Key takeaways
- There is no single turnaround time. Each stage has its own owner and clock: the state files the company, the IRS issues the EIN, a mail center opens the mailbox, and each bank or payment provider runs its own review.
- The order matters more than the days. The IRS says to form the company with the state before you apply for an EIN, and banks usually ask for both the formation document and the EIN.
- Wyoming says online filings are active immediately and mailed ones take up to 15 business days. Delaware's standard time depends on its volume, and it sells paid faster tiers.
- Without an SSN or ITIN, the EIN goes by fax or mail. The IRS's form instructions say fax is "generally within 4 business days", but its status page said 12 business days in late September 2026.
- A US mailbox can be set up alongside formation. Bank and payment applications come last, and nobody can promise their timing or outcome.
On this page (9)
The five stages, and who controls each one
"How long does it take?" has a different answer for each stage, because each one is run by someone else. Most delays come from treating them as one queue, or from starting a stage before the one it depends on is finished. Here is the whole chain in one table.
| Stage | Who controls it | Published timing | Must wait for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Prepare the information | You | Your pace | Nothing |
| 2. Review and state filing | Registate, then the state | Set by the state; see the state section | Stage 1 |
| 3. EIN | IRS | Depends on the route; as published by the IRS | The filed company |
| 4. Mailbox and address | The mail center, under USPS rules | Once Form 1583 and IDs are accepted | Two current IDs; can run in parallel |
| 5. Bank and payment accounts | Each provider | Varies; not published as a promise | Formation document, EIN, usually an address |
- Prepare detailsYouYour pace
- Order reviewRegistateNeeds: Complete orderDepends on your documents
- State filingStateNeeds: Reviewed filingSet by the state; paid expedite exists
- EIN, fax or mailIRSNeeds: Filed companyAs published by the IRS; varies
- Mailbox (Form 1583)Mail centerNeeds: Two IDsOnce form and IDs are accepted
- Bank or paymentsProviderNeeds: Company + EINVaries by provider
If you're forming with Registate, the how it works page shows the same chain from the order side: each order moves through Payment Received, Process Started, Awaiting Documents, Final Evaluation and Process Complete.
Stage 1: prepare the information
This is the one stage entirely in your hands, and the one that decides how smooth the rest goes. A filing that goes in complete and consistent is less likely to come back, and every later stage copies from it.
- Entity type. LLC or corporation. The choice changes the state filing and the yearly obligations; see LLC vs C-Corp.
- State. Most non-US founders choose between Delaware and Wyoming; Delaware vs Wyoming LLC compares them.
- Company name. It has to be available in that state. Check the state's own business search before you settle on it.
- Owners and managers. Names and addresses of members, managers, directors or officers, depending on the entity.
- Addresses. A registered agent address in the state is required. Wyoming's Articles also show a mailing and principal office address on the public filing (Articles form), so decide which address goes there before you file.
- The EIN responsible party. The person who controls the company, and whether they have an SSN or ITIN. That single fact decides the EIN route in stage 3.
With Registate, formation onboarding asks for your answers, not an ID; documents are requested per service, and the order shows exactly what to upload. A registered agent is included in every formation package, so the agent address is covered.
Stage 2: review and state filing
Two things happen here. First, the provider (Registate, if you order with us) reviews your order and documents; if something is missing, the order moves to Awaiting Documents until you send it. How fast that goes depends mostly on how complete your answers are. Then the filing goes to the state, and from that point the state's clock runs, not ours.
| Delaware | Wyoming | |
|---|---|---|
| Document filed | Certificate of Formation (LLC) or Incorporation | Articles of Organization (LLC) |
| Standard timing | Not published as a number; Delaware says times vary with the volume it receives, especially in busy season (source) | Online filings are "active immediately"; mailed documents are reviewed in order, up to 15 business days (source) |
| Faster, for a state fee | For a domestic LLC formation: 24-hour $50, same day $100 (fee schedule), plus 2-hour and 1-hour tiers (expedited services) | The July 2026 fee schedule lists next business day $700 and same business day $1,400 (fee schedule). Older form instructions still say expedited filing isn't allowed, so confirm with the state. |
| Cut-off times | Each Delaware tier has a daily cut-off, for example 2:00 pm Eastern for same day (source) | Check with the state |
Paying for speed buys faster state review, not a faster IRS or bank. It makes sense when a later step has a hard date, such as a contract that needs the company to exist. For a Delaware company you can choose faster filing at checkout; the state fee appears as its own line.
Stage 3: the EIN
The Employer Identification Number is the company's federal tax ID, and it's free from the IRS. It is also the step people most often try to start too early. The IRS is explicit: if you're creating an LLC or corporation, form it with the state before you apply (source). The EIN application asks for the company's legal name and formation details, which only exist once stage 2 is finished.
| Route | Who can use it | As published by the IRS |
|---|---|---|
| Online | The responsible party has an SSN or ITIN, and the business is located in the US (source) | Immediately, if the application is approved |
| Fax (Form SS-4) | Anyone, including owners with no SSN or ITIN | "Generally within 4 business days" (SS-4 instructions); 12 business days after receipt on the IRS status page, 25 September 2026 (source) |
| Mail (Form SS-4) | Anyone | "Approximately 4 weeks"; apply 4 to 5 weeks before you need it (source). Within 30 days on the status page. |
| Phone | Only applicants with no legal residence, principal place of business or office in the US (source) | Obtained on the call; for a company formed in the US, plan on fax or mail |
For a Delaware or Wyoming company owned from abroad, the practical routes are fax or mail. Our EIN without an SSN guide covers the fax numbers, line 7b and the phone line in detail.
