Get a Business EIN · United States

Bring these documents

• Legal name and SSN/ITIN of the 'Responsible Party'[4]Required

  Must be an individual with substantial control over the entity — not the company itself. Can only be used as Responsible Party for ONE EIN per day.

• Legal name of the entity (exactly as filed with the state)[1]Required

  For LLCs and corps, must match the formation document filed with the Secretary of State. Mismatch causes downstream banking issues.

• Trade name / DBA (if used)[1]If applicable
• Business mailing address[1]Required
• Entity type (LLC, S-corp, C-corp, sole prop, partnership, trust, estate)[6]Required

  Single-member LLCs are 'disregarded' by default — you can still get an EIN for banking and hiring.

• Date the business started or will start[1]Required
• Expected number of employees in the next 12 months[1]Required

Step by step

1. 1

   Form your entity with the state first (if applicable)[7]

   If you're forming an LLC or corporation, complete the state filing first — the EIN application asks for the legal entity name as registered with your Secretary of State. Sole props and single-member LLCs taxed as disregarded entities can apply directly without a state filing.

   Open official page Source: irs.gov
2. 2

   Verify you qualify for the online assistant[1]

   Available 7 AM – 10 PM Eastern, Monday–Friday. The Responsible Party must have a valid SSN or ITIN — international applicants without one must apply by mail or fax using Form SS-4.

   Open EIN Assistant → Source: irs.gov
3. 3

   Complete the online application in one session[1]

   You CANNOT save and resume — the application times out after 15 minutes of inactivity and you lose all entered data. Have every field ready before you start.

   Open official page Source: irs.gov
4. 4

   Download and save the EIN confirmation letter (CP 575) immediately[3]

   This PDF is issued one time only at the end of the online session. Save it locally and email it to yourself — banks and payroll vendors ask for it constantly. If you lose it, you can request a 147C letter from the IRS later but it takes weeks.

   Open official page Source: irs.gov
5. 5

   Apply by mail or fax if you can't use the online assistant[2]

   International applicants, applicants without an SSN, or applicants outside the assistant's hours can use Form SS-4. Fax processing: ~4 business days. Mail: 4–5 weeks.

   Form SS-4 → Source: irs.gov

Common reasons this gets rejected

• Paying a third party to get a free EIN

  Many top Google results are companies that charge $50–$300 for 'EIN service'. They're filling out the same free IRS form. Always go directly to irs.gov/ein.

• Mismatched entity name with state filing

  If your LLC is 'Acme Widgets, LLC' with the state but you put 'Acme Widgets LLC' (no comma) on the SS-4, banks will refuse to open accounts because the names don't match exactly.

• Not saving the CP 575 confirmation letter

  Issued ONCE at the end of the online session. Save it. Lose it and you'll spend weeks requesting a 147C replacement letter — a real headache when a vendor needs proof today.

• Using the EIN before opening a bank account

  Banks usually need the CP 575 letter to open a business account. Don't start accepting payments under the EIN until you have a separate business bank account — co-mingling pierces the LLC veil.

Talk to a human

Sources

1. [1]Apply for an EIN online (free)
2. [2]Form SS-4 (mail/fax)
3. [3]Lost or misplaced your EIN?
4. [4]Responsible Party guidance
5. [5]EIN FAQs
6. [6]https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/limited-liability-company-llc
7. [7]https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/business-structures