EIN for Blog: What It Is and Why Indian Bloggers Need It

When you start earning from your blog—whether through ads, affiliate links, or client work—you're running a business. And in the U.S., that means you might need an EIN, a nine-digit number issued by the IRS to identify businesses for tax purposes. Also known as a Federal Employer Identification Number, it’s not optional if you’re getting paid by American companies or platforms like Google AdSense, Amazon Associates, or Patreon.

Most Indian bloggers assume they don’t need an EIN because they live in India. But here’s the truth: if your blog earns money from U.S.-based sources, those platforms will ask for your tax ID. Without an EIN, they may withhold 30% of your earnings as tax. That’s not a small cut—it’s half your profit gone before you even see it. Getting an EIN is free, takes under 15 minutes, and you don’t need to be a U.S. resident. All you need is a valid passport and a U.S. mailing address (which you can get through a virtual mailbox service). Many Indian bloggers use services like Earth Class Mail or MyUS to meet this requirement. Once you have your EIN, you can fill out a W-8BEN form and reduce that 30% withholding to 0% or 15%, depending on the U.S.-India tax treaty.

It’s not just about taxes. An EIN helps you build credibility. If you’re pitching to U.S. brands, sending invoices, or opening a U.S. business bank account (even a virtual one like Mercury or Payoneer), having an EIN makes you look professional. It separates your personal identity from your blog’s income, which matters if you ever get audited or need to prove your business is real. And yes—this applies even if your blog is just a side hustle. The IRS doesn’t care if you’re blogging from Delhi or Detroit; they care if money flows in from the U.S.

Looking at the posts here, you’ll notice a pattern: bloggers in India are thinking hard about monetization. From landing page costs to YouTube earnings, from domain names to free website builders—there’s a clear shift from passion to profit. The EIN is the quiet, often overlooked step that turns those efforts into real, untaxed income. It’s not glamorous. But it’s the difference between keeping your earnings and handing them over to a foreign tax system you didn’t even know was watching.