign nationals with US LLCs, though requirements are stricter than for US residents. See EIN for a bank account.

FIRPTA Compliance

FIRPTA (Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act) imposes withholding on sales of US real estate by foreign persons. Your LLC's EIN is needed for FIRPTA filings, including applications for reduced withholding. Confirm rates and forms with a US CPA.

Learn more about EIN for real estate investors. Your EIN is the foundation for every other step. Apply for your EIN now.

Banking & Payments

How Do Brazilian Entrepreneurs Use Their EIN for US Banking and Payments?

Brazilian entrepreneurs use their EIN to open a US business bank account and connect US payment processors, which together give a Brazil-owned LLC full access to the dollar economy. Mercury and Relay approve most Brazilian LLC owners remotely within a few business days.

US Business Bank Account

Mercury, Relay, and Wise accept Brazilian LLC owners with an EIN and a passport. You receive US account and routing numbers for ACH and domestic wires. See EIN for a bank account.

Stripe on a US Entity

A US LLC and EIN let you bill US customers as a US business, simplify USD settlement, and access features tied to a US entity. This raises conversion on US sales. See EIN for Stripe.

PayPal Business (US)

A US PayPal Business account linked to your EIN holds USD without forced conversion to reais, which protects your margins on US sales. See EIN for PayPal.

Wise and BRL Transfers

Brazilian founders use Wise or Remessa Online to move funds between their US account and a Brazilian account at the mid-market rate. Convert to BRL only when the exchange rate favors you. See EIN for Payoneer as an alternative.

Together, a US LLC, an EIN, and a US bank account let you invoice American clients in dollars, accept card payments through Stripe, and repatriate profits to Brazil when the BRL/USD rate is favorable.

Tax Considerations

What Should Brazilian Entrepreneurs Know About US Tax Filing?

A foreign-owned single-member US LLC files Form 5472 with a pro-forma Form 1120 each year, and the penalty for not filing is $25,000. This is an information return, not necessarily a tax bill. ein.so files the EIN and does not give tax advice; confirm your obligations with a US CPA.

US Filing: Form 5472 + 1120

A foreign-owned single-member US LLC must file Form 5472 with a pro-forma Form 1120 each year. The penalty for not filing is $25,000. The form reports transactions between you and your LLC.

Single-Member LLC Status

A single-member US LLC owned by a Brazilian resident is usually a disregarded entity for US federal income tax. The LLC itself pays no US federal income tax on non-US-sourced income. Confirm your specific situation with a US CPA.

Brazilian Reporting

Brazilian residents may need to declare foreign company interests and foreign accounts to Receita Federal and the Banco Central do Brasil. Confirm your reporting duties for a foreign-held US LLC with a Brazilian contador.

BOI Report to FinCEN

Most US LLCs report beneficial ownership to FinCEN. Review the BOI filing rules to avoid penalties. Filing the report itself is free at fincen.gov/boi.

ein.so handles the EIN application and does not provide tax advice. Work with a Brazilian contador and a US CPA familiar with non-resident matters. Your EIN is the starting point for US tax compliance. See our guides on EIN cost and EIN processing time.

Pricing

How Much Does an EIN Cost for a Brazilian Applicant?

The IRS charges $0 for an EIN. ein.so charges $49 for Standard service (4-7 business days) or $97 for Express service (2-3 business days) to prepare and fax your Form SS-4 correctly. You pay for accuracy, formatting, and speed, not for the EIN itself.

Option	Price	Delivery	Best For
IRS direct (DIY fax)	$0	4-7 business days if error-free	Applicants comfortable with SS-4 and US fax
ein.so Standard	$49	4-7 business days	Most Brazilian applicants
ein.so Express	$97	2-3 business days	Urgent banking or Amazon deadlines
ein.so ITIN Standard	$197	Standard	Brazilians who also need a personal US tax ID
ein.so ITIN Express	$297	Express	Faster ITIN processing

The risk with DIY filing is a silent rejection from a malformed Brazilian address, which costs days of resubmission. ein.so reformats your address and prepares every SS-4 line to the IRS standard. See the full breakdown on EIN cost. Apply for your EIN.

