How to Get an EIN
Your EIN is free and takes 15 minutes at IRS.gov. Every step with screenshots of the real IRS application, taken 22 July 2026, plus what to do after.
In This Article
- Your EIN is completely free at IRS.gov and takes about 15 minutes to obtain online.
- Form your LLC or corporation with your state before applying for your EIN.
- The IRS EIN tool now runs seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sunday evenings.
- Never pay a third-party site $50 to $319 for a service the IRS provides at $0.
Getting an EIN costs $0 and takes roughly 15 minutes through the IRS online application. You need your SSN or ITIN, your legal business name (matching your state filing), and your entity type. The tool runs seven days a week, Monday to Friday 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. Eastern, Saturday 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 6 p.m. to midnight, and you receive your EIN instantly on screen.
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An EIN is a nine-digit tax ID the IRS gives your business. It is free. You can get one online at IRS.gov in about 15 minutes, and the number appears on screen at the end. Other sites charge $50 to $319 to file the same free form, so skip them.
An EIN is a nine-digit tax ID. The IRS gives them to businesses, nonprofits, estates and trusts. Think of it as a Social Security number for your business. The IRS uses it to track your tax filings and your payroll reports.
You need one if you have employees, run a corporation or partnership, or operate an LLC with more than one member. Banks ask for it too. Even sole proprietors who do not strictly need one often get an EIN, to keep their SSN off W-9 forms and invoices.
The paper version is Form SS-4. The online tool fills it in for you behind the scenes. You never touch the paper unless you apply by fax or mail.
Run through this checklist first. There is no save button, and the session times out after 15 minutes of inactivity, so a missing document means starting again.
- Entity formed with your state. Your LLC, corporation, or nonprofit must already be registered with your Secretary of State. If you have not done this yet, check our guide to business entity types to pick the right structure first.
- Legal business name. Copy it exactly from your Articles of Organization or Incorporation. The IRS only accepts letters (A-Z), numbers (0-9), hyphens (-), and ampersands (&). Spell out or drop any other symbols.
- SSN or ITIN of the responsible party. The responsible party is the person who controls or manages the entity. A nominee (like a hired agent) cannot apply.
- Physical business address. You need both a mailing address and a physical street address. The street address field does not accept P.O. Boxes, and addresses are capped at 35 characters.
- Entity type. Know your structure, LLC, S Corp, C Corp, sole proprietor, partnership, estate, trust or nonprofit.
- Number of LLC members (if applying as an LLC).
- Date business was started or acquired.
- Primary business activity. For example, "consulting," "retail sales," or "construction."
No U.S. address means no online tool. International applicants call the IRS on 267-941-1099, which is not toll free, Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern. Form SS-4 also goes by fax or by mail.
Step-by-Step Process
- 1
Form Your Business Entity with Your State First
Before you open the IRS EIN application, your LLC, corporation, or partnership must already be legally formed with your state's Secretary of State. The IRS checks this information, and applying before your entity is officially registered can delay or block your application.
Sole proprietors can skip this. With no employees you go straight to the EIN application. LLCs, corporations, partnerships and nonprofits need their Articles of Organization or Incorporation approved first. Speed varies by state, same day in Texas and Wyoming, 5 to 10 business days in New York and California.
$0 (state filing fees already paid during formation) Same day to 10 business days depending on state SBA.govTips
- Have your state-approved formation documents in front of you so you can copy the exact legal name.
- If you need to register your business name, see our guide on <a href='/start/how-to-choose-a-business-name'>how to choose a business name</a>.
Common Mistakes
- Applying for an EIN before your LLC or corporation is approved by the state, causing IRS rejection.
- Using a trade name or DBA instead of your legal entity name from your Articles of Organization.
- 2
Gather Your Required Information
The IRS online application cannot be saved partway through. It times out after 15 minutes of inactivity, forcing you to start over. Have everything ready before you begin.
Six things sit on the critical path. The responsible party's SSN or ITIN. Your entity's legal name, exactly as filed with the state. A physical street address, because that field rejects P.O. Boxes. The date the business started or was acquired. Your entity type. And the member count if you are filing as an LLC.
Tips
- The responsible party must be a real person (not another company) who controls or manages the entity.
- The IRS only accepts letters A-Z, numbers 0-9, hyphens, and ampersands in business names. Spell out or remove symbols like periods and apostrophes.
- If you have an LLC <a href='/start/llc-operating-agreement'>operating agreement</a>, check it for the correct responsible party designation.
Common Mistakes
- Not having your SSN or ITIN handy, causing the session to time out before you finish.
- Entering a shortened business name instead of the full legal name registered with your state.
- Listing a nominee or accountant as the responsible party instead of the person who actually controls the entity.
- 3
Open the IRS EIN Assistant
Go to IRS.gov and open the EIN tool. This is the only official free application. Checked on 22 July 2026, the IRS runs it seven days a week, Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. Eastern, Saturday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 6 p.m. to midnight.
The landing page carries three rules that catch people out. There is no save button. You finish in one sitting, the session dies after 15 minutes of inactivity, and the IRS issues one EIN per responsible party per day however you apply.
