How to Obtain an EIN for Your Business
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is your business's federal tax ID. Learn what an EIN is, who needs one, how to apply through the IRS for free, and how Bizee can handle the process for you.
Bizee Editorial Staff
Editorial Team
Introduction
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is the federal tax ID the IRS assigns to your business. You'll need one to open a business bank account, hire employees, file certain tax returns, and keep your business finances separate from your personal ones. You can apply directly through the IRS for free, or have Bizee handle it for you.
What is an EIN?
An EIN — Employer Identification Number — is a 9-digit federal tax ID number the IRS assigns to a business. It works the way a Social Security number works for an individual: it identifies your business for tax purposes and appears on federal tax filings, payroll records, and financial accounts.
The IRS issues EINs through Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number. You can file that form online, by fax, or by mail. The online method is the fastest — the IRS issues your EIN immediately after you complete the application, as long as you apply between 7 AM and 10 PM ET, Monday through Friday.
Most people don't realize the IRS application takes only a few minutes and produces an EIN on the spot. The number is yours to use right away — no waiting period.
Who needs an EIN?
Most businesses need an EIN. The IRS requires one if your business has employees, operates as a corporation or partnership, or meets other specific criteria. Even if you're not required to have one, getting an EIN is worth doing — it keeps your Social Security number off business documents and makes opening a business bank account much easier.
- Corporations and S Corporations — required
- Partnerships — required
- LLCs with employees or taxed as a corporation or partnership — required
- Sole proprietors with employees — required
- Sole proprietors without employees — optional, but recommended
How to apply for an EIN
You can apply for an EIN directly through the IRS at no cost. The IRS does not charge a fee for issuing an EIN — by any method. The online application is the fastest option and issues your EIN immediately upon approval.
Online (fastest)
Apply through the IRS EIN Assistant at irs.gov/ein. The application is available Monday through Friday, 7 AM to 10 PM ET. Complete the form, and the IRS issues your EIN on the spot. You can use it immediately. Note that the IRS limits online applications to 1 EIN per responsible party per day.
By fax or mail
Complete Form SS-4 and fax or mail it to the IRS. Fax processing generally takes 4 business days. Mail takes longer. Use this method only if you can't apply online or need to apply outside of IRS online hours.
What you'll need to apply
The person completing the application must be the responsible party — the owner, principal officer, general partner, or grantor. You'll need their name, Social Security number, and authority to sign on behalf of the business. You'll also need the business name, structure, principal activity, and number of employees, if any.
Using a service like Bizee
You don't have to handle the EIN application yourself. We include EIN obtainment in our Standard and Premium formation packages at no extra charge. If you've already formed your business, you can also add EIN obtainment as a standalone service for $70. We gather the required details through a short online form and file on your behalf.
Customers who include EIN obtainment in their formation package often get their EIN within 1 business day. The process is the same whether you do it yourself or have us handle it — the difference is time and one less thing to track.
FAQ
No. The IRS does not charge a fee to issue an EIN. Applying online, by fax, or by mail through the IRS is free. Third-party services like Bizee charge a fee to handle the application for you, but the IRS itself never charges for an EIN.
It depends on how you apply. Online applications through the IRS are processed immediately — you get your EIN the same day, as long as you apply between 7 AM and 10 PM ET on a weekday. Fax applications generally take about 4 business days. Mail applications take longer.
EIN obtainment is the process of applying for and receiving an Employer Identification Number from the IRS. You can do it yourself through the IRS website at no cost, or use a formation platform like Bizee to handle the application on your behalf. Either way, the EIN comes from the IRS — the method just determines how much of the work you do yourself.
Your LLC gets an EIN by applying through the IRS — online, by fax, or by mail using Form SS-4. The online method is fastest: apply at irs.gov/ein and the IRS issues your EIN immediately. Your LLC needs an EIN if it has employees or is taxed as a corporation or partnership. Even if it's not required, an EIN keeps your Social Security number off business documents.
The IRS doesn't offer a public EIN lookup tool. If you've lost your EIN, check your original IRS confirmation letter, prior tax returns, or any bank account documents where you provided it. You can also call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933 to retrieve your EIN if you're the authorized representative of the business.
It depends. A sole proprietor without employees can use their Social Security number as their tax ID instead of getting an EIN. But if you hire employees, you'll need an EIN. Getting one anyway is worth considering — it keeps your Social Security number off business documents and makes it easier to open a business bank account.