Next Steps

After Getting Your EIN From Brazil

Open a US bank account — Mercury, Relay, and Wise accept non-resident LLC owners
File your BOI report — required for most LLCs, free at fincen.gov/boi
Set up payments — connect your EIN to Stripe, PayPal, or Payoneer
File Form 5472 — annually for foreign-owned LLCs ($25,000 penalty for non-filing)
Sell on US platforms — Amazon sellers, Shopify, Etsy

Learn the fundamentals on how to get an EIN, EIN without an SSN, and EIN for non-residents.

Apply for your EIN from Brazil — $49

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Brazilian citizens get a US EIN?

Yes. Brazilian citizens get a US EIN by submitting Form SS-4 by fax to the IRS. No SSN or ITIN is required. Your Brazilian passport number goes on Line 7b. ein.so handles the process for $49 (Standard, 4-7 business days) or $97 (Express, 2-3 business days). The IRS charges $0 for the EIN itself.

Do Brazilian entrepreneurs need an SSN to get a US EIN?

No. Brazilian applicants do not need a Social Security Number or ITIN. Your Brazilian passport number serves as identification on Form SS-4 Line 7b. The IRS online tool requires an SSN, so Brazilians use the fax method to 855-215-1627. ein.so prepares the SS-4 and faxes it for you.

What is the difference between a CNPJ and a US EIN?

Your CNPJ (Cadastro Nacional da Pessoa Juridica) has 14 digits and is issued by Receita Federal for Brazilian tax purposes. Your CPF is your individual Brazilian tax ID. A US EIN has 9 digits and is issued by the IRS for US tax purposes. Your CNPJ or CPF cannot open US bank accounts or file US taxes.

Can I sell on Amazon.com from Brazil with a US EIN?

Yes. Your US EIN and LLC let you register as a US seller on Amazon.com. You complete the Amazon tax interview with your EIN and access Amazon's US marketplace and FBA warehouses. The US marketplace is far larger than Amazon.com.br. This is separate from any Brazilian marketplace presence.

Can Brazilian real estate investors use a US EIN?

Yes. Brazilian nationals investing in US real estate commonly form US LLCs to hold property. Your LLC's EIN is required for tax filing, rental income reporting, and banking. Brazilian buyers concentrate in Florida cities like Miami, Orlando, and Fort Lauderdale. Confirm FIRPTA and tax details with a US CPA.

How do I transfer funds between Brazil and my US account?

Use Wise, Remessa Online, or your Brazilian bank's international transfer service (TED internacional) to move funds between your US bank account and your Brazilian account. Wise settles at the mid-market BRL/USD rate. Convert to BRL only when the exchange rate favors you to protect your margins.

How long does it take for a Brazilian to receive a US EIN?

Through ein.so, Standard processing takes 4-7 business days ($49) and Express takes 2-3 business days ($97). The IRS charges $0 for the EIN. Calling the IRS from Brazil involves long hold times and English-only support, so the fax method to 855-215-1627 is more reliable.

Does a foreign-owned single-member US LLC have to file US tax forms?

Yes. A foreign-owned single-member US LLC files Form 5472 with a pro-forma Form 1120 each year. The penalty for not filing is $25,000. This is an information return, not necessarily a tax bill. ein.so files the EIN and does not give tax advice; confirm your filing duties with a US CPA.

Does ein.so reformat Brazilian addresses for the SS-4?

Yes. Brazilian addresses use rua, numero, bairro, cidade, estado, and an 8-digit CEP that does not map cleanly to the SS-4 fields. The IRS silently rejects malformed international addresses. ein.so reformats your Brazilian address to an IRS-accepted style so your application is not rejected without notice.

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