How to Get an EIN Number for Free: Step by Step
To get an EIN, apply on the IRS website: the application takes one session, and if the IRS approves it, you get your number on the spot.
It costs nothing. The IRS says you never have to pay a fee for an EIN and warns against websites that charge for one.
What is an EIN?
An Employer Identification Number, or EIN, is the federal tax ID the IRS gives to a business. It goes on tax returns, bank forms, payroll and the W-9 you hand to clients.
The name misleads people. You don't need employees to get one, and the IRS issues EINs to LLCs, partnerships, corporations, trusts and nonprofits. You may also see it called a federal tax ID number or FEIN.
An EIN is one kind of taxpayer identification number, or TIN. Here is how it compares with the other two you will see on IRS forms:
| Number | Who gets it | Typical business use |
|---|---|---|
| EIN | Businesses and other entities | Business returns, payroll, bank accounts, client W-9s |
| SSN | U.S. citizens and eligible residents | A sole proprietor with no employees can use it |
| ITIN | People who can't get an SSN | Lets the responsible party apply for an EIN online |
Do you need an EIN?
You need an EIN if you hire employees, run an LLC, partnership or corporation, or owe employment or excise taxes. Those are the core cases on the IRS list, which also covers trusts, estates, nonprofits and businesses that withhold tax on income paid to a nonresident alien.
A sole proprietor with no employees isn't on that list, so you can run the business under your Social Security number. Get the EIN anyway. It costs $0, takes one session, and keeps your SSN off every W-9 you send to clients, which matters once you start getting 1099-NECs. The IRS also lets you request one for banking or state tax purposes even when federal law doesn't require it.
| Your situation | EIN required? | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Sole proprietor, no employees | No | Get one for free to keep your SSN private |
| Sole proprietor hiring your first employee | Yes | Apply before the first payroll |
| Single-member LLC | Yes, per the IRS list | Apply right after the state approves the LLC |
| Multi-member LLC or partnership | Yes | Apply after the state filing |
| Corporation or S corporation | Yes | Apply after the state issues the charter |
Not sure which structure fits? The guide to LLC vs sole proprietorship compares cost, taxes and liability side by side.
What do you need before you apply for an EIN?
Have four things ready before you open the tool, because the online session can't be saved. After 15 minutes of inactivity it expires and you start over.
The responsible party must be a person, not a company, and a nominee who only helped file your state paperwork can't apply. Names follow IRS formatting rules: only letters, numbers, hyphens and ampersands. Spell out symbols, so "Jones.Com" becomes "Jones Dot Com", and keep the street address within 35 characters.
If you are forming an LLC, finish that step first. The IRS warns that applying before your secretary of state approves the entity may delay the EIN. The how to form an LLC guide covers the state filing.
How do you apply for an EIN online?
Use the IRS online application. It is the only method that gives you the number the same day, and most small businesses qualify:
- Form your entity: LLCs and corporations register with the state first. Sole proprietors skip this step.
- Open the IRS tool during its hours: go to the Get an EIN page and click Apply for an EIN.
- Pick your entity type and responsible party: enter the owner's name and SSN or ITIN.
- Enter your business details: legal name, address, start date, activity and employees. Answer every screen in one sitting.
- Submit and save the letter: download and print the EIN confirmation notice, the CP 575, before you close the page.
The tool runs on a schedule, so plan around it:
| Day | Online EIN hours (Eastern time) |
|---|---|
| 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. |
| Sunday | 6:00 p.m. to midnight |
The IRS also limits you to one EIN per responsible party per day, whichever method you use. If you own two businesses that each need a number, apply on separate days.
How long does it take to get an EIN?
Online, you get the EIN immediately after approval. The IRS gives these times for the other methods, all of which use Form SS-4:
| Method | Who can use it | Time to get the EIN |
|---|---|---|
| Online | U.S. businesses with an SSN or ITIN for the responsible party | Immediately, if approved |
| Fax to 855-641-6935 | U.S. businesses | About 4 business days |
| Mail to the IRS in Cincinnati, OH | U.S. businesses | About 4 weeks, longer when inventory is high |
You can use the new number right away to open a bank account, apply for business licenses or file a paper return. For e-filing, electronic tax deposits and the IRS TIN matching program, the IRS says to wait up to 2 weeks while the number reaches every system.
How much does an EIN cost?
An EIN costs $0. Paid filing services submit the same free IRS application for you and charge a fee for it. If a page asks for a credit card, you aren't on IRS.gov. Close it and go to the official Get an EIN page, where the address ends in irs.gov.
Can you get an EIN without an SSN?
Yes, but not online. The online tool needs the responsible party's SSN or ITIN, and it doesn't accept applicants whose principal place of business is outside the U.S. If that's your case, send Form SS-4 by fax or mail. International applicants can also call 267-941-1099, Monday to Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern time.
How do you find a lost EIN?
Check your own paperwork first. The IRS suggests this order:
The IRS verifies your identity on the call and gives the number only to someone authorized to receive it. If a bank or lender wants written proof, ask for Letter 147C, the IRS confirmation of a previously assigned EIN.
When do you need a new EIN?
You need a new EIN when the ownership or structure of the business changes, not when the name or address changes. These are the common cases for small businesses, from the IRS rules on new EINs:
| Change | New EIN? |
|---|---|
| Sole proprietor incorporates or forms a partnership | Yes |
| Sole proprietor declares bankruptcy | Yes |
| LLC ends and becomes a new corporation or partnership | Yes |
| Business changes its name or location | No |
| Sole proprietor owns several businesses | No, one EIN covers them |
| LLC or corporation elects S corporation taxes | No |
When the responsible party or business address changes, file Form 8822-B within 60 days instead of applying for a new number.
What should you do after you get an EIN?
Put the number to work the same week. Open a business bank account so sales and expenses stay apart, as the guide to separating business and personal finances explains. Then use the EIN on your state and local business license applications and on the W-9 you give clients. Some corporations and LLCs may also need to report their owners to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, so check the FinCEN beneficial ownership page for current rules.
Then start taking payments. You saw that the EIN costs $0 and can arrive in a single online session, so your first sale doesn't have to wait on paperwork. JIM works for sole proprietors and LLCs with one owner, turns your phone into a card reader with Tap to Pay at 1.99% per sale, and sends every card payment to your balance in seconds. At tax time, your card sales show up on one Form 1099-K under your SSN or EIN.
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