To get an EIN for free, go to the official IRS website (irs.gov/ein), click "Apply Online Now," and complete the EIN Assistant. If you have a valid SSN or ITIN, you'll get your nine-digit EIN on screen the moment you finish, usually in about 10 minutes. It costs $0. The IRS never charges for an EIN, so any site asking for a fee is a third party reselling a free government service.

That's the whole answer for most people. The rest of this guide covers what to have ready, the path for founders with no SSN, the exact screens you'll see, common rejection errors, and what to do after you get the number, because "you got your EIN" is not actually the finish line.

First: do you actually need an EIN?

An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is a federal tax ID for your business, like a Social Security Number for your company. You need one if you have employees, run a corporation or partnership, have a multi-member LLC, file certain excise taxes, or administer a trust or estate. You'll also want one if you want to open a business bank account or stop putting your personal SSN on every client's W-9.

If you're a solo operator, the rules are looser than most articles imply. A single-member LLC or sole proprietor with no employees can often run on an SSN alone, but an EIN is usually still the smarter move. For the full yes/no breakdown, read what is an EIN and do I need one and, if you're solo, do I need an EIN for sole proprietorship.

If you already know you need one, keep reading.

What to have ready before you start (5-minute prep)

The online application has no save-and-resume feature and it times out after about 15 minutes of inactivity. If you stall, you lose everything and start over. So prep first. You'll need:

  • Your legal name and SSN or ITIN as the "responsible party" (the human who controls the business). This is required for the online tool.
  • Your business's legal name exactly as registered with your state (if you formed an LLC or corporation).
  • The entity type: sole proprietor, single-member LLC, multi-member LLC, corporation, partnership, etc.
  • The state where the business is or will be located.
  • The reason you're applying (started a new business, hired employees, banking purposes, etc.).
  • A business mailing address and the date you started or acquired the business.
  • Your expected number of employees in the next 12 months (0 is a fine answer).

One critical rule: you can only get one EIN per responsible party per day through the online tool. Plan accordingly if you're setting up multiple entities.

Step-by-step: the free IRS online application

Here's exactly what happens, screen by screen.

  1. Go to the real IRS page. Search "IRS apply for EIN online" or go straight to irs.gov. Confirm the URL ends in .gov. The tool is open Monday through Friday, roughly 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern, not 24/7.
  2. Click "Apply Online Now" and then "Begin Application." A pop-up reminds you the session expires after 15 minutes of inactivity.
  3. Choose your entity type. Pick the structure you actually registered. If you're a single-member LLC, you'll typically select "Limited Liability Company" and then enter "1" for the number of members. (The IRS treats a single-member LLC as a "disregarded entity" for taxes, which it explains on the next screen.)
  4. Confirm your selection on the summary screen.
  5. Enter the responsible party's name and SSN/ITIN. Select whether you're the owner or a third party (you're the owner).
  6. Enter the business address and phone number.
  7. Enter business details: legal name, trade name/DBA if any, county and state, and the start date.
  8. Answer the yes/no questions: Do you have employees? Will you sell alcohol/tobacco/firearms? Do you operate certain vehicles? For most new small businesses, these are all "no."
  9. Pick your principal activity (retail, professional services, construction, etc.) from the dropdown.
  10. Choose how to receive your confirmation letter: online (instant PDF) or by mail (takes about four weeks). Always choose online and save the PDF immediately.
  11. Submit. Your EIN appears on screen. Download and save the confirmation notice (this is your CP-575) before you close the tab.

Save that CP-575 PDF in at least two places. Banks, payment processors, and your accountant will ask for it, and the IRS does not email you a copy.

Cost reality check: $0, and what the upsells are really selling

Getting an EIN directly from the IRS is completely free. So why do companies advertise EIN "filing services" for $50 to $300?

What you're paying for Real cost via IRS What resellers charge
The EIN itself $0 $0 (it's still free)
"Filing" the SS-4 for you $0 (you can do it in 10 min) $50 to $300+
Bundled LLC formation State fee only (~$40 to $500) State fee + service markup

The number is identical whether you get it free or pay someone. The fee is purely for them typing your answers into the same form you can fill out yourself. The U.S. Small Business Administration confirms the EIN is free at sba.gov. The only legitimate cost in the whole process is the separate state fee to form the LLC or corporation, which is not an EIN cost.

