How to Apply for an EIN Online: Requirements, Steps, and Confirmation

To apply for an EIN online, go to the IRS “Get an Employer Identification Number” page, confirm you meet the eligibility rules, and complete the free application in a single sitting of about 10 to 15 minutes. The IRS validates your information in real time and issues the nine-digit number on screen as soon as you submit.¹ There is no fee. If a site asks you to pay, you are not on the official IRS portal.

Can You Use the Online Application

The online tool has three gates you need to clear before you start:

Your principal place of business is in the United States or a U.S. territory.¹
You can name one responsible party — an individual who owns, controls, or manages the entity — who has a valid Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.²
The responsible party has not already obtained an EIN today. The IRS limits each responsible party to one application per day, so multiple entities need multiple days.¹

If more than one person qualifies as the responsible party, list the one you want the IRS to recognize.² Do not use anyone’s Social Security Number without permission. Using someone else’s identifying information to obtain an EIN is federal identity theft and carries a prison sentence of up to 15 years.³

The portal is open Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. the following day, Saturdays from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Sundays from 6:00 p.m. to midnight, all Eastern Time.¹

What to Have Ready Before You Start

You cannot save partway through, and the session expires after 15 minutes of inactivity. If it times out, you start over.⁴ Gather the following first:

The legal name of the entity exactly as it appears with your state’s business registration office. The IRS uses this to build your name control for electronic filing.⁵
The entity type: sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, LLC, trust, estate, or other.
The responsible party’s Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.
Your reason for applying — commonly starting a new business, hiring employees, opening a bank account, or changing your business structure.
A physical street address for the business. You can also enter a separate mailing address such as a P.O. Box.
The date the business started or was acquired. For corporations this is the date of incorporation; for other entities it is the date you began operations or purchased the business.

Walking Through the Application

Start on the IRS “Get an Employer Identification Number” page and click through to begin. The first screen asks you to pick an entity type from a list, and your selection drives the follow-up questions. Choosing a corporation triggers questions about the state and date of incorporation. Choosing an LLC asks how many members the entity has.

The member count matters for tax classification. A single-member LLC is treated by default as a disregarded entity for income tax purposes, meaning the IRS looks through the LLC and taxes the owner directly on their personal return. A multi-member LLC defaults to partnership taxation.⁶ Either type can elect a different classification by filing Form 8832, but the default applies unless you take that extra step.

You will see a question about whether you expect to pay wages. If you answer yes and enter the date you first paid (or plan to pay) wages, the IRS uses that to set up your employment tax filing requirements. Employers who expect total employment taxes of $1,000 or less for the calendar year can request permission to file annually on Form 944 instead of quarterly on Form 941.⁷ Without written approval to file Form 944, you must file Form 941 every quarter, including quarters where you owe no tax.

Check every name, number, and date before advancing. Corrections on the next screen are easier than starting the whole application again after a timeout.

Save Your Confirmation Immediately

When your submission passes validation, the IRS issues your EIN on screen and generates a confirmation notice called CP 575. This notice is your official proof of the assigned number.¹ Print it and save a digital copy before you close the browser.

If you close the window without keeping the notice, you cannot go back and retrieve it. You then have to wait about a month before calling the IRS to request a replacement verification letter, known as a 147C.⁸ During that wait, banks and other parties that need documentation of your EIN may not accept your business without it.

To request a 147C, call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933, Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time.⁹ After verifying your identity, an agent can fax the letter to you.

If the Online Tool Will Not Work for You

If you cannot meet the online eligibility rules, or you prefer another route, you can apply using Form SS-4:

By phone, if your business is located in the U.S. or its territories, at 800-829-4933 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time). An agent issues the EIN during the call.⁹
By fax. Current processing takes about nine business days.¹⁰
By mail. Current processing takes about 30 days.¹⁰

Applicants with no legal residence or principal place of business in any U.S. state should mail or fax Form SS-4 to the IRS EIN International Operation in Cincinnati, Ohio. The fax number from within the U.S. is 855-215-1627; from outside the U.S. it is 304-707-9471.¹¹

Do You Actually Need a New EIN

An EIN stays with an entity permanently and does not need to be renewed. Before you apply, confirm you need a new one at all. Changing your business name, moving, or electing S corporation status does not require a new EIN. Ownership or entity-type changes usually do — for example, a sole proprietor who incorporates or forms a partnership, or a corporation that receives a new charter.¹² If you already have an EIN and only your address or responsible party has changed, file Form 8822-B rather than reapplying.¹³

1
Internal Revenue Service. Get an Employer Identification Number
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Internal Revenue Service. Responsible Parties and Nominees
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Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S.C. 1028 – Fraud and Related Activity in Connection With Identification Documents, Authentication Features, and Information
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Taxpayer Advocate Service. TAS Tax Tip: Employer Identification Numbers
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Internal Revenue Service. Using the Correct Name Control in E-Filing Corporate Tax Returns
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Internal Revenue Service. Single Member Limited Liability Companies
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Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form 941
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Taxpayer Advocate Service. When Taxpayers Struggle to Obtain an EIN, Everyone Loses
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Internal Revenue Service. Telephone Assistance Contacts for Business Customers
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Internal Revenue Service. Processing Status for Tax Forms
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Internal Revenue Service. Where to File Your Taxes for Form SS-4
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Internal Revenue Service. When to Get a New EIN
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Internal Revenue Service. Form 8822-B Change of Address or Responsible Party — Business