Patrick Devine was a master at navigating the intricacies of financial sovereignty, and one of the strategies he shared was how to obtain a Foreign Grantor’s 98 EIN (Employer Identification Number) without using a Social Security Number (SSN). This process can help you establish financial independence, protect your assets, and create a legal entity that operates outside of the traditional U.S. jurisdiction. In this post, we’ll explore how Patrick Devine would have approached the creation of a Foreign Grantor’s 98 EIN in a foreign country—without relying on a U.S. SSN.
Why Avoid Using an SSN?
Patrick Devine often emphasized the importance of separating personal identifiers—like your SSN—from your financial and legal entities. An SSN is a domestic identifier tied to the U.S. financial system. Using it to create a foreign entity weakens the independence of that entity, bringing it back under U.S. jurisdiction. By avoiding the SSN, you ensure that the entity is genuinely foreign, maintaining a higher level of financial privacy, sovereignty, and protection.
Steps to Obtain a Foreign Grantor’s 98 EIN Without an SSN
Patrick Devine advocated for a specific approach when applying for a Foreign Grantor’s 98 EIN, ensuring that the entity remains foreign and independent from personal domestic identifiers. Below is a step-by-step guide based on his teachings.
1. Create a Foreign Trust or Entity
First, establish the foreign grantor trust in a country of your choosing. This is important, as the trust will act as the foreign entity that is granted the 98 EIN. Make sure that all documentation and structures reflect the foreign nature of the entity. This can be done by using a foreign trustee, foreign addresses, and ensuring the trust holds foreign assets.
- Choose a country with strong privacy laws and favorable regulations for trusts.
- Have a foreign trustee act on behalf of the trust to further solidify its foreign status.
2. Complete IRS Form SS-4
The next step is to complete IRS Form SS-4, which is used to apply for an EIN. Patrick Devine was careful to fill out this form in a way that clearly indicated the trust’s foreign nature. Here’s how you would fill it out:
- Enter the name of the trust or foreign entity.
- Enter the foreign address of the trust, ensuring that no U.S. address is associated with the application.
- For the responsible party, list the foreign trustee or the trust creator (grantor), using a foreign address.
- Mark the entity as a Foreign Trust.
- For Line 9b: Select “Other” and specify “Foreign Grantor Trust.”
- Do not use your SSN to remain as private as possible!
- Use a location address that is foreign to the uSA
- Use a domestic private mailing address so that you receive the confirmation notice from the IRS
Important: Do not fill in any section requesting an SSN or ITIN. By law, the IRS cannot demand an SSN for a foreign entity or trust, and Patrick Devine would have avoided linking the trust to any domestic identifiers to preserve its foreign status.
3. Call the IRS International EIN Department
Instead of mailing in the form, Patrick Devine often advised directly contacting the IRS International EIN Department to expedite the process. Here’s how you would approach the call:
- Call the IRS International EIN Department at their international phone number.
- Clearly state that you are applying for a 98 EIN for a foreign grantor trust and that you will not be using an SSN.
- Emphasize that the entity is foreign, and as such, no SSN is applicable or required under U.S. tax law.
The IRS will often process the application over the phone, and you should receive the EIN immediately.
4. Provide Necessary Documentation
If the IRS requests supporting documentation, be prepared to provide:
- Foreign Trust Agreement: Show that the entity is foreign, and that it operates under the laws of a foreign jurisdiction.
- Foreign Mailing Address: Ensure all communication, including IRS correspondence, is sent to a foreign address.
- Bank Accounts or Assets: Show proof that the trust holds foreign assets or operates in a foreign financial system.
5. Receive the 98 EIN
Once your application is processed, you will receive a 98 EIN, which indicates that the entity is foreign. The IRS will not have linked this EIN to any SSN, preserving the trust’s foreign status.
This EIN can now be used for the foreign trust’s operations, banking, and reporting to the IRS (if necessary) as a foreign entity. It allows you to operate with the trust’s legal and financial independence fully intact.
The Benefits of Obtaining a 98 EIN Without an SSN
By following this approach, Patrick Devine would ensure the foreign trust operates entirely outside of the U.S. domestic financial system, providing several key benefits:
- Enhanced Privacy: The trust remains completely detached from your personal SSN, ensuring greater financial privacy and less government oversight.
- Asset Protection: A foreign trust with a 98 EIN is harder to target by creditors or legal systems under U.S. jurisdiction.
- Financial Sovereignty: The trust can manage foreign assets and interact with international financial systems, giving you more freedom in how you handle your finances.
- Reduced Tax Liability: Depending on how the foreign grantor trust is structured, it could benefit from different tax laws, potentially lowering your overall tax liability.
Patrick Devine’s teachings on obtaining a foreign grantor’s 98 EIN provide a roadmap for those seeking financial sovereignty and asset protection. By carefully structuring the trust as foreign and avoiding the use of a U.S. SSN, you maintain a level of independence and privacy that is difficult to achieve through domestic means.
At WETHEPEOPLESHAREHOLDERS.com, we continue to explore and share these powerful strategies to help individuals reclaim their financial independence. If you’re ready to learn more about how to implement these techniques in your own life, stay connected with our ongoing resources and community discussions.