How to Get an EIN

How to get an EIN is simpler than most new founders expect: the IRS issues Employer Identification Numbers free, online, in about 15 minutes. An EIN is your business’s federal tax ID — the equivalent of a Social Security number for your company — and you will need one to hire employees, open a business bank account, file business taxes, and establish business credit. This guide covers who needs one, the four ways to apply, the exact information to have ready, and the mistakes that cause rejections.

What Is an EIN?

An Employer Identification Number is a unique nine-digit number (formatted XX-XXXXXXX) the IRS assigns to business entities for tax identification. Despite the name, you do not need employees to get one — “employer” is historical. Think of it as your business’s Social Security number: it identifies your company on tax returns, bank applications, license filings, and official documents.

Who Needs an EIN?

You are required to have an EIN if your business:

• Has any employees (including household employees in some cases)
• Operates as a corporation or partnership (including multi-member LLCs, which are taxed as partnerships)
• Files excise, alcohol, tobacco, or firearms tax returns
• Withholds taxes on income paid to a nonresident alien
• Has a Keogh or solo 401(k) retirement plan
• Is involved in certain organizations: trusts (in many cases), estates, nonprofits, farmers’ cooperatives, and plan administrators

You are not legally required to have one if you are a sole proprietor with no employees — your Social Security number serves as your tax ID. But most sole proprietors get one anyway, because:

• Banks usually require it to open a business checking account.
• It protects your SSN — you put the EIN on client W-9 forms instead of your Social Security number, reducing identity-theft exposure.
• It looks professional — clients and vendors take an EIN-bearing business more seriously.
• You will need it eventually — the moment you hire your first employee or form an LLC taxed as a corporation, and getting it early is one less thing to do later.
• It is free and takes 15 minutes — there is no reason not to.

Before You Apply: Information to Have Ready

The application asks for straightforward details. Gather these first so you can complete the online form in one session (it times out and cannot be saved):

• Legal name of the business — exactly as registered with your state, including LLC/Corp/Inc suffixes.
• Trade name / DBA — if you operate under a different name.
• Business address — physical location; a mailing address if different.
• Entity type — sole proprietorship, LLC, corporation, partnership, etc.
• Responsible party — the person who controls the business’s funds and assets, with their SSN or ITIN. (Nominees are not allowed.)
• Reason for applying — started a new business, hired employees, banking purposes, etc.
• Start date — when the business started or will start.
• Business activity — the principal line of business and what the business does.
• Number of employees expected — in the next 12 months, if any.
• Closing month of accounting year — usually December for most small businesses.

The 4 Ways to Apply for an EIN

Method 1: Apply online (recommended)

1. Go to the IRS “Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) Online” page. Important: the online assistant operates Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Outside those hours the tool is unavailable.
2. Click through the interview-style questionnaire. The questions adapt to your entity type — an LLC sees different follow-ups than a sole proprietorship.
3. Enter the responsible party’s information. This must be a real person with an SSN or ITIN who controls the business — not a nominee or stand-in.
4. Review everything carefully, then submit. The system validates your answers in real time.
5. Receive your EIN immediately. Download and print the confirmation notice (CP 575) — this is your official proof. Save it permanently; replacing it later is a hassle.

Critical rules for the online application: you must complete it in one session (no saving and returning), you can only obtain one EIN per responsible party per day, and the principal of the business must have a valid SSN or ITIN to use the online tool.

Method 2: Apply by fax

Download Form SS-4 from irs.gov, complete it, and fax to 855-641-6935. Include your fax number on the form and the IRS will fax your EIN back in about four business days. Without a return fax number, the confirmation is mailed instead.

Method 3: Apply by mail

Mail the completed Form SS-4 to: Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999. Expect roughly four weeks for processing. Given the free instant online option, mail only makes sense in unusual circumstances.

Method 4: International applicants

If your principal business is outside the United States, call 267-941-1099 (not toll-free) Monday–Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Have a completed Form SS-4 in front of you — the assistor works through it with you. International applicants can also fax (855-215-1627 within the US, 304-707-9471 outside) or mail to the Cincinnati address marked for international operation.

It Is Always Free — Beware of Scams

Applying for an EIN costs nothing, ever. Third-party websites charge $50–$300 to “file” for you — they simply submit the same free form and pocket the fee. Worse, some are outright scams harvesting your SSN and business details. Only apply through irs.gov. If a site asks for payment for an EIN, leave immediately.

Common Application Mistakes

What to Do After You Get Your EIN

1. Open a business bank account. Bring your EIN confirmation and formation documents. This separation is essential for taxes and — if you formed an LLC — for preserving liability protection. See our LLC explained guide for why this matters.
2. Set up payroll accounts if hiring. Register for state payroll tax accounts and workers’ compensation; payroll providers handle the ongoing filings.
3. Update your records. Add the EIN to invoices, contracts, business licenses, and vendor accounts.
4. Give it to your accountant. Your CPA needs it for tax filings and estimated payment setup.
5. Apply for business licenses. Many city and state license applications ask for the EIN.

If you are building the full foundation, our how to start a small business guide places the EIN in the complete launch sequence, and small business bookkeeping shows how to use it in your financial system.

Special Situations

Single-member LLCs

A single-member LLC needs an EIN if it has employees or elects corporate taxation — and should get one regardless for banking. By default the IRS disregards it for tax purposes, but the EIN still identifies the business everywhere else.

Changing your business structure

Converting a sole proprietorship to an LLC generally requires a new EIN, because the tax entity changed. (Sole proprietors becoming single-member LLCs are a common exception — check current IRS guidance or ask your CPA.) Corporations changing structure usually need new EINs as well.

