If you just formed a limited liability company, one of the first practical questions is how to get an EIN for your LLC. The short answer is good news: you can get one free, direct from the Internal Revenue Service, and most owners who qualify online finish in about 15 minutes.
An EIN, short for Employer Identification Number, is a nine-digit federal tax ID the IRS assigns to a business. Think of it as a tax ID for the company itself, separate from your personal Social Security number. Banks, payroll providers, and many vendors ask for it, and it shows up on tax filings and official business paperwork.
What an EIN Is and Why Your LLC Needs One
A multi-member LLC needs an EIN, because the IRS treats it as a partnership for tax purposes unless it elects a different treatment. Any LLC that hires employees needs one for payroll tax reporting. An LLC that files excise, alcohol, tobacco, or firearms tax returns also needs one.
Even when the law does not force the issue, an EIN is still useful. Most banks ask for an EIN to open a business bank account, and keeping that account separate from your personal money is one of the simplest ways to keep clean records. Using an EIN on vendor forms also means you share your Social Security number less often.
A single-member LLC with no employees is the main grey area. In many cases the IRS lets a single-member LLC use the owner’s Social Security number, but banks and payment processors may still ask for an EIN. Getting one costs nothing, so many single owners get one anyway.
Before You Apply: What You Need
The IRS online tool does not let you save and come back later. A session ends after 15 minutes with no activity, so gather everything first: the legal name of your LLC exactly as it appears on your state filing, the mailing address, the date the business started, and a short description of what the business does.
A mismatch in the legal name is one of the most common reasons an application stalls, so copy the name from your articles of organization rather than typing it from memory.
The IRS also asks for a responsible party: the individual who controls the business, its funds, and its assets. For a single-member LLC, that is normally you. To apply online, the responsible party must have a valid Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. The IRS issues only one EIN per responsible party per day, so if you are setting up more than one company, plan the applications on separate days.
How to Get an EIN for Your LLC Online
Online is the fastest route, and it is the one most US-based LLC owners should use. Go to the IRS EIN page on IRS.gov and start the online application, called the EIN Assistant. Confirm you are on the real IRS site before you enter personal details, and ignore lookalike sites that charge a fee. The IRS itself charges nothing.
In the interview-style questions, select Limited Liability Company as the entity type, then enter the state where the LLC was formed and the number of members. Next, enter the responsible party details, the LLC legal name, and the mailing address, using the exact legal name from your state filing.
Then answer the questions about business activity and the reason for applying, usually “started a new business” for a new company. Most new LLCs answer no to the questions about gambling, alcohol, tobacco, firearms, and excise taxes. Review every field on the summary screen, then submit. If the application is accepted, the EIN appears on screen right away. Download and save that confirmation page at once, and print a copy. That confirmation, known as a CP 575 letter, is the proof banks and vendors may ask to see. The IRS does not mail a separate confirmation for online applications, so the file you save is the official record.
The online tool is not open around the clock. Current IRS hours are Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Eastern Time the next day, Saturday, 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and Sunday, 6:00 p.m. to midnight Eastern Time. Check the IRS page on the day you apply, because the IRS can change these hours.
If You Cannot Apply Online: Fax, Mail, and Phone
Some owners cannot use the online tool, most often because the responsible party has no Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, or because the principal place of business is outside the United States. In those cases, Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number, is the paper route.
By fax, send the completed Form SS-4 to the IRS fax number in the form instructions. For a business in the 50 states or the District of Columbia, the IRS typically returns the EIN by fax in about four business days if you include a return fax number. By mail, send the form to the address in the Form SS-4 instructions and allow about four weeks. By phone, the option is only for international applicants whose principal place of business is outside the United States, and the EIN is normally issued during the call. Whichever method you use, apply only once per company, because duplicate requests can create delays.
After You Get Your EIN
Store the CP 575 confirmation with your formation documents and your operating agreement, as a scanned copy and a printed copy. Use the EIN to open a business bank account if you have not already, and add it to your bookkeeping setup, your payroll system if you hire, and any vendor forms that asked for a tax ID.
Remember that an EIN is a federal number only. It does not replace a state tax ID, a sales tax permit, or a local business license. If your tax treatment changes later, for example if your LLC elects S corporation treatment, keep the same EIN in most cases and file the election form separately.
Common EIN Mistakes to Avoid
Paying a third party is the most expensive mistake. Search results are full of sites charging 50 dollars to more than 300 dollars to file the same free IRS form. Unless you have hired a professional to handle the whole formation for you, go direct to IRS.gov. Applying before the LLC exists is another common error, because the IRS asks for the legal name and formation state. Using a trade name instead of the legal name also causes trouble: if your LLC is “Blue River Consulting LLC” but you trade as “Blue River Studio,” the application needs the LLC legal name.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an EIN really free?
Yes. The IRS charges nothing for an EIN, by any method. Any site that charges a fee is selling a filing service, not the number itself.
How long does it take to get an EIN for an LLC?
Online, you normally receive the number at the end of the application, in about 15 minutes. By fax, allow about four business days. By mail, allow about four weeks.
Can a single-member LLC get an EIN?
Yes. A single-member LLC can apply, and many owners do, even when the IRS would also accept the owner’s Social Security number. Banks and payment processors often prefer an EIN.
Does an EIN expire?
No. An EIN does not expire, and it stays with the company. If the business closes, follow the IRS closing guidance rather than trying to cancel the number on your own.
Final Word
Getting an EIN for your LLC is one of the few business tasks that is both free and fast, as long as you go direct to the IRS and have your details ready before you start. Form the LLC first, gather the legal name and responsible party details, apply online during IRS hours, and save the confirmation the moment it appears.
Disclaimer: This guide gives general information about US tax identification, not tax or legal advice for your specific situation. Tax rules depend on your state, your LLC structure, and your income. For a complex case, talk to a licensed tax professional before you file.
