How to Get an EIN Number for Your LLC for Free

You can get an EIN for your LLC for free by applying directly with the IRS. The fastest route is the online EIN Assistant at irs.gov, which issues the nine-digit number at the end of the session in a few minutes. Fax and mail applications are also free; only the wait is longer. Any site that charges a fee is a third party, not the IRS.¹

Register Your LLC With the State First

Your LLC has to exist before it can get a federal tax ID. File your articles of organization (or certificate of formation, depending on the state) and wait for approval before you start the EIN application. The IRS warns that applying before the state recognizes the entity can delay your application.¹

What to Have in Front of You Before Applying

The online session doesn’t let you save and return, so gather everything first. You’ll need:

The LLC’s legal name, exactly as it appears on the state formation documents.²
A physical business address. The IRS does not accept a P.O. box as the primary location.²
The responsible party’s name and taxpayer ID. This has to be one individual who controls or manages the LLC, not another business entity, and that person provides a Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.³
The formation date your state approved.
Your entity type (LLC) and the reason for applying, such as starting a new business.

The IRS recommends filling out Form SS-4 as a worksheet before applying, whichever method you use.⁴

Apply Free Through the IRS

Online: A Few Minutes, Number Issued Immediately

The online EIN Assistant walks you through the same questions as Form SS-4, validates entries as you go, and issues the EIN as soon as you finish.¹ It’s available Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Eastern; Saturday, 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; and Sunday, 6:00 p.m. to midnight.

One catch: only one online EIN application per responsible party per day.¹ If you’re setting up more than one LLC, space the online applications out or use fax or mail for the rest.

Fax: About Four Business Days

Complete Form SS-4 and fax it to 855-641-6935 if the LLC is in any of the 50 states or Washington, D.C.⁵ You’ll usually get the EIN back by return fax within four business days.⁴

Mail: Four to Five Weeks

Mail Form SS-4 to Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999. Processing takes four to five weeks, and the EIN comes back by mail after that.⁴

Phone applications aren’t available for domestic LLCs. That option (267-941-1099, Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern) exists only for applicants with no legal residence, principal office, or place of business in the United States or its territories.²

Save the Confirmation Right Away

At the end of the online session, you can view, print, and save the EIN assignment notice on the spot.⁴ Download and print it before you close the window; once the session ends, there’s no way to retrieve it from the website.

The IRS also mails a formal confirmation letter, Notice CP 575, to the business address on file. It’s a one-time document the IRS will not reissue, so store it somewhere permanent. Banks and government agencies often ask for it to verify the LLC. Fax applicants get their confirmation in about four business days; mailed applications take roughly four to five weeks.⁴

Ignore Sites That Charge a Fee

Applying directly with the IRS costs nothing, whether you go online, by fax, or by mail. The IRS puts it plainly: “Beware of websites that charge for an EIN.”¹ Paid filing services are submitting the same free application on your behalf. If you hire an accountant or attorney, their fee is for their time; the IRS itself never charges.

Does Your LLC Even Need One?

Any LLC with more than one member needs an EIN because the IRS treats it as a partnership. A single-member LLC also needs one if it has employees or owes excise taxes.⁶

There’s a narrow exception. A single-member LLC classified as a disregarded entity with no employees and no excise tax liability can use the owner’s Social Security Number for federal income tax reporting instead of an EIN.⁶ Most single-member owners still get an EIN anyway. Banks generally require one to open a business checking or savings account,⁷ some states require a federal EIN for state tax registration, and using it keeps personal and business tax IDs separate.

If You Lose the Number Later

Before calling the IRS, check the obvious places:

The original CP 575 confirmation notice
Your business bank, which keeps the EIN on file with the account
Prior federal or state tax returns filed for the LLC
State or local agencies where you applied for licenses or permits⁸

If none of those turn it up, 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. After verifying your identity as an authorized person, the representative will give the number over the phone.⁸

1
Internal Revenue Service. Get an Employer Identification Number
2
Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form SS-4 (12/2025)
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Internal Revenue Service. Responsible Parties and Nominees
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Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025)
5
Internal Revenue Service. Where to File Your Taxes for Form SS-4
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Internal Revenue Service. Single Member Limited Liability Companies
7
U.S. Small Business Administration. Open a Business Bank Account
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Internal Revenue Service. Employer Identification Number