No SSN or non-resident? Here's the free (but slower) path

This is the gap most guides skip. The online tool requires the responsible party to have an SSN or ITIN. If you're a non-U.S. citizen, a foreign founder, or a foreign-owned LLC with no SSN/ITIN, you cannot use the instant online application. But you can still get an EIN for free, it just takes longer.

You'll file Form SS-4 directly with the IRS by fax or mail (or phone for international applicants):

  • By fax: Complete Form SS-4, leave the responsible party's SSN/ITIN field blank or write "Foreign," and fax it to the IRS. Turnaround is typically about 4 business days if you include a return fax number.
  • By mail: Same form, mailed in. Turnaround is roughly 4 weeks.
  • By phone (international applicants only): The IRS has a dedicated line for applicants located outside the U.S. who can answer the SS-4 questions over the phone and often receive the EIN on the call.

Get the current Form SS-4, fax numbers, and the international phone number straight from the IRS instructions, because they update them. The point: you do not need to hire a $300 service, and you do not need an SSN to get an EIN. You need patience and the right filing channel.

Common rejection errors (and the fix)

The online tool spits out cryptic codes. Here are the ones you'll most likely hit:

  • Reference 101 (most common): a name conflict or duplicate. The IRS thinks your business name is too similar to an existing entity, or the responsible party already has an EIN tied to that name. Fix: you usually can't resolve this online; file Form SS-4 by fax or mail and let a human review it.
  • Reference 102 / 103 / 105: mismatched or invalid SSN/ITIN or name data. Fix: double-check the responsible party's name matches their Social Security card exactly, then retry. If it persists, file by fax.
  • Reference 109 / 110 / 112: technical or session timeout errors. Fix: wait and try again, ideally during off-peak hours (mid-morning Eastern), and finish in one sitting.
  • "One EIN per day" block: you already requested one today. Fix: wait until tomorrow.

If you've registered your business name already, getting the EIN slots in right after that step. See how to register your business name and get an EIN for the full sequence.

After you get the EIN: the part nobody mentions

Getting the number is not the finish line. Three things to know:

  • Your EIN may not be "active" for banks right away. Even with an instant online EIN, the IRS's records can take up to two weeks to fully propagate. Some banks will open the account immediately; others reject it until the EIN shows in IRS systems. If a bank balks, wait a few days and retry.
  • An EIN is federal only. It does not cover state taxes. If you'll hire employees or collect sales tax, most states require a separate state tax ID or employer registration. Check your state's department of revenue.
  • If you lose your CP-575, you can't get another. The IRS only issues that letter once. Instead, call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line and request a 147C letter, a free replacement confirmation that banks accept in place of the original.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get an EIN without a Social Security number?

Yes, but not through the instant online tool, which requires the responsible party to have an SSN or ITIN. Instead, file Form SS-4 by fax (about 4 business days) or mail (about 4 weeks). International applicants can also apply by phone. It's still free either way.

How long does an EIN take by fax or mail versus online?

Online with an SSN/ITIN: instant, on screen in about 10 minutes. By fax: roughly 4 business days. By mail: about 4 weeks. The number itself is identical no matter which method you use, so choose online if you're eligible.

Do I need an EIN if I'm a sole proprietor with no employees?

Legally, usually no, you can use your SSN. But an EIN keeps your SSN off client W-9 forms, is required by most business banks, and costs nothing. For the full breakdown, see do I need an EIN for sole proprietorship.

What do I do if I lost my EIN or never got my CP-575 letter?

Call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line and request a 147C letter, a free replacement confirmation. The IRS won't reissue the original CP-575, but the 147C is accepted by banks and lenders as proof of your EIN.

Does getting an EIN create new tax obligations?

Getting an EIN by itself doesn't trigger new taxes. It's just an identifier. Your tax obligations come from your activity (having employees, your entity type, your income), not from holding an EIN. That said, once you have employees, the EIN is how the IRS tracks your payroll filings.