The IRS landing page. Captured 22 July 2026. Watch the domain. Scam sites use names like irs-ein-federal-tax-id.com and charge $79 to $319 for this same free form. If the address does not end in .gov, close the tab.
Tips
- Bookmark the official IRS page so you never land on a paid impostor site by accident.
- The tool is open on Saturdays and Sunday evenings, so a weekday morning is not your only chance.
- Have everything in front of you before you click Begin Application Now, the 15 minute clock is real.
Common Mistakes
- Clicking a Google Ad for a third-party EIN service that charges $50 to $319 for a free government form.
- Starting the application without your documents, then losing the session to the 15 minute timeout.
- Applying twice in one day, which the IRS blocks at one EIN per responsible party.
- 4
Work Through the Six Stages
The assistant runs in six numbered stages, Legal Structure, Identity, Addresses, Additional Details, Review and Submit, then EIN Assignment. A progress bar across the top tracks where you are.
Stage one asks for your legal structure. There are eight choices. An LLC taxed as an S corporation still picks Limited Liability Company here, not Corporations.
Stage 1, the eight legal structures. Captured 22 July 2026. Pick LLC and two more questions open on the same screen. How many members, and which state the business sits in. Enter two or more and the IRS classifies you as a partnership by default. It says so on the spot.
Member count and state, with the partnership warning. Captured 22 July 2026. Then it asks why you are applying. Five reasons are offered and Started a new business is the usual one. The others are hired employees, banking purposes, changed type of organization, and purchased active business.
The five reasons the IRS accepts. Captured 22 July 2026. Stage two is Identity. It wants the responsible party's SSN or ITIN, their legal name, and your role. The IRS checks this against its own records. Type the name exactly as the Social Security Administration holds it.
Stage 2, the responsible party. Captured 22 July 2026. Stages three and four take your addresses, your legal name, the start date and your main business activity. Two formatting rules bite here. Street addresses stop at 35 characters, so shorten Suite to Ste. Business names take only letters, numbers, hyphens and ampersands. A period becomes a space. An apostrophe simply comes out.
Tips
- An LLC that elected S corp taxation still selects LLC at stage one, not Corporations.
- If you are forming an LLC and want S corp taxation, get the EIN first, then file <a href='/start/how-to-start-an-s-corp'>Form 2553</a> separately.
- Read the blue confirmation panels. They tell you your default tax classification before you are locked into it.
Common Mistakes
- Selecting Corporations because the LLC elected S corp taxation, when the IRS wants LLC.
- Entering a P.O. Box in the street address field, which the IRS does not accept there.
- Typing a shortened business name instead of the one on your state formation documents, which triggers Reference Number 101.
- 5
Save Your EIN Confirmation
If the application is approved, the IRS shows your nine-digit EIN on screen at stage six and offers the confirmation notice, the CP 575, as a PDF. Download it there and then. The IRS recommends installing a PDF reader before you start for exactly this moment.
Losing that file is no longer fatal. The IRS lists three ways to confirm an EIN afterwards, a business tax transcript, a digital CP575 downloaded from a Business Tax Account, or Letter 147C requested by phone on 800-829-4933. It is still faster to save the PDF than to chase any of the three.
Tips
- Save the PDF to cloud storage and print one copy for your business records.
- Eligible Business Tax Account users can download a digital CP575 that substitutes for the original notice.
- If you cannot find your EIN at all, call 800-829-4933, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time.
Common Mistakes
- Closing the browser at stage six before downloading the confirmation.
- Assuming a bank will take a screenshot of the number rather than the CP 575 itself.
- 6
Complete Your Post-EIN Setup Tasks
Your EIN is active immediately for most purposes. Open a business bank account to separate personal and business finances. If you have employees, enroll in the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) so you can make payroll tax deposits.
A change of responsible party, name or address means filing Form 8822-B. The clock is short. Responsible party changes go in within 60 days. On banking, the IRS lists opening an account as an immediate use, so there is no wait. Give it two weeks before you e-file, deposit tax electronically, or lean on IRS TIN matching.
If you formed an LLC, do not forget to check whether your state requires an annual report, get a registered agent if you have not already, and review any business licenses and permits you may need.
Tips
- Apply for state tax IDs separately if your state requires them (most states with income or sales tax do).
- Update your client contracts and invoices with your new EIN if you are a <a href='/start/llc-for-freelancers'>freelancer with an LLC</a>.
- Keep your EIN confirmation with your operating agreement and formation documents in one secure location.
Common Mistakes
- Forgetting to report a change of responsible party to the IRS within the 60-day window.
- E-filing a return or scheduling an electronic tax deposit in the first fortnight, before the number is fully live in IRS systems.
- Not applying for a separate state tax ID when your state requires one for sales tax or withholding.
The EIN costs $0. Online, fax, mail and the international phone line are all free at IRS.gov. There is no government fee on an EIN at all.
Third-party websites exploit confusing branding (domain names that look official) to charge you $50 to $319 for filing the same free form. One site charges $319 for "express delivery" of an EIN. The IRS provides instant delivery for $0. If you see a charge on any EIN application page, close the tab and go directly to IRS.gov.
