California LLC EIN Number — Step 6 of 8
Form your LLC first, then obtain its federal EIN free from the IRS. Choose the application route using the business location and responsible-party identification. Check your bank’s documentation requirements and the state registration checks below.
Form the LLC first. The IRS issues EINs free. Online eligibility requires a domestic entity, a U.S./territory principal place of business, the responsible party’s SSN or ITIN, and the responsible party or an authorized representative. Otherwise use the eligible Form SS-4 route below. International phone eligibility depends on the business location. Paid filing help is optional.
- Cost
- Free at IRS.gov
- Online when eligible
- Immediate if approved
- Fax (SS-4)
- About 4 business days
- Mail (SS-4)
- ~4 weeks
- Form
- SS-4
- When to apply
- After LLC approved
- Next step
- Step 7 →
What an EIN Is and Who Needs One
An EIN identifies a business for federal tax purposes. LLCs taxed as partnerships or corporations, LLCs with employees, and LLCs with certain excise-tax obligations need an EIN. A single-member LLC treated as a disregarded entity may not need a separate EIN if it has no employees or excise-tax liability. Foreign-owned U.S. disregarded entities have additional information-return requirements.
Many banks request an EIN and supporting documents. Check your bank's requirements; an EIN alone does not guarantee an account. The IRS charges $0 to issue an EIN. Paid application help is optional and has separate service fees.
EIN Application Method Finder
Choose a route using the business location and responsible-party identification. Citizenship alone does not determine the application method. This guide does not collect your tax ID.
Answer these location and eligibility questions. A mailing or registered-agent address alone does not establish the actual principal place of business. No tax ID numbers are collected.
A third-party designee needs signed authorization. Use one application method for the entity. These answers guide the application route; IRS approval and the need for an EIN are separate.
Current IRS Form SS-4 phone, fax and mail instructions · IRS online eligibility and availability
How to Apply, Step by Step
- Form the LLC first. Use the approved legal name and correct entity details.
- Identify the actual responsible party. Generally this is the individual who controls the entity and its funds, not a nominee. Government entities are the exception to the individual rule.
- Choose the eligible route. Online filing requires a domestic entity, a U.S./territory principal place of business, the responsible party's SSN or ITIN, and the responsible party or an authorized representative. If approved, the IRS issues the EIN during the session. Check current IRS tool hours.
- Use Form SS-4 when filing by fax or mail. If the entity has a legal residence, principal business, office or agency in one of the 50 states or DC, fax to 855-641-6935 or mail to IRS, Attn: EIN Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999. Otherwise, including a U.S. territory, fax to 855-215-1627 from within the U.S. or 304-707-9471 from outside; mail to IRS, Attn: EIN International Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999. These submission categories differ from online eligibility; follow the current Form SS-4 instructions.
- International phone eligibility: The international phone route requires NO legal residence, principal place of business, principal office or agency in the United States or U.S. territories. An overseas principal place or foreign owner alone is insufficient. Eligible authorized callers may call 267-941-1099 (not toll-free), Monday–Friday, 6 a.m.–11 p.m. Eastern time. Prepare Form SS-4 and be authorized to receive the EIN and answer its questions. Fax and mail use the separate state/DC location test above.
- Complete line 7b accurately. Enter “foreign” or “N/A” only if the responsible party has no SSN or ITIN and is ineligible to obtain one, as the Form SS-4 instructions provide. Lack of a number alone is not enough for this entry.
- Keep the IRS confirmation. The IRS estimates about four business days for fax applications with a return fax number and about four weeks for mail. These are estimates, not guarantees. The IRS limits issuance to one EIN per responsible party per day.
IRS online eligibility and current hours · IRS phone, fax and mail routes · Form SS-4 instructions
- ✓The IRS issues EINs at no charge. Confirm any provider assistance fee, eligibility and required authorization.
- ✓Optional formation assistance; confirm filing scope, service pricing and government fees before ordering.
- ✓Confirm registered-agent service availability, included periods and renewal charges.