Two small rules that affect timing
- The IRS limits EINs to one per responsible party per day (source). Forming two companies at once means two separate days.
- You can use a new EIN right away to open a bank account, but the IRS says to wait up to 2 weeks before it passes TIN matching (source). Some payment providers run that check, so a very new EIN can fail it for a while.
Registate's EIN support is paid preparation help; it's included in the Gold and Platinum packages. We apply once the company is formed. We can't make the IRS faster, and the IRS still sets the processing time.
Stage 4: mailbox and business address
A US mailbox doesn't have to wait for the EIN. It can be set up while the state reviews your filing, which is why it sits beside stages 2 and 3 in the map above. What it needs is on the USPS side, and it applies to every mail center (a CMRA):
- 1Complete USPS Form 1583One form for each addressee. The form names the addressee, a person or a company such as "ABC Co." (USPS DMM 508).
- 2Show two current IDsA primary and a secondary form of identification, not expired, that confirm who you are. One must have a photo.
- 3Sign in front of a witnessIn person or on a real-time audio and video call with the mail center, or before a notary, in person or online (source).
USPS doesn't publish a turnaround for this. Mail can be received for you once the signed form and IDs are accepted, so having both IDs ready is the biggest time-saver. If the mailbox is in the company's name, it helps to wait until the state has accepted that name.
Stage 5: bank and payment accounts
This is the last stage because it depends on nearly everything before it. Banks and payment platforms usually ask for the filed formation document, the EIN, identification for the owners and, often, a US address. Each provider sets its own list, reviews on its own schedule and makes its own decision. None of them publish a guaranteed turnaround, and no formation provider can promise an approval.
- Apply once the documents exist. An application with a pending EIN or an unfiled company is more likely to stall.
- Keep details identical everywhere: company name, address and owner names should match the state filing and the IRS letter.
- Check each provider's own requirements first: Mercury, Stripe and Payoneer.
If an application comes back declined, why US banks say no covers the common reasons and possible next steps.
What most often causes delays
Almost every delay traces back to one of these, and most are avoidable in stage 1.
| Cause | Stage it hits | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Missing or inconsistent details in the order | Review and state filing | Answer every onboarding question once, the same way you'll use it later |
| Name not available, or filing rejected | State filing, and everything after | Search the name first; keep a second choice |
| Applying for the EIN before the company is filed | EIN | Wait for the filed certificate or articles |
| Wrong fax number or missing reply fax on Form SS-4 | EIN | Use the number for your situation in the SS-4 instructions |
| Expired or missing ID for Form 1583 | Mailbox | Have two current IDs ready, one with a photo |
| State or IRS busy periods | State filing, EIN | Plan for the published range, not the best case; paid state expedite if a date is fixed |
| Details that don't match across documents | Bank and payments | Same company name and address on every document |
Sources
Every timing above comes from the agency that sets it. We checked each one in September 2026; agencies change them, so confirm on the official page before you rely on a date.
- Delaware Division of Corporations
- Delaware Division of Corporations: expedited services
- Delaware fee schedule (August 2026)
- Wyoming Secretary of State: online business services
- Wyoming Secretary of State: business FAQ
- Wyoming business fee schedule (July 2026)
- IRS: Instructions for Form SS-4
- IRS: Get an employer identification number
- IRS: Employer identification number
- IRS: Processing status for tax forms
- USPS Domestic Mail Manual 508 (CMRA and Form 1583)
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to form a US LLC?
It depends on the state and the filing method, and the state sets it. Wyoming says online filings are active immediately and mailed filings take up to 15 business days. Delaware doesn't publish a standard time; it depends on the volume it receives, and paid faster options are available. Processing times vary.
Can I apply for an EIN before the company is formed?
No. The IRS says to form your LLC or corporation with the state before you apply for an EIN, because the application asks for details that only exist once the company is filed.
How long does an EIN take without an SSN?
Without an SSN or ITIN you apply by fax or mail with Form SS-4. The SS-4 instructions say fax is generally within 4 business days and mail approximately 4 weeks. The IRS processing-status page showed faxed forms processed 12 business days after receipt in late September 2026. The IRS sets these times.
Can I speed up the state filing?
Delaware sells faster processing for a state fee, from 24-hour to 1-hour service. Wyoming's July 2026 fee schedule lists next and same business day review, though older form instructions say expedited filing isn't allowed, so confirm with the state. Expediting speeds up the state only, not the IRS or a bank.
Can I set up a US mailbox before the company is formed?
Yes, the mailbox can run alongside formation. USPS requires a signed Form 1583 and two current IDs, one with a photo, with the signature witnessed by the mail center in person or on live video, or by a notary. If the mailbox is in the company's name, it helps to wait until the state accepts the name.
When can I open a US bank account?
Usually after the company is filed and the EIN is issued, since most banks and payment providers ask for both, plus owner IDs and often a US address. Each provider sets its own review time and decision, so no timing or approval can be promised.
Can I use my EIN right away?
The IRS says you can use a new EIN immediately for most needs, such as opening a bank account, but it can take up to 2 weeks to pass the IRS TIN matching program. Some payment providers run that check.
How long does Registate take to file my order?
We review your order and documents before filing. How quickly that moves depends on how complete your documents are; if anything is missing, the order shows Awaiting Documents and tells you what to send. After filing, the state and the IRS set their own processing times.