How to Get an Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Your Business
Learn how to get an EIN for your business in 3 steps. Apply online for free at IRS.gov and get your Employer Identification Number the same day.
Bizee Editorial Staff
Editorial Team
Introduction
You can get an Employer Identification Number (EIN) for free directly from the IRS — online, by fax, or by mail. The online application is the fastest option and issues your EIN immediately. Most business owners can complete the whole process in under 20 minutes.
What is an EIN and why does your business need one?
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a 9-digit tax ID the IRS assigns to your business — think of it as a Social Security number for your business entity. The IRS uses it to identify your business for federal tax purposes.
You'll need an EIN to open a business bank account, hire employees, file business tax returns, and apply for business credit or loans. Even if you don't have employees yet, getting an EIN early keeps your Social Security number off business documents — which is worth doing from day one.
Who is eligible to apply for an EIN?
To apply for an EIN, your business must be located in the United States or a U.S. territory, and you must have a valid Taxpayer Identification Number — typically your Social Security number. If you meet both requirements, you're eligible.
One limit worth knowing: the IRS allows only 1 EIN per responsible party per day. If you're forming multiple businesses, you'll need to apply on separate days. The responsible party is the individual who owns or controls the business — not a third-party representative.
How to apply for an EIN: 3 methods
There are 3 ways to apply for an EIN: online through the IRS website, by fax using Form SS-4, or by mail using Form SS-4. Online is the fastest — you get your EIN the same day. The other methods take days or months.
Online: Go to the IRS EIN application at IRS.gov/EIN. The application is available Monday through Friday, 7 AM – 10 PM ET. You must complete it in a single session — the IRS doesn't save partial applications, and your session expires after 15 minutes of inactivity. Once you finish and verify your information, you can download your EIN confirmation as a PDF immediately. Most applicants are done in 10–20 minutes.
By fax: Download and complete Form SS-4, then fax it to the IRS at the number listed on the IRS "Where to File Your Taxes (for Form SS-4)" page. The IRS processes fax applications in about 4 business days and faxes your EIN back to you.
By mail: Complete Form SS-4 and mail it to the IRS address listed for your state. Mail applications take about 4 weeks to process — longer if the form is incomplete or hard to read. Use this method only if online and fax aren't options for you.
What information you need before you apply
Before you start the application, gather this information so you can complete it in one session. The IRS application will ask for your business's legal structure (LLC, corporation, sole proprietorship, trust, etc.), the number of members or owners, and the type of business activity you do.
You'll also need your Social Security number (as the responsible party), your personal address and your business address, any trade names or DBAs your business uses, and the date your business started or was acquired. The IRS will ask a few industry-specific questions too — things like whether your business will have W-2 employees, whether you'll file a Form 720 (Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return), or whether your business involves alcohol, tobacco, or firearms.
Having everything ready before you open the application is the detail most people skip — and it's what makes the difference between finishing in 15 minutes and having your session time out.
How much it costs to get an EIN
Getting an EIN directly from the IRS is free. The IRS charges no filing fee for any application method — online, fax, or mail. You don't need to enter payment information at any point in the process.
If you'd rather have someone handle it for you, we offer an EIN package that gets your number filed on your behalf — typically within 1 business day. It's worth considering if you're also forming an LLC and want both handled together. Retrieving a lost EIN later takes more time than most people expect, so having it documented from the start matters.
Do you need an EIN to start a business?
It depends on your business structure and what you plan to do. If you're a sole proprietor or single-member LLC with no employees, the IRS doesn't require an EIN — you can use your Social Security number for federal tax purposes instead. But there are good reasons to get one anyway.
You'll need an EIN to open a business bank account, apply for a business credit card or loan, pay employees, file certain business tax returns, and build business credit. Using your Social Security number on business documents also creates unnecessary exposure — an EIN keeps your personal number out of the hands of vendors, contractors, and clients.
If you have a multi-member LLC, a corporation, or any business with employees, an EIN is required. Get it before you need it — the online application takes less than 20 minutes and the number is yours permanently.
FAQ
Apply directly through the IRS at IRS.gov/EIN. The online application is free, takes 10–20 minutes, and issues your EIN immediately after you finish. You can also apply by faxing or mailing a completed Form SS-4 to the IRS, but those methods take 4 business days and 4 weeks, respectively.
Yes. The IRS charges nothing to issue an EIN, regardless of which application method you use. No payment information is required at any point. If you use a third-party platform to file on your behalf, that service may charge a fee — but the EIN itself is always free from the IRS.
Go to the IRS online EIN application at IRS.gov/EIN. You'll need your business's legal structure, your Social Security number as the responsible party, your business address, and a few details about what your business does. Complete the application in one session — the IRS doesn't save progress — and you'll get your EIN as a downloadable PDF the same day.
Generally, yes. The IRS requires that you have a valid business structure and a real business purpose before issuing an EIN. You don't need to be generating revenue, but you do need to have formed your business entity — or at minimum be in the process of doing so. Applying before your business exists can create problems with your tax records.
It depends on your business type. For nonprofits and publicly traded companies, EINs appear on public filings and are searchable. For most small businesses — LLCs, sole proprietorships, and private corporations — your EIN isn't published in a public database, but it does appear on tax forms you share with vendors, contractors, and lenders. Treat it with the same care you'd give any sensitive business identifier.
Go directly to IRS.gov/EIN and complete the online application yourself. It's free, takes about 15 minutes, and you get your EIN the same day. You don't need a third-party service to apply — the IRS application is straightforward if you have your business information ready before you start.
Form SS-4 is the IRS application form for an EIN. You need it if you're applying by fax or mail instead of online. The form asks for your business's legal structure, ownership details, business address, and the reason you're applying. You can download Form SS-4 from the IRS website at IRS.gov. If you apply online, the IRS collects the same information through its web application — no separate form needed.