How to Apply for a Tax ID (EIN) for Your Business
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is your business's federal tax ID. Learn who needs one, what it takes to apply, and how to get yours from the IRS — free and often the same day.
Bizee Editorial Staff
Editorial Team
Introduction
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a 9-digit federal tax ID the IRS uses to identify your business. Most LLCs, corporations, and partnerships need one — and applying is free through the IRS. Online applications are processed immediately, so you can have your EIN the same day you apply.
What is an EIN and why does your business need one?
An EIN — short for Employer Identification Number — is a 9-digit number the IRS assigns to identify a business for federal tax purposes. Think of it as a Social Security number for your business. You'll use it to file taxes, open a business bank account, hire employees, and apply for business credit.
It's also called a Tax ID number, a Federal Tax ID, or a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN). They all refer to the same thing. Once the IRS issues your EIN, it's permanent — it stays with your business for its lifetime.
Who needs an EIN?
Most businesses need an EIN. If your business is structured as an LLC, corporation, or partnership, you need one. If you're a sole proprietor with no employees and you file taxes under your Social Security number, you may not — but most sole proprietors still get one to keep their personal Social Security number off business documents.
- Your business is an LLC, corporation, or partnership
- You have or plan to hire employees
- You want to open a business bank account
- You're applying for a business loan or line of credit
- You're withholding taxes on income paid to non-resident aliens
- You want to keep your Social Security number off business paperwork
Getting an EIN early — even before you technically need one — is one of those small steps that makes everything else easier down the road.
How to apply for an EIN
There are 4 ways to apply for an EIN: online through the IRS, by fax, by mail, or by phone (for international applicants only). Online is the fastest — you get your EIN immediately after completing the application. The IRS doesn't charge a fee for any of these methods.
Online (fastest — same day)
Apply through the IRS EIN Assistant at irs.gov/ein. The tool walks you through a series of questions about your business structure and collects the information needed to issue your EIN. Once you submit, the IRS confirms your EIN immediately and lets you download a PDF confirmation letter. You'll need a valid Taxpayer Identification Number — your Social Security number or ITIN — to use the online tool. The online application is available Monday through Friday, 7 AM – 10 PM ET.
By fax (about 4 business days)
Complete IRS Form SS-4 and fax it to the IRS. Processing takes about 4 business days. The IRS faxes your EIN back to the number you provide on the form. This method works if you can't use the online tool but don't want to wait for mail.
By mail (about 4 weeks)
Mail a completed Form SS-4 to the IRS. Processing takes approximately 4 weeks. This is the slowest option and only makes sense if fax and online aren't available to you. The IRS mails your EIN confirmation to the address on the form.
By phone (international applicants only)
If you don't have a legal residence or principal place of business in the United States, you can apply by calling the IRS directly. This option is not available to domestic applicants — if you're based in the U.S., use the online tool or Form SS-4.
What you need before you apply
Before you start the IRS application — online or on Form SS-4 — have this information ready. The IRS will ask for it during the process, and the online tool doesn't let you save and return, so it's worth gathering everything first.
- Your business's legal name as registered with the state
- Your business's mailing address
- The legal structure of your business (LLC, corporation, sole proprietorship, partnership, etc.)
- The name and Social Security number or ITIN of the responsible party — the person who controls the business
- The reason you're applying (starting a new business, hiring employees, banking requirements, etc.)
- The date your business started or was formed
- The principal business activity and the products or services you provide
The IRS calls the person who controls the business the "responsible party." For most small businesses, that's the owner. For an LLC, it's typically the member or manager who controls the entity's finances and operations. You can only designate one responsible party per EIN application.
What to do after you get your EIN
Your EIN is active as soon as the IRS issues it. For online applications, that's the moment you complete the process — you can download your confirmation letter right away and start using the number immediately.
Save your EIN confirmation letter. It's the official IRS record of your number, and banks, lenders, and state agencies will ask for it. If you lose it, you can call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line to retrieve your EIN — but that takes time you don't want to spend.
- Open a business bank account — most banks require your EIN to open a business checking account
- File your federal and state business tax returns using your EIN
- Set up payroll if you're hiring employees
- Apply for business credit cards or loans
- Register for state tax accounts where required
FAQ
Generally, yes. Most LLCs need an EIN. If your LLC has more than 1 member, has employees, or is taxed as a corporation or partnership, an EIN is required. Even single-member LLCs with no employees typically get one to open a business bank account and keep their Social Security number off business documents.
Yes. An EIN is a type of tax ID. "Tax ID," "Federal Tax ID," "Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN)," and "EIN" all refer to the same 9-digit number the IRS assigns to your business. The terms are used interchangeably, though EIN is the official IRS term.
Apply directly through the IRS at irs.gov/ein. The online application is free, takes about 15 minutes, and issues your EIN immediately upon completion. The tool is available Monday through Friday, 7 AM – 10 PM ET. If you can't use the online tool, you can file Form SS-4 by fax (about 4 business days) or mail (about 4 weeks).
Nothing, if you apply directly through the IRS. The IRS does not charge a fee to issue an EIN, whether you apply online, by fax, or by mail. Third-party services charge a fee to handle the application on your behalf — that fee covers their time, not an IRS charge.
It depends. A DBA ("doing business as") is a trade name, not a separate legal entity — so it doesn't get its own EIN. The EIN belongs to the underlying legal entity: your LLC, corporation, or sole proprietorship. If you're operating under a DBA, use the EIN already assigned to your business entity.
Check your original IRS EIN confirmation letter first — it's the most reliable source. You can also find your EIN on previously filed federal tax returns, business bank account documents, or any state tax filings. If you can't locate it, call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933 to retrieve it.
Form SS-4 is the IRS application form for an EIN. When you apply online through the IRS EIN Assistant, the tool collects the same information Form SS-4 asks for — you just don't fill out the paper form. If you apply by fax or mail, you complete Form SS-4 directly and send it to the IRS.
Your EIN is active immediately. Save your IRS confirmation letter — banks and lenders will ask for it. Use your EIN to open a business bank account, set up payroll if you're hiring, file your federal tax returns, and apply for business credit. Most of these steps require your EIN, so having it ready early keeps things moving.
