Delaware LLC EIN Number — Step 5 of 8
Your EIN is your business's federal tax ID — think of it as a Social Security Number for your LLC. You'll need it to open a bank account, hire employees, and file taxes. The best part: it's completely free from the IRS, and anyone telling you to pay for one is selling you something you don't need. Here's how to get yours, whether or not you have a US SSN.
An EIN is free from the IRS. If you have an SSN or ITIN, apply online and get your number instantly. Non-US founders without an SSN/ITIN can still get one free by submitting Form SS-4 by fax (about 4 business days), mail, or phone. Apply after your Delaware LLC is approved — never pay a third party just for the EIN itself.
- Cost
- Free
- With SSN/ITIN
- Online, instant
- No SSN/ITIN
- SS-4 by fax/mail
- Issued by
- IRS
- Apply when
- After approval
- Foreign-owned SMLLC
- Form 5472
- Next step
- Step 6 →
What an EIN Is & Why You Need One
An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is a nine-digit number the IRS assigns to your business for tax purposes. Even if you never hire anyone, you'll almost certainly need one for a Delaware LLC. Here's what it unlocks:
- Opening a business bank account — virtually every bank requires an EIN for an LLC.
- Hiring employees and handling payroll taxes.
- Filing federal taxes and, for many LLCs, electing how you're taxed.
- Keeping your SSN private — you give vendors and platforms the EIN instead of your personal number.
The EIN itself is always freeThe IRS never charges for an EIN. Plenty of websites will offer to "get your EIN" for a fee — they're just filling out the same free form. It's fine to let a formation service handle it as part of a package (especially if you're a non-US founder), but never pay a standalone fee for the number itself.
EIN Application Method Finder
The right way to apply depends on one thing: whether you have a US Social Security Number or ITIN. Answer below to see your fastest route:
How to Apply, Step by Step
- Wait until your LLC is approved. Apply only after Delaware has accepted your Certificate of Formation, so your details match.
- Online (with SSN/ITIN): use the IRS EIN Assistant, Monday–Friday, and you'll get your number instantly at the end.
- By fax/mail (Form SS-4): complete Form SS-4 and submit it — about 4 business days by fax, 4 weeks by mail.
- Save the confirmation letter (CP 575). Your bank will ask for it — keep a copy with your records.
Non-US founders: an EIN is not an ITINThese get confused often. An EIN identifies your business; an ITIN identifies you personally for tax purposes. You can get an EIN for your Delaware LLC without an SSN or ITIN by submitting Form SS-4. Note that foreign-owned single-member LLCs have a special annual reporting duty (Form 5472 with a pro-forma 1120) — worth knowing before tax season.
- ✓Obtains your EIN — even without an SSN
- ✓Forms your Delaware LLC for $39 + the $110 state fee
- ✓Free Delaware registered agent the first year
- ✓No upsells · No data selling · Privacy by Default
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Delaware LLC EIN — FAQ
Ahmad Adil is the founder and CEO of LLC School. The guidance here — that an EIN is always free from the IRS, the instant online route for SSN/ITIN holders, the Form SS-4 fax/mail/phone options for non-US founders, the EIN-vs-ITIN distinction, and the Form 5472 duty for foreign-owned single-member LLCs — reflects current IRS procedures. This is educational information, not tax advice.
About Ahmad Adil → Delaware LLC Overview →