Can You Trade Stocks Without SSN?
Although a Social Security Number is required for some activities in America, trading stocks is not
always one of them. It’s possible to trade U.S.-listed stocks without an SSN. To
learn exactly how to invest without a Social Security Number, keep reading.
Invest in Stocks Without an SSN: Method #1
The first route around the need for a Social Security Number is to open an investment account with
a foreign brokerage firm that offers access to the U.S. exchanges. There are several possibilities,
including
moomoo in Canada and
ZacksTrade in Europe.
An account with one of these offshore brokerage houses can often be opened with a foreign tax ID number (in
the case of ZacksTrade, it must be opened with a foreign tax ID number). Once the account is opened, it can have access to multiple exchanges, including the major U.S. exchanges. In some cases, the OTC marketplace in the U.S. may also be available.
Obviously, a tax identification number of some kind must be used to open one of these accounts. The main downside of this method is that account-opening rules, tax paperwork, and investor protections may be different from what you would see with a standard U.S. retail brokerage account.
Buy Stocks Without an SSN: Method #2
If you don’t have a foreign tax ID of any kind, or if you prefer the safeguards of U.S.-based regulators, you could look into an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) instead. This is an American tax ID that can sometimes be used in place of an SSN. It is available to certain resident and nonresident aliens who cannot get an SSN. It is also available to their spouses and dependents when they qualify.
It’s easy to spot an ITIN because it has the same format as an SSN (XXX-XX-XXXX) and begins with the number 9. Because it uses the same format as a Social Security Number, some financial institutions can accept it where their account-opening rules permit.
The ITIN is a good option for people who are not eligible for an SSN. Once the ITIN is issued and accepted by a brokerage firm, tax reporting can be done under that number.
Getting an ITIN requires a little bit of legwork because there is no online application. Nevertheless, the process can begin digitally.
You’ll want to download Form W-7 from the IRS’s website and mail it, along with foreign status documents, proof of identity, and a tax return to:
Internal Revenue Service
Austin Service Center
ITIN Operation
P.O. Box 149342
Austin, TX 78714-9342
If you don’t have all of the above documents, you can instead apply through a Certifying Acceptance Agent or Taxpayer Assistance Center.
A great broker to consider for a brokerage account is
Charles Schwab.
Buy Stocks Without an SSN: Method #3
Another way around the SSN requirement is to obtain an EIN (employer identification number) for a business of some kind. This can be a self-employed operation, a sole proprietorship, or a small LLC. Once obtained, it may be possible to open a brokerage account with this number. The account will be held under the business.
Getting an EIN is much easier than obtaining an ITIN because the IRS has an online form for an EIN. It takes just a few minutes to fill out the digital paperwork. The EIN is created immediately, which really speeds up the process of applying for a brokerage account.
There are several brokerage firms based in the United States that will open securities accounts under an EIN. These broker-dealers include Vanguard, Schwab, Fidelity, and E*TRADE. Besides self-employed 401k plans, taxable business accounts and the SEP IRA could also be opened using an EIN.
For one-participant 401(k) plans, the IRS expects the plan sponsor’s EIN to be used on Form 5500-EZ instead of a Social Security Number.
A great broker to open a brokerage account with an EIN is
Charles Schwab.
Investing Without an SSN: Method #4
Non-Americans living outside the United States can open brokerage accounts with a few U.S.-based firms.
Examples of brokers that offer these types of foreign accounts include
Zacks Trade. Not all countries are eligible for this service, but many are. The UK and EU countries are usually eligible.
This method does require quite a bit of red tape, which is its primary downside. A foreign account will always require Form W-8BEN with any broker-dealer. This form establishes the tax status of the foreign account, which means it’s pretty important to fill out correctly.
Form W-8BEN can be downloaded from the IRS website. It should be submitted to the brokerage firm, not the IRS. It generally remains valid through the end of the third succeeding calendar year unless a change in circumstances occurs, and in some situations it can remain valid longer. The amount of tax withholding of a foreign account opened with Form W-8BEN will depend on the tax treaty, if any, the U.S. government has with the account owner’s country of tax residence.
Other documents are usually required to get a foreign account open. These forms can include proof of residency in the form of a utility bill or similar document, copy of passport and/or visa, and employer’s name and mailing address.
Once the foreign account is open, it will be able to trade securities listed on the U.S. exchanges just like an account opened in Wichita, Kansas.
How to Trade Stocks Without an SSN: Method #5
If none of the other ideas will work for you, the final workaround may be to apply for a Social Security Number. Non-citizens in some cases can get one. Typically, residency in the United States is required along with authorization to work inside the country. This authorization can be obtained from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
It’s also possible to apply for a Social Security Number at the same time you submit an application for an immigrant visa with the U.S. Department of State.
Open Charles Schwab Account
Open Schwab Account
Updated on 4/14/2026.
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