- ✓Review address-use rules and privacy policies; a service does not remove all information from public filings.
Disclosure: LLC School may earn a commission via this link, at no cost to you. See our advertising disclosure.
IRS Online Hours and Confirmation
For applicants who meet the online eligibility requirements, the IRS currently lists these hours in Eastern Time:
- Monday–Friday: 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. the next day.
- Saturday: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Sunday: 6 p.m. to midnight.
Complete the application in one session; it expires after 15 minutes of inactivity. If approved, the EIN is issued immediately online. Print the EIN confirmation letter for your records. Availability can change; check the IRS before starting. These online hours are separate from the international telephone service hours.
Check IRS online eligibility, current hours and confirmation instructions
After Your EIN: California Registration Checks
Your EIN identifies the business for federal tax purposes. It does not automatically create state tax accounts, register you as an employer, or issue a business license. Use the checks below for the activities you plan to carry out.
The federal step, briefly
Form the LLC first, then apply directly to the IRS at no charge. Use the qualified responsible party and the correct business details. Online eligibility depends on the business location and responsible-party identification; follow the IRS instructions for another application method when online filing is unavailable.
IRS EIN application and eligibility Read the complete national EIN guideSales and use tax
Check CDTFA's registration questions to determine which seller's permit, tax or fee accounts your activities require.
CDTFA permit and account registrationHiring employees
Review EDD employer payroll tax registration. e-Services for Business handles the employer payroll tax account separately from CDTFA accounts and your EIN.
EDD employer account registrationBefore you register: Check the agency criteria for your sales, services, employees and locations. These links identify the relevant registration routes; not every LLC needs every account. Keep your EIN confirmation and the separate state account notices with your company records.
California LLC EIN — FAQ
How much does an EIN cost?
The IRS issues EINs free of charge. Optional paid assistance has a separate service fee.
Can my LLC apply online?
The entity must be formed in the U.S. or a U.S. territory, with its principal place of business there. The applicant must be the responsible party or an authorized representative and have the responsible party’s SSN or ITIN. A third-party designee needs signed authorization.
Can I get an EIN without an SSN or ITIN?
An LLC can use Form SS-4 by fax or mail when online filing is unavailable. On line 7b, enter foreign or N/A only if the responsible party has no SSN or ITIN and is ineligible to obtain one. Follow the current IRS instructions.
Who can use the international phone route?
The international phone route requires NO legal residence, principal place of business, principal office or agency in the United States or U.S. territories. An overseas principal place or foreign owner alone is insufficient. Eligible authorized callers may call 267-941-1099 (not toll-free), Monday–Friday, 6 a.m.–11 p.m. Eastern time. Prepare Form SS-4 and be authorized to receive the EIN and answer its questions.
Does every single-member LLC need an EIN?
A disregarded single-member LLC with no employees or excise-tax liability may not need a separate EIN. Other tax classifications and foreign-owned U.S. disregarded-entity information returns can change the requirement. Many banks request an EIN; check the bank’s account requirements.
When should I apply and how long does it take?
Form the LLC first. An approved eligible online application receives its EIN during the session. IRS estimates are about four business days for fax with a return fax number and about four weeks for mail; delays are possible.
Does my EIN complete state registration?
No. An EIN does not automatically establish state tax accounts, employer registration or business licenses. Review the state registration checks on this page for your activities.
Why do phone eligibility and fax or mail destinations use different location tests?
International phone eligibility requires no legal residence, principal place of business, principal office or agency in the U.S. or its territories. Fax and mail instead distinguish any such location in a state or DC from no such location in a state or DC, including territory-only cases. The sending location also determines the international fax number. Use the route picker and current IRS SS-4 instructions; foreign ownership alone does not select a route.
Ahmad Adil is the founder and CEO of LLC School. The EIN guidance here — that the number is free at IRS.gov, the instant online route with an SSN/ITIN, the fax and mail timelines for Form SS-4, and the options for non-US founders — reflects current IRS procedures. LLC School updates its guides as IRS processes change.
About Ahmad Adil → California LLC Overview →