How to Get an EIN in 2026: Free, Step-by-Step from the IRS

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is the nine-digit federal tax ID the IRS gives to businesses, written like 12-3456789. You need it to open a business bank account, run payroll, file partnership or corporate returns and, increasingly, to sign up with payment processors and marketplaces. This guide shows you how to get an EIN directly from the IRS for free, the exact hours the online system is open, and what to do if you can't apply online.

Quick answer

Apply free at IRS.gov/EIN. If your business is in the US and the responsible party has an SSN or ITIN, the online application gives you the number immediately. Everyone else files Form SS-4 by fax (about 4 business days) or mail (about 4 weeks), and non-US applicants can also call the IRS.

• Cost: Free ($0) — the IRS never charges for an EIN

• Online hours (ET): Mon–Fri 6 a.m.–1 a.m., Sat 6 a.m.–9 p.m., Sun 6 p.m.–midnight ET

• Form your LLC or corporation with the state first, then apply

• Limit: one EIN per responsible party per day

• Download and save the confirmation letter before you close the page

Who needs an EIN?

The IRS requires an EIN if any of these apply to you:

• You have employees, or will soon
• Your business is a partnership, multi-member LLC or corporation
• You file employment, excise, or alcohol, tobacco and firearms tax returns
• You withhold tax on income, other than wages, paid to a non-resident alien
• You have a Keogh plan, or the entity is a trust, estate, nonprofit or cooperative

A sole proprietor or single-member LLC with no employees and no excise taxes can legally use the owner's SSN for income tax. You may still want an EIN. Banks usually require one for a business account in an LLC's name, and it lets you give clients an EIN instead of your SSN on Form W-9. The IRS confirms you can request an EIN for banking or state purposes even when federal law doesn't require one.

EIN essentials (2026)

Free ($0)

IRS fee

Any method

Instant

Online approval

US applicants with SSN/ITIN

about 4 business days

Fax (Form SS-4)

about 4 weeks

Mail (Form SS-4)

Before you apply: the responsible party and your details

Every EIN application names a responsible party: the person who ultimately owns or controls the business and its money. For an LLC, that's usually the managing member; for a corporation, a principal officer.

Two rules from the December 2025 Form SS-4 instructions catch people out:

1. It must be a real person. Unless the applicant is a government entity, the responsible party must be an individual, not another company, and you must give that person's SSN or ITIN.
2. No nominees. Formation services sometimes list themselves or a stand-in. The IRS does not allow nominees; the true owner or controller must be named.

If the responsible party changes later, for example when you sell the business or a co-founder leaves, file Form 8822-B within 60 days.

Have these ready before you start

0/8

• Legal name exactly as on your state filing (for an LLC or corporation)
• Trade name / DBA, if you use one
• Responsible party's full name and SSN or ITIN
• Business mailing address and physical location (county and state)
• Entity type and, for an LLC, the number of members
• Start date or acquisition date of the business
• Main activity (e.g., retail, construction, consulting) and what you sell
• Expected number of employees in the next 12 months and first wage date

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How to get an EIN online, step by step

The online application is the fastest route and the one most US owners should use. It must be completed in one sitting: it can't be saved, and the session expires after 15 minutes of inactivity.

Apply for an EIN online

1. 1

   Go to IRS.gov/EIN during opening hours

   The system is available Mon–Fri 6 a.m.–1 a.m., Sat 6 a.m.–9 p.m., Sun 6 p.m.–midnight ET. Outside these hours you'll see a closed message.

   Tip: Use the IRS.gov address. Look-alike sites charge fees for the same form.

   Open the IRS EIN page
2. 2

   Choose the entity type

   Pick Sole proprietor, Partnership, Corporation, Limited Liability Company and so on, then state why you're applying (started a new business, hired employees, banking purposes).

3. 3

   Enter the responsible party

   Name and SSN or ITIN of the individual who controls the business. The name must match Social Security records exactly, including hyphens and suffixes.

4. 4

   Add the business details

   Legal name, address, start date, activity and expected employees. For an LLC, enter the number of members and the state where it was formed.

5. 5

   Review and submit

   Check every field — you can't edit after submission.

6. 6

   Save the confirmation letter (CP 575)

   Download and print the EIN confirmation before you close the browser. You won't get another copy instantly.

