How Do I Check the Status of My EIN Application?

To check the status of an EIN application, call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933, but only after the processing window for the method you used has fully passed. There is no online tracker. If you applied through the IRS online EIN assistant, there is nothing to check: the number is issued on the spot, and if you saw the confirmation screen with a nine-digit number, you already have it.¹

When It Makes Sense to Call

The right time to call depends entirely on how you submitted Form SS-4. Faxed applications with a return fax number take about four business days. Mailed applications take roughly four weeks, and the IRS recommends allowing four to five weeks before you need the number.²

Calling before those windows close is usually a waste of time. Representatives search the same database your application feeds into. If processing isn’t complete, they won’t see your filing at all, and you may walk away thinking it was lost when it simply hasn’t been entered yet.

How the Call Works

Once the processing window has passed, dial 800-829-4933. The line is open Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in your local time zone. Alaska and Hawaii callers follow Pacific time.³

At the automated menu, choose the option for Employer Identification Numbers. Tell the agent you’re checking on a pending EIN application. They can search the internal system and see whether a number has been assigned, whether your application is still in the queue, or whether something is holding it up. If your EIN has been assigned, they can give it to you over the phone or mail a confirmation notice.

Write down the agent’s badge number and the date they say the application was received. Those details save time if you have to call back.

What to Have Ready Before You Dial

The IRS verifies your identity before releasing any information about the application. Have these details in front of you:

The exact legal entity name you entered on Form SS-4, matching your formation documents. Small differences in spelling or punctuation can prevent the agent from finding your record.⁴
The mailing address you listed on the application.
The responsible party’s Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. This is the main way the IRS confirms you’re authorized to receive information about the filing.⁴
The full name and title of the person who signed the original form.

If you applied online and didn’t save a copy, pull your formation documents. The legal name and responsible party information you entered should match what’s in those records.

If an Accountant or Attorney Is Calling for You

A representative cannot simply call in and ask about your application. The IRS requires authorization on file first, using either Form 2848 (Power of Attorney) or Form 8821 (Tax Information Authorization).⁵ Without one of those already processed, the agent will not share details. If you’re hiring someone to handle this, send the authorization paperwork in first.

If the IRS Cannot Find Your Application

When the representative confirms the processing window has passed and still can’t locate any record, the application likely got lost in transit or was rejected without notice. The fastest fix is to apply again through the online EIN assistant, which issues the number immediately.¹ Before you resubmit, double-check that the entity name and responsible party information exactly match your formation documents.

There’s one risk to watch for. Your original fax or mailed application might eventually get processed after you’ve already received a new EIN online, leaving your entity with two numbers. The IRS does not automatically detect and merge them. Call 800-829-4933, explain the situation, and tell the agent which EIN you want to keep. The unused number will be marked inactive. Ask for written confirmation of the deactivation, which usually arrives within a few weeks. If you already used the duplicate number anywhere, such as on a bank account or a vendor form, mention that so the agent can advise on cleanup.

What Can Slow an Application Down

The most common cause of delay is a mismatch between the responsible party’s name and their Social Security Number in IRS records. Even correct information can trip the system if the SSA still shows a slightly different name, which happens often after name changes that haven’t fully propagated.⁶

Online applications carry their own hurdles. The session must be completed in one sitting and times out after 15 minutes of inactivity.¹ The IRS also limits online applications to one EIN per responsible party per day, so multiple entities have to be spread across different days.

If You Applied From Outside the United States

The online EIN assistant is not available to applicants whose principal place of business is outside the U.S. or U.S. territories.¹ International applicants apply by phone at 267-941-1099 (EIN issued during the call), by fax to 304-707-9471 (about four business days), or by mail (about four weeks).²

To check status on an international application, call the International Taxpayer Service Call Center at 267-941-1000 (not toll-free), open Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern time.⁷ International fax inquiries go to 681-247-3101.

After the EIN Is Issued

Receiving the number doesn’t mean you can use it for every purpose immediately. You can open a bank account, apply for business licenses, and file a paper tax return right away. The IRS says to wait up to two weeks before using a new EIN to e-file a return, make electronic tax deposits or payments, or pass the IRS Taxpayer Identification Number Matching Program.⁸ The number needs time to propagate through electronic systems. An early e-file or payment attempt usually gets rejected, which can look like a status problem but is just timing.

One last thing. If you applied online, download or print the CP 575 confirmation the moment it appears. You cannot go back into the platform to retrieve it later, and the CP 575 cannot be reissued. The replacement, called a 147C letter, requires a phone call and a wait of about a month.⁶ Some banks specifically ask for the original notice when opening business accounts.

1
Internal Revenue Service. Get an Employer Identification Number
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Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form SS-4 (12/2025)
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Internal Revenue Service. Telephone Assistance Contacts for Business Customers
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Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form SS-4 (12/2025) – Specific Instructions
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Internal Revenue Service. Power of Attorney and Other Authorizations
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Taxpayer Advocate Service. When Taxpayers Struggle to Obtain an EIN, Everyone Loses
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Internal Revenue Service. Contact My Local Office Internationally
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Internal Revenue Service. Employer Identification Number