Quick answer: Apply at irs.gov using the “Apply for an EIN Online” tool. It is free, takes about 10 minutes, and you get your Employer Identification Number immediately as a downloadable confirmation (CP 575). Any website that charges a fee for an EIN is a third-party filing service, not the IRS. You need a Social Security number or ITIN for the person applying, and the business must be located in the United States or its territories.
Key Takeaways
- An EIN is always free directly from the IRS at irs.gov; third-party sites charging $50-$300 are not the IRS
- Apply online Monday-Friday during IRS hours and you receive the number immediately as a PDF confirmation
- You need a valid SSN or ITIN for the responsible party, and the entity must be located in the U.S. or its territories
- One EIN per responsible party per day; sole proprietors, LLCs, corporations, partnerships, estates, and trusts all use the same online form
- Keep the CP 575 confirmation letter; banks and payroll providers will ask for it
What is an EIN and who needs one?
An EIN is a nine-digit federal tax ID for a business or other entity, formatted XX-XXXXXXX. You need one if you have employees, operate as a corporation or partnership, file employment or excise tax returns, withhold taxes on income paid to a nonresident alien, or have a Keogh plan. Most single-member LLCs and sole proprietors without employees are not legally required to have one, but nearly all get one anyway because banks require it to open a business account, it keeps your SSN off contracts and W-9 forms, and many payment processors and marketplaces ask for it. Estates and trusts also apply for EINs.
Before you apply: what you need
- Legal name of the entity and any trade name (DBA)
- The responsible party: an individual who controls or owns the entity, with a valid SSN or ITIN
- Mailing address and, if different, physical location
- Type of entity (sole proprietor, LLC, corporation, partnership, estate, trust, nonprofit) and, for LLCs, the number of members
- Reason for applying (started a new business, hired employees, banking purposes, changed organization type)
- Date the business started or was acquired, and the closing month of your accounting year
- Whether you expect to have employees in the next 12 months and, if so, how many
If your LLC was formed at the state level, form it first and use the exact legal name from your formation documents.
How to apply online step by step
- Go to irs.gov and search “Apply for an EIN Online,” or navigate to Businesses → Employer ID Numbers. Confirm the address bar shows irs.gov.
- Click “Apply Online Now” during available hours (the tool is open Monday through Friday during posted hours, Eastern time, and is not available on weekends).
- Select the entity type and answer the questions about why you are applying and how the entity is structured.
- Enter the responsible party’s name and SSN or ITIN, then the entity’s addresses and start date.
- Choose how to receive the confirmation: online (PDF immediately) or by mail (up to four weeks).
- Review and submit. Download and save the CP 575 confirmation letter right away; the IRS does not let you re-download it later.
The session times out after 15 minutes of inactivity, so have your information ready before you start.
Applying by fax, mail, or phone
| Method | How | Time to receive EIN |
|---|---|---|
| Online | irs.gov EIN Assistant | Immediately |
| Fax | Form SS-4 to the IRS fax number for your state | About 4 business days |
| Form SS-4 to the IRS address listed in the instructions | About 4 weeks | |
| Phone (international applicants only) | Call the IRS international EIN line | Same call |
Applicants without an SSN or ITIN, or with a principal business outside the U.S., cannot use the online tool and must apply by phone, fax, or mail using Form SS-4.
How to spot paid look-alike sites
Search results for “get an EIN” are full of ads for services charging $50 to $300 to “file your EIN.” They fill out the same free IRS form on your behalf. Signs you are not on the IRS site: a .com domain, a price, a request for credit card details, or promises of “expedited” processing. The IRS never charges for an EIN and never emails or texts you an EIN. If you already paid a third party, the EIN itself is still valid; just make sure you have the CP 575 letter.
After you get your EIN
- Open a business bank account (bring the CP 575 and formation documents).
- Use the EIN instead of your SSN on W-9 forms from clients and platforms.
- Register for state tax accounts (sales tax, state employer ID) if required.
- If you hire employees, set up payroll tax deposits and file Forms 941/940.
- Keep the responsible party information current with Form 8822-B if it changes.
FAQ
Does an EIN expire? No. Once assigned it belongs to that entity permanently, even if you never use it.
Do I need a new EIN if I change from sole proprietor to LLC? Usually yes when the entity type changes; the IRS lists the situations on its “Do you need a new EIN?” page.
Can I look up my EIN if I lost it? Check the CP 575 letter, old tax returns, or bank records; otherwise call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line to have it confirmed.
How many EINs can I get? One per responsible party per day, and one per entity.
Is an EIN the same as a business license? No. Licenses come from your state or city; the EIN is only a federal tax ID.
Sources
- IRS: Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) online
- IRS: Do you need an EIN?
- IRS Form SS-4
Last updated: August 17, 2026. Written by the InfoBrief Editorial team. We link to official sources and update articles when facts change. See our disclosure.