If you get an error, the most common causes are a name that doesn't match Social Security records (for example, a married name not yet updated with the SSA), a responsible party who already received an EIN that day, or a busy system. The Taxpayer Advocate Service has flagged these issues; trying a different browser or waiting until off-peak hours often helps. If an error code tells you to contact the IRS, use the phone line on the error page rather than reapplying.

Applying by fax, mail or phone (Form SS-4)

If you can't use the online system, complete Form SS-4, the paper version of the same application. The fillable PDF on IRS.gov can be printed and faxed or mailed. The December 2025 revision moved the fax numbers and addresses into the "Apply by fax" and "Apply by mail" sections of the instructions, so ignore older lists.

The IRS suggests mailing your SS-4 four to five weeks before you need the number. To check on a mailed application, call 800-829-4933 (Mon–Fri, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. local time). Use only one method per entity: applying twice produces two EINs and a mess to untangle.

EINs for non-US owners and international applicants

Foreign founders forming a US LLC are a big share of EIN applicants, and the rules differ:

• No online option without an SSN or ITIN. The online system needs one of these for the responsible party, plus a US business location.
• Write "foreign" on line 7b. If the responsible party doesn't have and isn't eligible for an SSN or ITIN, enter "foreign" or N/A on line 7b of Form SS-4. The field can't be left blank.
• Phone is the fastest route if you qualify. When the business has no US residence, principal place of business or office, the caller (owner or an authorized third-party designee named on the SS-4) can get the EIN live on 267-941-1099 (not toll-free), Mon–Fri 6 a.m.–11 p.m. ET.
• Otherwise fax. Faxing to 304-707-9471 is usually quicker than mail from abroad.

A single-member LLC owned by a foreign person has its own federal filing duties, including Form 5472, and needs its own EIN even with no employees. Talk to a US tax adviser before your first year-end.

Do you need a new EIN? Sole props, LLCs and changes

Most changes don't need a new number. Here's how the IRS rules work for the situations small businesses meet most often.

New EIN or keep the old one?

Change	Sole proprietor	LLC
Change business name or move	Keep EIN	Keep EIN
Open a second business or trade name	Keep EIN (one per proprietor)	New LLC = new EIN
Incorporate or take on a partner	New EIN	Usually keep EIN if the LLC continues
Elect S corp or C corp tax status	n/a	Keep EIN
Close and form a new entity	New EIN	New EIN
Single-member LLC hires first employee	n/a	LLC needs its own EIN for payroll

Change business name or move

Sole proprietor

Keep EIN

LLC

Keep EIN

Open a second business or trade name

Sole proprietor

Keep EIN (one per proprietor)

LLC

New LLC = new EIN

Incorporate or take on a partner

Sole proprietor

New EIN

LLC

Usually keep EIN if the LLC continues

Elect S corp or C corp tax status

Sole proprietor

n/a

LLC

Keep EIN

Close and form a new entity

Sole proprietor

New EIN

LLC

New EIN

Single-member LLC hires first employee

Sole proprietor

n/a

LLC

LLC needs its own EIN for payroll

A sole proprietor needs only one EIN no matter how many businesses or trade names they run. An LLC that elects corporate tax treatment keeps its EIN; you file Form 8832 or Form 2553 and tell the IRS rather than reapplying.

After you get your EIN

Your EIN works immediately for opening bank accounts, applying for licenses and giving W-9s to clients. Next steps:

• Store the CP 575. It's the IRS's written confirmation, and banks, payroll providers and lenders ask for it.
• Register with your state. Payroll needs state withholding and unemployment insurance accounts; selling taxable goods needs a sales tax permit. See our business license guide.
• Update your paperwork. Put the business name (not the EIN) on invoices; give the EIN on W-9s. Create a professional invoice in the invoice generator.
• Plan your taxes. If you're a sole proprietor or single-member LLC, self-employment tax is 15.3% of net earnings — estimate yours with the federal tax calculator.