One case justifies paying. A complex trust or estate where the classification is genuinely unclear is worth an attorney, and that runs $150 to $500. For a standard LLC, corporation or sole proprietorship, there is no reason to pay anyone.
Your EIN is active the moment the IRS issues it online. Here is what to do next, in order of priority.
- Open a business bank account. Most banks require your EIN confirmation (CP 575 letter) plus your Articles of Organization. The IRS lists opening a bank account under immediate use, so you do not have to wait. The up to two week wait applies to e-filing, electronic tax deposits and TIN matching. Compare options in our best business bank accounts guide.
- Set up payroll (if hiring). Register with the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) and your state's payroll tax agency.
- File for S Corp election (if desired). Submit Form 2553 within 75 days of forming your entity if you want your LLC taxed as an S Corp. Learn more in our LLC vs S Corp comparison.
- Get required licenses and permits. Federal, state, and local licenses depend on your industry. See our full business licenses and permits guide.
- Hire a registered agent (if required). Every LLC and corporation needs a registered agent in the state of formation. Costs run $49 to $300 per year if you use a service.
- Set up bookkeeping. Connect your bank feeds to an accounting tool so every transaction is tracked from day one. If you want AI to handle categorization and reconciliation automatically, see our guide to AI bookkeeping for small business.
- Keep records current. If your responsible party changes, file Form 8822-B within 60 days.
The online application takes roughly 15 minutes. The number appears on screen. You can use it the same day to open a bank account, apply for licences and file a paper return.
Fax is the middle option. Send Form SS-4 to 855-641-6935 and the IRS faxes back a cover sheet with your EIN in about 4 business days. Mail to the Cincinnati EIN Operation takes roughly 4 weeks. International applicants who call 267-941-1099 are told the number on the call.
You download the CP 575 confirmation yourself at the end. Losing it is not fatal. The IRS offers three replacements, a business tax transcript, a digital CP575 through a Business Tax Account, or Letter 147C by phone.
Paying a third-party site. The IRS explicitly warns to "beware of websites that charge for an EIN." You never have to pay a fee for an EIN. If you see a price tag, you are on the wrong site.
Applying before your entity is formed. Apply before your state approves the LLC or corporation and the IRS may reject you. Finish state registration first. Sole proprietors are the exception, they have nothing to file.
Using the wrong business name. The name must match your state formation documents exactly. Say your Articles of Organization read "Smith Consulting LLC" and you type "Smith Consulting". That drops the LLC. The mismatch can throw an error now, or surface later at the bank.
Selecting the wrong entity type. If your LLC elected S Corp taxation, you still select "LLC" on the EIN application (not "S Corporation"). Choosing the wrong type can cause the IRS to assign you incorrect tax filing requirements.
Listing a nominee as the responsible party. The responsible party must be a real individual who controls or manages the entity. Using a registered agent, accountant, or attorney as the responsible party violates IRS rules and can trigger complications.
Submitting duplicate applications. Fax and mail are slow. Do not file again while you wait. The IRS caps issuance at one EIN per responsible party per day, and a second try just creates conflicting records.
Forgetting to update the IRS after changes. A new responsible party, name or address means filing Form 8822-B. That one has a deadline. Responsible party changes go in within 60 days, and skipping it can bounce a tax filing.
Applying without knowing what the EIN is for. A US LLC owned by one non US person usually needs an EIN only so it can file an information return, and the SS-4 has its own wording for that case. See Form 5472 for foreign owned US LLCs before you fill in line 9a.
When the online application fails, and what Reference Number 101 means
The assistant throws a code and stops. No explanation, no retry, and your formation is stuck behind it. Reference Number 101 is the one people hit most.
Start with the honest part. The IRS does not publish what its reference numbers mean. We checked its EIN pages on 30 July 2026 and there is no public list, so anyone telling you exactly what 101 signifies is repeating another blog. What is documented is everything below, and between them these cover most failed applications.
The rule that catches the most people is the daily limit. The IRS allows only 1 EIN per responsible party per day, and that applies whether you go online, by phone, by fax or by mail. If you already filed once today, under any method, a second attempt fails. Waiting until tomorrow fixes it.
Next, check the clock. The online assistant is not open all the time. Eastern time it runs Monday to Friday 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. the next day, Saturday 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Sunday 6:00 p.m. to midnight. Outside those windows it fails rather than queueing.
If neither explains it, stop retrying. Switch route instead. Fax Form SS-4 to 855-641-6935, and if you include your own fax number the IRS faxes the number back in about 4 business days. Mail it to the EIN Operation in Cincinnati and expect roughly 4 weeks. Both work when the online path will not.
If your business sits outside the United States you cannot use the online tool at all. Call 267-941-1099, Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern. That line exists precisely because the online assistant needs a Social Security number or ITIN for the responsible party, and plenty of founders do not have one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & References
About the Author
Legal & Compliance Analyst
Daniel grew up in the shadow of Silicon Valley but chose the legal route over engineering, working as a paralegal for a corporate law firm specializing in mergers and acquisitions. He realized that early-stage founders were constantly making catastrophic legal mistakes because they couldn't afford a $500/hour attorney, prompting his move to B2B media.
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