Lost your EIN?

Do not apply for a new one. Find the original on old tax returns, bank documents, or your original CP 575 notice. If truly lost, call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933 — after verifying your identity, they will provide it.

Multiple businesses

Each separate legal entity needs its own EIN. Remember the one-per-day limit per responsible party when applying for several.

Do EINs expire?

No. An EIN never expires and is never reassigned, even if you close the business. If you shut down, simply file final tax returns and close IRS business accounts — the number itself remains permanently retired.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get an EIN?

Online: immediate, during the session. Fax: about four business days. Mail: about four weeks. Phone (international): during the call.

Can I get an EIN without an SSN?

The online application requires the responsible party to have an SSN or ITIN. Without either, apply by fax, mail, or phone (international) using Form SS-4.

Is an EIN the same as a tax ID number?

“Tax ID number” is the generic term; an EIN is the specific type issued to businesses. Individuals use SSNs or ITINs. When a form asks a business for its “Tax ID,” it means the EIN.

Do I need a state tax ID too?

Possibly. Many states issue separate IDs for sales tax, payroll withholding, or unemployment insurance. Check your state’s department of revenue — the federal EIN does not cover state obligations.

Can I apply for an EIN before my LLC is approved?

You can, but should not — the legal name and formation date should match your state filing. Wait for approval, then apply.

What if I entered wrong information on my application?

For minor corrections (address changes), file Form 8822-B. For fundamental errors like the wrong entity type, call the IRS or consult a tax professional — you may need a new EIN.

Do sole proprietors need an EIN to hire their first employee?

Yes — the moment you have employees, an EIN becomes mandatory for payroll tax reporting, even for sole proprietors.

Can someone steal my EIN?

EIN theft happens and is used for tax fraud and fraudulent credit applications. Protect your confirmation notice, share the number only when necessary (banks, tax filings, W-9s), and monitor your business credit.

EIN vs Other Tax IDs: What’s the Difference?

When a form asks your business for its “Tax ID” or “TIN,” it means the EIN. Your personal SSN stays personal — one of the quiet benefits of getting the EIN early is how rarely you need to share your SSN afterward.

Online Application Walkthrough: Screen by Screen

Knowing what comes next removes the anxiety. The IRS EIN Assistant interview flows roughly like this:

1. Entity type selection. Choose what best describes you: sole proprietor, LLC, corporation, partnership, estate, trust, or nonprofit. The questions that follow adapt to this choice.
2. Reason for applying. Started a new business, hired employees, banking requirement, changed entity type — pick the honest one; it determines follow-up questions.
3. Business details. Legal name, trade name, county and state, start date. Use the exact name from your state filing.
4. Business activity. Select the category that best fits, then describe specifically what the business does in a sentence or two.
5. Responsible party. Name, SSN/ITIN, and address of the person controlling the business. Remember: one EIN per responsible party per day.
6. Employment and tax details. Expected employee counts, whether you will file employment tax returns, principal products or services.
7. Review and submit. Read every field twice — corrections after submission are painful. Submit, and the EIN appears on the confirmation screen.

Session tips: the tool times out after inactivity, so do not start it until your information sheet is complete. Use a desktop browser rather than a phone. And the moment the confirmation appears: download it, print it, email a copy to yourself, and store one with your formation documents.

EINs for Special Entities

• Trusts and estates: most need their own EINs, separate from the grantor’s or decedent’s SSN, for tax filings and bank accounts.
• Nonprofits: apply for the EIN first, then use it on the tax-exemption application (Form 1023). The EIN does not itself confer exempt status.
• Household employers: if you employ a nanny or household worker, you may need an EIN as a household employer even with no business.
• Sole proprietors adding a Keogh/retirement plan: triggers the EIN requirement even without employees.

State-Level IDs You May Still Need

The federal EIN is only half the picture. Depending on your state and activities, you may also need:

• State employer/withholding ID — for payroll taxes, applied for through your state’s revenue or labor department.
• Sales tax permit / seller’s permit — required before selling taxable goods in most states; some cities add their own.
• Unemployment insurance account — usually set up when you register as an employer with the state.
• State business license — separate from city/county licenses in some states.

Check your secretary of state’s business portal — most now offer a unified checklist that generates every state-level registration your entity type requires. Complete federal and state registrations in the same week so nothing slips through the cracks.

EIN Application Checklist: Print Before You Start

• Legal business name exactly as filed with the state (with LLC/Corp/Inc suffix)
• Trade name / DBA if different from legal name
• Physical business address (and mailing address if different)
• County and state of principal business location
• Entity type as filed with the state
• Responsible party’s full legal name, SSN or ITIN, and address
• Reason for applying (new business, hiring, banking, entity change)
• Business start date (month and year)
• Principal business activity described in one to two sentences
• Expected number of employees in the next 12 months
• Closing month of your accounting year (December for most)
• A weekday between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time, with 20 uninterrupted minutes

Complete the online session in one sitting — the IRS tool does not save progress. With this checklist filled in, most applicants finish in under 15 minutes and receive their EIN immediately on the confirmation screen.

The Bottom Line

How to get an EIN in one sentence: gather your business details, apply free at irs.gov on a weekday, and save your confirmation notice. It takes 15 minutes, costs nothing, and unlocks business banking, hiring, and clean tax separation. Do it early in your launch process — it is one of the simplest high-value steps in starting a business, and our small business loan guide shows where a clean EIN and organized records pay off next.