How to Get an EIN (Employer Identification Number) from the IRS

beginner6 min read · updated 2026-06-20

How to Get an EIN (Employer Identification Number) from the IRS

An EIN is a nine-digit number the IRS uses to identify your business for tax purposes. Think of it as a Social Security Number for your company. You need it to open a business bank account, hire employees, and file business tax returns. The single most important thing to know up front: getting one directly from the IRS is completely 0 dollars. The IRS explicitly warns that you never have to pay a fee, and third-party sites that charge you for an EIN are reselling something free.

Disclaimer: This is educational information, not tax or legal advice. Procedures and rules change. Verify everything against the official IRS pages cited at the bottom, and consult a CPA or tax attorney for your specific situation.

Do You Actually Need One?

Per the IRS, you generally need an EIN if you:

• Hire employees
• Operate a partnership or corporation
• Pay sales and excise taxes
• Change business structures or ownership
• Administer certain trusts, retirement plans, and estates

A single-member LLC or sole proprietor with no employees can often use their own SSN, but most still get an EIN anyway. Reasons: banks usually require one to open a business account, it keeps your SSN off vendor forms (W-9s), and it makes the business look established. When in doubt, get one. It is free and takes minutes.

The Fastest Path: Apply Online (Free, Immediate)

The online application is the only method that issues your EIN immediately on the screen. Here is the step-by-step:

• Confirm you are eligible. Your principal place of business must be in the U.S. or a U.S. territory, you must be the responsible party (or an authorized representative), and you must have the responsible party's SSN or ITIN ready.
• Go to the official IRS tool. Navigate to irs.gov and search "apply for EIN online" — or go directly to the page cited below. Do not use a paid look-alike site.
• Check the hours. The tool is not 24/7. Eastern Time windows are Monday–Friday 6:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m., Saturday 6:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m., and Sunday 6:00 p.m.–midnight.
• Complete it in one sitting. The session expires after 15 minutes of inactivity and you have to start over. Have your entity type, formation state, business address, and responsible party info in front of you before you begin.
• Answer the questions. You will select your entity type (sole proprietor, LLC, partnership, corporation, etc.), enter the responsible party, your reason for applying, and basic business details.
• Receive your EIN on the screen. If approved, the IRS issues it immediately. Download and print your CP 575 EIN confirmation letter right then — it is the cleanest proof of your number and you may not easily get it re-issued later.

You can apply for only 1 EIN per responsible party per day across all methods (online, phone, fax, mail). So if you are setting up multiple entities, space them across days.

If You Can't Apply Online

The online tool requires a valid SSN or ITIN for the responsible party. If you do not have one (for example, a foreign founder), use one of these alternatives by filing Form SS-4:

• By fax (faster): Send the completed Form SS-4 to the IRS fax line. Processing is generally within 4 business days. Domestic fax: 855-641-6935.
• By mail (slowest): Mail Form SS-4 to Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999. Allow approximately 4 weeks; the IRS recommends applying 4 to 5 weeks before you need the number.
• By phone (international applicants only): Call 267-941-1099, Monday–Friday 6:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m. Eastern. This is not a toll-free line and is only for applicants whose principal business is outside the U.S.

After You Get It

• Store the CP 575 letter safely. Banks, lenders, and payroll providers will ask for it.
• Your EIN does not expire. Once assigned to your entity, it is permanent and is never reissued to another business.
• Use it everywhere your SSN would otherwise go on business forms — W-9s to clients, bank applications, payroll setup, state tax registration.
• File what you owe. Once you have an EIN, the IRS expects you to file the required tax or information returns associated with your entity type.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Paying a third party. The most common avoidable cost. The direct IRS application is free.
• Picking the wrong entity type. The EIN is tied to the structure you select. If you are forming an LLC, form the LLC with your state first, then apply for the EIN as that LLC.
• Losing the confirmation letter. Print or save the PDF the moment it appears. Recovering the original is a hassle.
• Letting the session time out. Gather every detail before you start; you have a 15-minute inactivity window.

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Sources

• IRS — Apply for an EIN Online
• IRS — Get an Employer Identification Number
• IRS — Instructions for Form SS-4 (12/2025)