How to Get an EIN for Your Business
What an EIN Is and Why You Need One
An EIN is essentially a Social Security number for your business. Just as your SSN identifies you to the government, your EIN identifies your business entity. The IRS uses it to track your business tax filings, and banks, vendors, and state agencies use it to verify your business identity. If you formed an LLC or corporation, you need an EIN. Even sole proprietors benefit from having one because it lets you give vendors and clients your EIN instead of your personal SSN on W-9 forms, reducing your identity theft exposure.
Specifically, the IRS requires an EIN if you have a partnership or multi-member LLC, if you have a corporation or S-corp, if you have employees, if you file certain excise tax returns, if you withhold tax on income paid to a non-resident alien, or if you have a Keogh retirement plan. Single-member LLCs without employees are not technically required to have an EIN (you can use your SSN), but every business attorney and accountant will tell you to get one anyway. It costs nothing, takes five minutes, and provides practical benefits for banking, credit, and privacy.
Step-by-Step EIN Application
The IRS online EIN application is available to businesses located in the United States or US territories. The responsible party (the person applying) must have a valid Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). If neither condition is met, you must apply by mail or fax using Form SS-4 instead. The online application is available Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM Eastern time. If you try to access it outside these hours, the system will tell you to come back during business hours.
Before starting the application, have the following ready: your business legal name (exactly as it appears on your Articles of Organization or Certificate of Formation), your trade name or DBA if different from the legal name, the business mailing address, the county and state where the business is located, the responsible party's full legal name and SSN or ITIN (for a single-member LLC, this is you as the owner), the date the business was started or acquired, the type of entity (LLC, corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship), the principal business activity, and the expected number of employees in the next 12 months (enter 0 if you do not plan to hire). Having all this information ready means you can complete the application in one sitting without needing to go find documents midway through.
Go to IRS.gov and search for "apply for an EIN" or navigate to the EIN Assistant directly. The IRS periodically updates their website layout, but the EIN Assistant is always accessible through the search function. Make sure you are on the actual IRS.gov website and not a third-party site that charges for EIN applications. Several commercial websites design their pages to look like official government sites and charge $79 to $199 for a service the IRS provides for free. The URL should start with "https://www.irs.gov" and nothing else.
The online form walks you through a series of questions. First, select your entity type (LLC, corporation, partnership, etc.). For an LLC, you will be asked how many members it has, since this determines the default tax classification. Next, provide the reason you are applying (started a new business is the most common selection). Then enter the responsible party information, which is the individual who controls, manages, or directs the entity. For a single-member LLC, that is you. For a multi-member LLC, it is the member or manager designated to represent the company. The form then asks for the business name, address, and details about your business activity. Answer every question honestly and accurately, since the IRS cross-references this information with your future tax filings.
After you submit the application, the system immediately displays your EIN along with a confirmation notice (CP 575). This notice is your proof that the IRS assigned this number to your business. Download the PDF, print a copy, and save it in at least two locations: your digital business files (cloud storage or computer) and a physical file with your other formation documents. You cannot retrieve this notice later from the IRS website if you lose it. The IRS will also mail a physical copy of the CP 575 notice to the address you provided, but that takes four to six weeks. If you lose both copies, you can call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933 to request a verification letter (147C letter), which takes four to six weeks to arrive by mail.
Common EIN Application Mistakes
The most frequent mistake is entering the wrong entity type. If you formed an LLC but select "sole proprietor" on the EIN application, the IRS will assign a different tax classification than you intended. Make sure you select "Limited Liability Company" and then specify the number of members. For a single-member LLC, the IRS will classify you as a disregarded entity by default (taxed like a sole proprietorship on Schedule C). For a multi-member LLC, the default is partnership taxation (Form 1065). If you want S-corp taxation, you need to file Form 2553 separately after receiving your EIN.
Another common mistake is applying more than once for the same entity. The IRS limits you to one EIN per responsible party per day. If the application times out or you think it failed, do not start over immediately. Check your email or wait until the next business day and call the IRS to confirm whether an EIN was actually assigned. Duplicate EINs create confusion with the IRS and with your bank, and fixing the problem requires phone calls and paperwork.
Name mismatches cause the most downstream problems. Your EIN application must use the exact legal name on your Articles of Organization. If your LLC is registered as "Greenfield Commerce LLC" with your state and you enter "Greenfield Commerce" (without LLC) on the EIN application, your bank may reject your business account application because the names do not match. Similarly, if you later file a DBA, update the IRS using Form 8822-B so your business records stay consistent across all agencies.
What to Do With Your EIN
Your EIN is required for several immediate next steps after business formation. Use it to open your business bank account, which requires the EIN confirmation letter along with your Articles of Organization and photo ID. Use it on W-9 forms when vendors, clients, or platforms (like Amazon Seller Central or Shopify Payments) ask for your tax identification number. Use it when filing for business licenses and permits at the state and local level, since many applications ask for your federal EIN. If you plan to hire employees, use the EIN to register with your state's tax and labor agencies for income tax withholding, unemployment insurance, and workers' compensation.
Keep your EIN confidential. While it is not as sensitive as your SSN, someone with your EIN and business name could potentially file fraudulent tax returns or open accounts in your business's name. Share it only with entities that legitimately need it: your bank, the IRS, state tax agencies, clients who issue you 1099s, and vendors who require a W-9. Do not publish it on your website or include it in email signatures.
EIN for Different Business Structures
Sole proprietors can use their SSN for everything and technically do not need an EIN unless they hire employees. However, getting an EIN is still recommended to avoid sharing your SSN with every client and vendor. The application process is identical; you just select "sole proprietor" as the entity type. If you later convert to an LLC, you will need a new EIN for the LLC because it is a new legal entity.
Partnerships and multi-member LLCs must have an EIN. Each partner or member uses their own SSN on their personal tax return, but the partnership entity files its own return (Form 1065) using the EIN. Corporations (both C-corp and S-corp) also must have an EIN. If you change your business structure later (for example, converting an LLC to a corporation), you generally need a new EIN for the new entity, though there are exceptions. Consult a CPA when changing structures to ensure your tax identification numbers are set up correctly.