How to Get an EIN: Free Application Step by Step

How do I get an EIN? To get an EIN, gather your business information (legal name, structure, address, and responsible party SSN/ITIN), apply online for free at IRS.gov, complete Form SS-4 in one sitting, and receive your EIN confirmation letter (CP 575) instantly upon completion.

An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is the federal tax ID for your business — like a Social Security number, but for a company. Almost every U.S. business needs one, even if you have zero employees. This guide walks you through what an EIN is, when you need one, how to apply step by step, what to do if you lose it, and the most common mistakes that delay approval.

What Is an EIN?

An EIN is a nine-digit number (formatted XX-XXXXXXX) assigned by the IRS to identify a business entity for tax purposes. It is sometimes called a Federal Tax Identification Number, Federal EIN, or FEIN. The number is permanent — it stays with the business for its entire life and is never reassigned, even after a business closes.

The EIN is what banks, payroll providers, insurance companies, state agencies, and the IRS itself use to track your business. Every tax filing your business submits — federal, state, or local — references this number.

Do I Need an EIN?

You need an EIN if any of the following are true:

You operate a corporation, multi-member LLC, partnership, or non-profit
You have any employees (including yourself if you elect S-corp tax treatment)
You file employment, excise, or alcohol/tobacco/firearms tax returns
You withhold taxes on income paid to non-resident aliens
You have a Keogh plan or 401(k)
You want to open a business bank account
You want to apply for a business credit card or business loan

Single-member LLCs and sole proprietors without employees technically can use a Social Security number for tax filings, but almost every founder gets an EIN anyway — it is free, takes 10 minutes, and lets you open a bank account, file 1099s for contractors, and avoid sharing your personal SSN on vendor paperwork.

How to Get an EIN: Step-by-Step

Form your business first. The IRS requires your business to legally exist before issuing an EIN. File your articles of organization with the state and wait for the stamped confirmation.
Gather information. You will need the legal business name, mailing address, formation date, business activity (NAICS-style description), and the name and SSN/ITIN of the “responsible party” — the human being who controls the entity.
Open the IRS EIN application. Go to the IRS Online EIN Application. It is free and available Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern.
Complete the form in one session. The session times out after 15 minutes of inactivity, and you cannot save progress. Have everything ready before you start.
Submit and download your EIN letter. If approved (which is almost always immediate), you will receive your EIN on-screen and can download the official CP 575 letter as a PDF.
Save the CP 575 in two places. The IRS only issues the original letter once. Banks specifically ask for it. Store the PDF in cloud storage with a backup, and print one copy for your records.

EIN Application Methods Compared

Method	Speed	Cost	Best For
Online (IRS.gov)	Instant	Free	U.S. business with U.S. responsible party
Fax (Form SS-4)	4 business days	Free	Backup if online fails
Mail (Form SS-4)	4–6 weeks	Free	Slow but always works
Phone (international only)	Same day	Free	Foreign applicants
Third-party service	1–3 days	$75–$250	If you want it done for you

Avoid the third-party services unless you genuinely cannot apply yourself. The IRS process is free, the form takes 10 minutes, and paid services do nothing different — they just charge a fee to submit the same form on your behalf.

EIN Requirements by Business Structure

Sole proprietorship

Optional unless you have employees, file excise tax, or have a Keogh plan. Most sole proprietors get one anyway to keep their SSN off business paperwork.

Single-member LLC

Technically optional for tax filings (treated as a disregarded entity), but required for opening a business bank account, hiring employees, or electing S-corp treatment.

Multi-member LLC, partnership, corporation, non-profit

Required. The IRS treats these as separate entities for tax purposes and assigns its own EIN.

What to Do After You Get Your EIN

Save the CP 575 letter in cloud storage and print one copy.
Open a business bank account using the EIN.
Register for state taxes (sales, employer, franchise — whatever applies in your state).
Apply for any required business licenses.
Set up payroll services if you plan to hire — they will ask for the EIN immediately.
File the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) report with FinCEN within 90 days of formation.
Use the EIN on every W-9, 1099, and invoice to vendors.

How to Find a Lost EIN

If you lose your EIN, check these sources before calling the IRS:

The CP 575 confirmation letter from the IRS
Old tax returns (Form 1120, 1120-S, 1065, or 941)
Bank account opening paperwork
Business license applications
Past payroll filings

If none of those work, call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933 (M–F, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. local time). They will issue a substitute confirmation letter, Form 147C, after verifying your identity.

Common Mistakes When Applying for an EIN

Using a third-party service unnecessarily. Always apply directly at IRS.gov first.
Applying before the LLC is formed. The state stamp on your articles must come first.
Listing the wrong responsible party. The IRS expects the actual person who controls the entity, not a registered agent or attorney.
Applying multiple times. A business gets only one EIN — applying again creates duplicates and tax-filing chaos.
Losing the CP 575. Save a digital copy the moment you receive it.
Choosing the wrong entity type. Once you select “LLC” or “Corporation” on the form, changing it requires an IRS letter and weeks of delay.

