An EIN number, or employer identification number, is the federal tax ID the IRS gives businesses, tax-exempt organizations and other entities. You can get one free, directly from the IRS, in minutes online, and you never have to pay a fee for it.
Everything here comes from the IRS's own EIN pages, checked in October 2026. The single most useful line on them is a warning: beware of websites that charge for an EIN. Plenty of sites rank for this search and sell the same free number back to you.
Who needs an EIN
Businesses, organizations and some retirement trusts need an EIN to manage their taxes. The IRS says you generally need one to:
- hire employees
- operate a partnership or corporation
- pay sales and excise taxes, or employment and alcohol, tobacco and firearms taxes
- change business structures or ownership
- administer certain trusts, retirement plans and estates
- withhold tax on income, other than wages, paid to a non-resident alien
Even if you don't need one for federal tax, you can request an EIN for banking or state tax purposes. The IRS is clear that EINs aren't meant for things like state tax lien auctions, sales or lotteries.
How to get an EIN, step by step
- Form your entity with your state first if you're creating an LLC, partnership or corporation. Applying before that can delay the EIN.
- Check you can use the online tool: a domestic organization with its principal place of business in the US or a US territory, applying as the responsible party or their authorized representative.
- Have the responsible party's Social Security number or individual taxpayer ID number ready.
- Complete the application in one session. You can't save it, and it times out after 15 minutes of inactivity.
- If it's approved, the EIN is issued immediately online.
Other ways to apply
| Method | Who it's for | How long |
|---|---|---|
| Online | US-based entities | Issued immediately if approved |
| Fax Form SS-4 | US-based entities | About 4 business days |
| Mail Form SS-4 | US-based entities | Approximately 4 weeks |
| Phone 267-941-1099 | Principal place of business outside the US | Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern |
For the paper route, my Form SS-4 guide goes through the application line by line.
The rules that catch people out
- You can only get 1 EIN per day, whether online, by phone, mail or fax.
- The application must name the responsible party, the person who controls the entity and its assets. Nominees aren't authorized to apply, and the IRS says doing so puts the entity's information and privacy at risk.
- Business names can only use letters, numbers, hyphens and ampersands. Spell out other symbols, so Jones.Com becomes Jones Dot Com.
- Street addresses are limited to 35 characters, so use standard USPS abbreviations.
- A third-party designee needs signed authorization to apply.
Using your EIN straight away
You can use a new EIN immediately for most business needs, such as opening a bank account, applying for business licences or filing a tax return by mail. The catch: you may have to wait up to 2 weeks before you can e-file a tax return with it or pass the IRS TIN Matching Program, so don't leave it until the week a return is due. If a return is due before your EIN arrives, write "Applied For" and the date you applied in the space for the number.
Nonprofits and political organizations
Tax-exempt organizations shouldn't apply until they're legally formed. The IRS also reminds them that most organizations lose their tax-exempt status automatically if required returns or notices aren't filed for 3 consecutive years. Political organizations need an EIN to file Form 8871, which has to be filed within 24 hours of creating the organization to become tax exempt.
Beneficial ownership
The IRS pages also point out that some corporations, LLCs and other entities may need to report information on their beneficial owners to FinCEN. That's a separate filing from the EIN, so check whether it applies to you.
How to find a lost EIN
- Look for the notice the IRS sent when you applied.
- Check with agencies where you've applied for state or local licences, because they'll have it on file.
- Call the IRS business and specialty tax line on 800-829-4933, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. Once they've verified who you are, they'll give it to you if you're authorized.
- Ask for Letter 147C, EIN Previously Assigned, if you need written confirmation.
When you need a new EIN, and when you don't
You generally need a new EIN when your entity's ownership or structure changes. You don't need one to change your business name, address or responsible party. If you take over another employer's business, use your own EIN for employment taxes, never the previous owner's. The IRS can't cancel an EIN, but it can deactivate one you no longer need.
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My verdict
Get your EIN from the IRS yourself: it's free, it takes minutes, and paying a third-party site buys you nothing. Form your LLC or corporation with the state first, then apply, then keep the confirmation notice somewhere safe. If you're hiring, the next steps are the W-4 form and new hire reporting.
Frequently asked questions
Is an EIN number free?
Yes. You can get an EIN free directly from the IRS, and you never have to pay a fee for one.
How long does it take to get an EIN?
Online, it's issued immediately if the application is approved. By fax it takes about 4 business days, and by mail approximately 4 weeks.
Do I need a new EIN if I change my business name?
No. You don't need a new EIN to change your business name, address or responsible party. You generally need one when ownership or structure changes.
Can I apply for an EIN from outside the US?
Yes. If your principal place of business is outside the US, apply by phone on 267-941-1099, Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern time, or send Form SS-4 by fax or mail.
What if a business has more than one EIN?
Call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line on 800-829-4933 and they'll tell you which number to use.
How can I find my EIN if I lost it?
Check the notice the IRS sent when you applied, ask banks or agencies where you've used it, or call the IRS business and specialty tax line on 800-829-4933.
