Apply for EIN Online: Free, Instant, Step by Step (2026)
Applying for an EIN online at IRS.gov is completely free, takes about 10 minutes, and gives you your number instantly. This guide walks through every screen, every field, and every common mistake — so you get it right on the first try without the 15-minute timeout killing your session.
Written & verified by Ahmad Adil, LLC School · Updated June 2026 · Verified against IRS.gov
What Is an EIN and Does Your LLC Need One?
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a free, 9-digit federal tax ID number assigned by the IRS — formatted as XX-XXXXXXX. Applying for an EIN online at IRS.gov is the fastest way to get one, and your number is issued the instant you complete the application.
For LLC purposes, an EIN functions like a Social Security Number but for your business. It separates your LLC's tax identity from your personal SSN, which is important for both tax reporting and business operations.
When does your LLC need an EIN?
- Multi-member LLCs: Always required — the partnership return (Form 1065) cannot be filed without one
- Single-member LLCs with employees: Required before you can run payroll
- LLC electing S-Corp or C-Corp status: Required before filing Form 2553 or Form 8832
- Opening a business bank account: Most banks require an EIN for LLCs, even single-member
- Single-member LLCs with no employees: Technically optional, but strongly recommended — keeps your SSN off vendor forms and 1099s
EIN is always free at IRS.gov — never pay for it. The IRS charges $0 to issue an EIN. There are hundreds of websites that charge $50–$300 to "file your EIN application" — these are middlemen providing zero value. The IRS application takes 10 minutes at irs.gov and delivers your EIN instantly. Go directly to the IRS.
3 Ways to Apply for an EIN — Compared
The IRS offers three methods to apply for an EIN. For US citizens with an SSN or ITIN, online is always the right choice. The other methods exist for special situations only.
What You Need Before You Apply for an EIN Online
Gather everything on this list before opening the IRS online application. The system times out after 15 minutes of inactivity and cannot be saved mid-session — starting unprepared is the most common reason applications fail or get submitted with errors.
How to Apply for an EIN Online: Every Screen Explained
The IRS online EIN application walks you through a series of screens. Here is exactly what you'll see and what to enter at each step, so you're not caught off guard by the 15-minute timer.
- Open the IRS EIN Assistant. Go to the IRS EIN online application at irs.gov. Click "Apply Online Now." This opens the EIN Assistant — a multi-page interview-style form. The session begins the moment you start. The 15-minute timeout clock is running. Important: Use a desktop or laptop, not a mobile phone. The IRS interface is not optimized for mobile and sessions frequently time out on small screens.
- Select your entity type. Choose "Limited Liability Company (LLC)" from the list of entity types. The IRS will ask how many members your LLC has. Enter the correct number: 1 for single-member, or 2+ for multi-member. This determines your default tax classification. Do not select "Sole Proprietor" — even if you're the only owner. Select LLC. The IRS treats a single-member LLC differently from a sole proprietorship even though they're taxed the same way by default.
- Select your reason for applying. Most LLCs choose "Started a new business." Other options: "Hired or will hire employees," "Banking purpose," "Changed type of organization," or "Purchased going business." If you formed the LLC to make a tax election (S-Corp or C-Corp), still select "Started a new business" — the election is a separate filing.
- Enter the Responsible Party's information. This is the person who owns, controls, or manages the LLC — for single-member LLCs, that's you. Enter your full legal name and your Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). This is required for the online application. The IRS uses it to verify your identity, not to link the EIN to your personal return. The Responsible Party must be an individual person — not another entity. If your LLC is owned by another LLC or corporation, you cannot use the online portal and must apply by fax with Form SS-4.
- Enter your LLC's legal name and trade name. On Line 1, enter your LLC's full legal name exactly as filed with your state — including the designator (LLC, L.L.C., or Limited Liability Company). On Line 2, enter your DBA/trade name only if you operate under a different name. Leave it blank if you don't have one.
- Enter your LLC's mailing address. This is where the IRS will send any written correspondence. It does not have to be the LLC's physical business address. You can use your home address, a commercial address, or your registered agent's address. P.O. boxes are accepted for mailing addresses.
- Enter your LLC's start date and fiscal year. The start date is the date your LLC became legally active — typically the date your Articles of Organization were approved by the state. For fiscal year, most LLCs use a calendar year (January–December). If you're unsure, select December as your accounting year-end.
- Describe your principal business activity. The IRS asks what your LLC primarily does. Enter a brief, accurate description: "Management consulting," "Software development," "Residential real estate," "Online retail," etc. There is no lookup code required for the online application — just a plain-language description.
- Submit and receive your EIN immediately. Review all entries carefully. Click "Submit." The IRS processes the application in seconds and displays your EIN on the confirmation screen. Print this page or save it as a PDF immediately. The IRS does not email your EIN confirmation and there is no way to retrieve the confirmation letter from the website later. Your EIN is valid and active the moment it's issued — you can use it immediately to open a business bank account, file tax elections, or set up payroll.