Lost your EIN? How to find it

Before calling, check where the number already appears:

1. The CP 575 notice from when you applied (or the PDF you saved online)
2. Your business bank's account opening documents
3. State or local license and tax registrations
4. Past federal business tax returns, payroll filings or 1099s

Eligible Business Tax Account users can now download a digital CP 575 under Tax Records. The IRS says it can be used in place of the original CP 575 notice and Letter 147C, the "EIN previously assigned" letter banks often ask for. If you can't access it, call the Business & Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933 (Mon–Fri, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. local time). After verifying your identity, the IRS gives an authorized person the number by phone and can send a 147C letter.

Common EIN mistakes to avoid

• Paying a "filing service". The EIN is free; those sites just fill in the same form.
• Applying before the state approves your LLC. The IRS says form the entity first. An EIN issued to the wrong legal name causes bank and tax mismatches.
• Applying twice. Duplicate applications create two EINs for one business. If you already applied by fax or mail, wait rather than also applying online.
• Not saving the confirmation. Download it at the end of the session, or you'll be waiting on a phone call for a 147C.
• Naming a nominee or a company as responsible party. It must be the real individual who controls the business.

Official links

Official EIN sources

• IRS — Get an EINStart here; free online application
• IRS — Apply online (hours and rules)Session limits and eligibility
• Form SS-4 instructions (Rev. Dec 2025)Fax numbers, mail addresses, international line
• IRS — Do you need a new EIN?By entity type
• IRS — Understanding your CP575Digital copy in Business Tax Account

What to do next

If you haven't formed your company yet, start with our LLC registration guide and check your name in the LLC name checker. Once the EIN is in hand, open your business bank account, apply for any licenses your city requires, and send your first invoice.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice — confirm on the official source or with a professional.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to get an EIN?

Nothing. The IRS charges no fee for an EIN, whether you apply online, by fax, by mail or by phone. Websites that charge a fee are private filing services, not the IRS, and they submit the same free form on your behalf. Apply directly at IRS.gov and you'll have the number in minutes if you're eligible for the online application.

How long does it take to get an EIN?

Online applications are approved immediately, and you can use the number the same day to open a bank account. A Form SS-4 sent by fax takes about 4 business days, and one sent by mail takes about 4 weeks. International applicants calling the IRS phone line receive the number during the call.

Can I get an EIN without a Social Security number?

Yes, but not online. The online application needs the responsible party's SSN or ITIN. If the responsible party doesn't have and isn't eligible for either, write "foreign" on line 7b of Form SS-4 and apply by fax or mail, or by phone on 267-941-1099 (not toll-free), Mon–Fri 6 a.m.–11 p.m. ET if the business has no US location.

Does a sole proprietor need an EIN?

Only if you hire employees, run a Keogh (self-employed retirement) plan, owe excise taxes or file certain other returns. Otherwise you can use your SSN. Many freelancers still get a free EIN so they don't have to give their SSN to every client on Form W-9, and some banks require one for a business account.

How do I find my EIN if I lost it?

Look on the CP 575 notice the IRS issued, an old tax return, your bank's account paperwork or a state license application. Eligible users can download a digital CP 575 from their IRS Business Tax Account. Otherwise call the Business & Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933 (Mon–Fri, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. local time); after verifying your identity, the IRS can give you the number by phone.

Do I need a new EIN if my LLC changes its name or address?

No. A name or location change doesn't require a new EIN for an LLC, corporation, partnership or sole proprietor. You report the change instead — address and responsible-party changes on Form 8822-B. You do need a new EIN when a sole proprietor incorporates or forms a partnership, or when you close an LLC and form a new entity.

Sources & verification

Figures on this page were checked against the sources below when it was last reviewed on 7 October 2026. Each rate and limit is stored once with its own official source and review date, and official update channels are monitored daily so changes are picked up. How we verify

1. 1.Get an employer identification number — IRS · accessed 7 October 2026
2. 2.Apply for an EIN online — IRS · accessed 7 October 2026
3. 3.Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025) — IRS · accessed 7 October 2026
4. 4.Employer identification number — IRS · accessed 7 October 2026
5. 5.Do you need a new EIN? — IRS · accessed 7 October 2026
6. 6.Understanding your CP575 notice — IRS · accessed 7 October 2026
7. 7.Publication 1635, Understanding Your EIN — IRS · accessed 7 October 2026
8. 8.When taxpayers struggle to obtain an EIN, everyone loses — Taxpayer Advocate Service · accessed 7 October 2026