When You Need a New EIN

You need a brand-new EIN — not just an update — if:

A sole proprietorship incorporates or becomes an LLC
A partnership incorporates or becomes an LLC
A corporation changes to a partnership or sole proprietorship
A business is purchased or inherited as a sole proprietorship
A corporation receives a new charter from the state

You do NOT need a new EIN for: changing the business name (file Form 8822-B), moving to a new address, adding owners to an LLC (as long as it stays an LLC), or electing S-corp tax treatment (file Form 2553 instead).

EINs for Foreign-Owned U.S. Businesses

If you are a non-U.S. resident forming a U.S. LLC, you cannot use the online IRS application — it requires a U.S. SSN or ITIN. Instead, fax Form SS-4 to the IRS at +1-855-215-1627 (international) and the EIN is typically issued within 4 business days. Some founders also call the international EIN line at +1-267-941-1099 for same-day issuance.

Cost to Get an EIN

Free. The IRS does not charge any fee to issue an EIN, ever. If a website asks for payment to “get your EIN,” they are a paid filing service — you can do the same thing yourself at IRS.gov for nothing. The only legitimate cost is the optional $75–$250 fee a third-party service might charge for the convenience of filing on your behalf.

How an EIN Fits Into the Bigger Picture

Your EIN is one of the core documents needed to start a business. The typical order is:

Form your LLC or corporation at the state level
Get your EIN from the IRS
Open a business bank account
Apply for any required licenses and permits
Register for state taxes
File the BOI report with FinCEN

Skipping or reordering these steps is the most common reason new businesses run into trouble in their first six months. Keep them in order and the rest of your launch goes smoothly.

How an EIN Affects Your Taxes

Once you have an EIN, the IRS expects to see annual tax filings under that number — even in years when the business made no money. The filing requirement depends on the entity type. A single-member LLC files Schedule C with the owner’s personal 1040. A multi-member LLC files Form 1065 plus K-1s for each owner. An S-corp files Form 1120-S, a C-corp files Form 1120, and a partnership files Form 1065. Skipping a year because there was no revenue does not exempt the entity — the IRS expects a “zero return” so it knows the business is still active.

If you stop using a business but never formally close it, the EIN stays on the IRS books forever. You can request closure by mailing a letter to the IRS, including the EIN, business name, address, and reason for closing. This prevents future filing notices and penalties on a dormant entity.

EIN Privacy and Security

Your EIN is less sensitive than a Social Security number, but it should still be guarded. Bad actors can use a stolen EIN to file fraudulent tax returns, open fake credit accounts, or impersonate your business with vendors. Protect it by:

Never posting the EIN on your public website or social media
Using the EIN (not your SSN) on every W-9 — even with trusted vendors
Limiting who at your company has access to it (founder, CFO, accountant only)
Monitoring the IRS for any unauthorized filings — set up an IRS online account for your business
Shredding old paper filings rather than tossing them in regular recycling

What If My EIN Application Is Rejected?

The IRS rejects a small share of online EIN applications. The most common reasons are: the responsible party SSN is already linked to another active EIN application that day, the state has not yet processed the LLC formation, or the entity type does not match IRS records. If you see error code “101,” wait 24 hours and reapply — it usually clears. For persistent rejections, fax Form SS-4 instead; the manual review usually resolves whatever the online system flagged.

EIN Best Practices

Save the CP 575 in two places — cloud and print.
Never share your EIN publicly on a website; treat it like an SSN for the business.
Use your EIN on every W-9 you sign, not your personal SSN.
Update the IRS within 60 days of any name or address change using Form 8822-B.
Keep a written log of where you have provided the EIN — banks, payroll providers, state agencies, vendors. If the EIN is ever compromised, you will know who to alert.

EIN vs ITIN vs SSN

These three nine-digit numbers all come from the IRS but serve different purposes. An SSN (Social Security Number) identifies a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. An ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) identifies a foreign individual who has U.S. tax obligations but no SSN. An EIN identifies a business entity. When forming a U.S. LLC as a non-resident, you typically need either an SSN, an ITIN, or to apply for the EIN by fax/phone using “Foreign” in the SSN field.

Common EIN Scenarios

Freelancer starting an LLC: Form the LLC, apply for an EIN online the next day, then open a bank account.
Couple forming a multi-member LLC: One spouse is the “responsible party” on the SS-4 — it does not change ownership, just designates the IRS contact.
Single-member LLC adding a partner: No new EIN needed if you stay an LLC. You will need to start filing as a partnership (Form 1065) starting in the year the second member joined.
LLC electing S-corp treatment: Same EIN. File Form 2553 with the IRS within 2.5 months of the start of the tax year you want the election to apply.
Buying a business as a sole proprietor: You need a brand-new EIN even if the prior owner had one — EINs do not transfer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an EIN the same as a tax ID?

Yes — “EIN,” “Federal Tax ID,” “FEIN,” and “Federal Employer Identification Number” all refer to the same nine-digit IRS-assigned number for businesses.

How long does it take to get an EIN?

Instantly via the online IRS application, 4 business days via fax, and 4–6 weeks via mail. The online option is by far the fastest and is available to anyone with a U.S. SSN or ITIN.

Can two businesses share the same EIN?

No. Each separate legal entity gets its own EIN. If you operate multiple businesses under one LLC (with DBAs), they share the parent LLC’s EIN, but separately formed LLCs or corporations each need their own.

Next step: with your EIN in hand, open a business bank account and start collecting your other startup documents.