Save Your EIN Confirmation Letter — There Is No Download Link Later. The IRS EIN confirmation letter (CP575) appears only once on screen at the end of the application. The IRS does not send it by email and there is no portal to retrieve it from. If you close the window without printing or saving, you will need to call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line at (800) 829-4933 to retrieve your number. Save it as a PDF immediately — then store it permanently with your LLC formation documents.
Form SS-4 Fields Explained (For Fax or Mail Applications)
If you cannot use the online portal — or if your LLC's responsible party is not a US citizen with an SSN — you'll need to complete Form SS-4 from IRS.gov and submit by fax or mail. Here is every field that matters for an LLC.
Enter the LLC's full legal name exactly as it appears on the Articles of Organization filed with your state. Include the designator (LLC, L.L.C., Limited Liability Company). Do not use abbreviations or nicknames.
Enter your LLC's trade name or "doing business as" name only if it differs from the legal name on Line 1. Leave blank if the LLC operates under its legal name.
Enter the LLC's mailing address — where IRS correspondence should be sent. Street address on 4a, city/state/ZIP on 4b. P.O. boxes are acceptable here.
Enter the name and taxpayer identification number of the individual who owns, controls, or manages the LLC. For a single-member LLC, this is you — enter your SSN. For non-resident owners without an SSN, enter "N/A" and attach a copy of your passport.
Check the "Limited Liability Company" box. Then enter the number of members in the box next to it. Single-member LLCs enter "1." Multi-member LLCs enter the actual number of members.
Check "Started a new business" for most new LLCs. If you have employees or will hire soon, check "Hired employees." For banking purposes only, check "Banking purpose." Describe the nature of your business briefly in the space provided.
Enter the date your LLC was legally formed — the date the state approved your Articles of Organization. Not today's date, and not the date you started operating the business.
Enter "December" for a calendar-year LLC (most LLCs). If you have a specific fiscal year end, enter that month. Most small business LLCs should use December to align with personal income tax returns.
Describe what your LLC primarily does. Examples: "Management consulting," "Residential property rental," "E-commerce retail — clothing," "Software development services." Be accurate — this affects which industry tax codes the IRS assigns.
The Responsible Party or their authorized representative must sign and date the form. An unsigned SS-4 will be rejected by the IRS.
What to Do Immediately After Getting Your EIN
Your EIN is valid and active the moment the IRS issues it. Here's what to do in the first 48 hours after receiving it.
| Action | When to Do It | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Save the EIN confirmation letter (CP575) | Immediately — on screen | Only opportunity to save it; no download link later |
| Store EIN with LLC formation documents | Same day | You'll need it repeatedly — annual reports, banking, taxes |
| Open LLC business bank account | Within 1–2 weeks | Separates personal and business finances; protects liability |
| File Form 2553 (if electing S-Corp) | Within 75 days of LLC start date | S-Corp election requires EIN and has strict deadline |
| Add EIN to your operating agreement | When you receive it | Banks often check the OA for EIN consistency |
| Update registered agent records | If applicable | Some registered agent services want your EIN on file |
| Give EIN to clients/vendors on W-9 | As needed | Vendors use it to issue 1099s; protects your personal SSN |
5 EIN Application Mistakes That Cause Rejections or Delays
- LLC name doesn't exactly match Articles of Organization. Even a minor difference — "LLC" vs "L.L.C." or a missing word — can cause a mismatch in IRS records. Use the exact name from your state filing.
- Listing another entity as Responsible Party. The Responsible Party must be an individual, not an LLC or corporation. If your LLC is owned by another LLC, you cannot use the online portal — use Form SS-4 by fax.
- Applying before the LLC is legally formed. The IRS issues your EIN linked to your LLC's legal name. If you haven't filed Articles of Organization yet and the name changes, you may need a new EIN or a name correction. File your Articles first.
- Closing the browser before saving the confirmation. The most common and most painful mistake. The IRS confirmation screen appears once. Close it and you lose access to that letter. Always save as PDF or print before closing.
- Applying outside the allowed hours. The IRS online EIN portal is only available Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Attempting to apply on weekends or outside these hours results in an error message, not a successful application.
Ahmad Adil's Take: The IRS EIN application took me 8 minutes the first time I did it correctly. The first time I tried — before I knew about the 15-minute timeout — I was pulling up documents and got kicked out at the Responsible Party screen. Had to start over. Now I use the readiness checklist above every single time I help someone apply for an EIN. Complete it before you open the IRS portal. The application itself is genuinely simple once you're prepared. And remember: EIN is free, always has been, always will be. Anyone charging you for it is adding zero value.
- ✓Form your LLC first — then apply for your EIN immediately after approval
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- ✓1 FREE year of Registered Agent ($125 value) — then $125/yr flat, price-locked
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Apply for EIN Online — FAQ
Ahmad Adil is the founder and CEO of LLC School at myllcschool.com. Every step in this EIN guide is verified against the IRS online EIN application portal and the December 2025 Form SS-4 instructions. All IRS phone numbers and portal availability hours are confirmed against current IRS.gov information. This guide is updated whenever the IRS changes its EIN application process.
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