How to Get an EIN in Texas
Learn how to get an EIN in Texas step by step. Apply online for free through the IRS, get your number the same day, and find out what you need before you start.
Bizee Editorial Staff
Editorial Team
Introduction
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a 9-digit federal tax ID the IRS uses to identify your business. Texas businesses need one to open a bank account, hire employees, file taxes, and get most business licenses. You can apply online through the IRS for free and get your EIN the same day.
What an EIN is and why Texas businesses need one
An EIN is a 9-digit number the IRS assigns to identify your business for federal tax purposes — the business equivalent of a Social Security Number. You'll use it on tax returns, bank account applications, payroll filings, and most government forms.
Most Texas businesses need an EIN. You're required to have one if you hire employees, operate as a partnership or corporation, or file certain federal tax returns. Even if none of those apply, an EIN keeps your Social Security Number off business documents — which is reason enough for most sole proprietors and single-member LLCs to get one.
- Open a business bank account
- Hire employees and run payroll
- Apply for a business license or permit
- File federal and state business tax returns
- Build business credit separate from your personal credit
- Keep your Social Security Number off business paperwork
How to apply for an EIN in Texas
The fastest way to get an EIN in Texas is to apply online through the IRS. The online application is free, takes about 15 minutes, and issues your EIN immediately when you finish. That's the method most Texas business owners use — and the one worth defaulting to.
Apply online (recommended)
Go to the IRS EIN online application at irs.gov/ein. The application is available Monday through Friday, 7 AM – 10 PM ET. Complete the form, confirm your information, and your EIN is issued on screen at the end of the session. Save or print it — the IRS won't send a confirmation email.
Apply by fax
Fill out IRS Form SS-4 and fax it to the IRS. Texas businesses fax to 855-641-6935. Processing takes about 4 business days, and the IRS faxes your EIN back to the number you provide on the form.
Apply by mail
Mail a completed Form SS-4 to the IRS. This is the slowest option — processing takes 4 to 5 weeks. Use this method only if fax and online aren't available to you. Texas businesses mail to: Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999.
What you need before you apply
Before you start the IRS application, gather a few pieces of information. The application moves fast online, and you can't save your progress mid-session — so having everything ready before you start saves you from starting over.
The IRS requires a responsible party on every EIN application. This is the person who owns or controls the business — not a nominee or third party acting on their behalf. The responsible party must have a U.S. Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), which is typically a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Foreign persons without an SSN or ITIN can't be listed as the responsible party.
- Legal name of the business
- Business address in Texas
- Entity type (LLC, sole proprietorship, corporation, partnership, etc.)
- Reason for applying (new business, hired employees, banking requirement, etc.)
- Name and Social Security Number (or ITIN) of the responsible party
- Date the business started or was formed
- Number of employees expected in the next 12 months
How much it costs to get an EIN in Texas
Getting an EIN in Texas is free. The IRS does not charge a fee to apply, regardless of whether you apply online, by fax, or by mail. There is no state fee in Texas for an EIN — it's a federal number issued by the IRS, not a state agency.
If you use a third-party platform to handle the application as part of a broader formation package, that service may charge a fee. The EIN itself is always free from the IRS — you're paying for the convenience of having someone else handle the paperwork.
What to do after you get your EIN
Once you have your EIN, a few next steps will put it to work. Most Texas business owners open a business bank account first — it's one of the most practical uses of the number and one of the clearest ways to separate your personal and business finances from day one.
Texas also has its own state tax requirements that run alongside your federal EIN. If your business collects sales tax, you'll need to register with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts for a Texas Sales and Use Tax Permit. That's a separate registration from your federal EIN.
- Open a dedicated business bank account using your EIN
- Apply for a business credit card to start building business credit
- Register with the Texas Comptroller if your business collects sales tax
- Use your EIN on all federal and state tax filings going forward
- Keep your EIN confirmation letter (IRS CP 575) in your business records
FAQ
It's free. The IRS does not charge a fee to apply for an EIN, whether you apply online, by fax, or by mail. There is no Texas state fee for an EIN because it's a federal number. If you use a third-party platform to handle the application as part of a formation package, that service may charge a fee — but the EIN itself costs nothing.
It depends on how you apply. Online applications through the IRS are processed immediately — your EIN is issued on screen at the end of the session. Fax applications take about 4 business days. Mail applications take 4 to 5 weeks. For most Texas business owners, the online method is the clear choice.
Apply online at irs.gov/ein. The IRS online application is free, takes about 15 minutes, and issues your EIN immediately when you finish. The application is available Monday through Friday, 7 AM – 10 PM ET. You can also apply by faxing or mailing Form SS-4 to the IRS, but those methods take significantly longer.
Generally, yes. A Texas LLC is required to have an EIN if it has more than 1 member, hires employees, or is taxed as a corporation. Single-member LLCs with no employees aren't always required to have one, but getting an EIN is still worth doing — it keeps your Social Security Number off business documents and is required by most banks to open a business account.
No. An EIN is a federal tax ID issued by the IRS. A Texas tax ID — sometimes called a Texas taxpayer number — is issued by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts and is used for state tax purposes, including sales tax. Most businesses that operate in Texas need both. You apply for each one separately through different agencies.
For your own business, check your IRS CP 575 confirmation letter, any previously filed federal tax return, or your business bank account documents — your EIN appears on all of them. If you've lost your EIN and can't find it on any documents, call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933. You can't look up another business's EIN through the IRS, but some EINs appear on public SEC filings or nonprofit Form 990s.
You'll need your business's legal name, Texas address, entity type, and the name and Social Security Number (or ITIN) of the responsible party — the person who owns or controls the business. The responsible party must have a U.S. Taxpayer Identification Number. Foreign persons without an SSN or ITIN can't be listed as the responsible party on the application.
No. An EIN is a federal number issued by the IRS — there's no separate Texas state application for it. Texas businesses apply through the same IRS process as any other U.S. business: online at irs.gov/ein, by fax using Form SS-4, or by mail. The state of Texas does not issue EINs.
