How long does it take to get an EIN?

Online: instant — you receive your EIN immediately after completing the IRS application on irs.gov. By fax: 4 business days. By mail: 4–6 weeks. The online application is available Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–10:00 PM Eastern Time.

Is getting an EIN free?

Yes. The IRS provides EINs completely free of charge. Any third-party service charging you for an EIN application is unnecessary — you can do it yourself at irs.gov in 5 minutes. Some LLC formation services include EIN filing as an add-on for $50–$100, but there's no reason to pay for this.

Do I need an EIN for a single-member LLC?

You're not always legally required to have one for a single-member LLC with no employees, but you should get one anyway. Banks require an EIN to open a business bank account. It also protects your SSN from being shared on tax forms, invoices, and vendor agreements. There's no downside — it's free and takes 5 minutes.

How to Get an EIN: Free IRS Application in 5 Minutes (2026)

An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is a free, 9-digit number from the IRS that identifies your business for tax purposes. It takes 5 minutes to get one online.

Quick answer: Apply at irs.gov — it’s free and instant. Go to irs.gov, search “EIN,” click “Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) Online,” answer the questions, and receive your EIN immediately. Available Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–10:00 PM ET. Never pay a third party for this — it’s always free.

EIN at a Glance

Detail	Info
Cost	Free (always)
Application time	5 minutes
Where to apply	irs.gov/ein
Online availability	Mon–Fri, 7 AM–10 PM ET
Processing (online)	Instant
Processing (fax)	4 business days
Processing (mail)	4–6 weeks
Format	XX-XXXXXXX (9 digits)
Also called	Federal Tax ID Number, Tax Identification Number

Who Needs an EIN

Business Type	EIN Required?
LLC with employees	Yes
Multi-member LLC	Yes
Single-member LLC (no employees)	Not required, but strongly recommended
Corporation (S-Corp or C-Corp)	Yes
Partnership	Yes
Sole proprietorship with employees	Yes
Sole proprietorship (no employees)	Not required (can use SSN)
Nonprofit	Yes
Trust or estate	Yes

Why You Should Get One Even If Not Required

Reason	Details
Open a business bank account	Banks require an EIN or SSN — EIN keeps your SSN private
Protect your SSN	Don’t put your Social Security number on invoices, W-9s, and contracts
Build business credit	Business credit requires an EIN
Hire employees later	You’ll need one anyway
File business taxes	Required for most business tax returns
Apply for business credit cards/loans	Lenders use your EIN
It’s free	No cost or downside

How to Apply Online (Step-by-Step)

Before You Start

You’ll Need	Details
SSN or ITIN	Of the “responsible party” (owner/member/officer)
Legal name of business	Must match your formation documents
Business address	Physical address (US)
Reason for applying	New business, hired employees, etc.
Entity type	LLC, corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship
Date business started	Or date organized
Number of employees expected	First year

Step-by-Step Application

Step	Action
1	Go to irs.gov and search “Apply EIN”
2	Click “Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) Online”
3	Click “Apply Online Now”
4	Read the disclaimers and click “Begin Application”
5	Select your entity type (e.g., “Limited Liability Company”)
6	Confirm the number of LLC members
7	Select your state
8	Answer “Why are you applying?” (typically “Started a new business”)
9	Enter the responsible party’s name and SSN/ITIN
10	Enter business details (name, address, start date)
11	Select business activity type
12	Enter expected employee count and payroll date (if applicable)
13	Review and submit
14	Receive your EIN immediately — save and print the confirmation

Important Notes

Note	Details
One EIN per day	IRS limits one EIN per responsible party per day online
Session timeout	15-minute inactivity timeout — don’t leave the page
No save and return	Must complete in one session
Confirmation letter	CP 575 notice mailed to you within 4 weeks (save the online confirmation as backup)
Cannot apply on weekends	Online system: Mon–Fri, 7 AM–10 PM ET only

Alternative Application Methods

By Fax (Form SS-4)

Detail	Info
Form	SS-4 (Application for Employer Identification Number)
Fax number	Varies by state — see irs.gov for current numbers
Processing time	4 business days
Response	Faxed back to you
When to use	International applicants, ITIN pending

By Mail (Form SS-4)

Detail	Info
Mail to	Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999
Processing time	4–6 weeks
Response	Mailed to you (CP 575 notice)
When to use	Last resort if online and fax aren’t available

By Phone (International Only)

Detail	Info
Phone	267-941-1099 (not toll-free)
Hours	Mon–Fri, 6 AM–11 PM ET
For	International applicants only
Processing	Immediate (given over the phone)

After You Get Your EIN

Task	When	Why
Save your EIN confirmation	Immediately	You’ll need it for everything
Open a business bank account	Same day or next day	Requires EIN
Set up payroll (if hiring)	Before first payroll	Required for employer tax deposits
Apply for business licenses	As needed	Some applications require EIN
File W-9 forms	When vendors request	Use EIN instead of SSN
Set up estimated tax payments	If applicable	Quarterly filings need EIN

What If You Lose Your EIN

Solution	Details
CP 575 notice	Check your records — IRS mails this after approval
Call the IRS	800-829-4933, Mon–Fri 7 AM–7 PM local time
Previous tax returns	Your EIN appears on filed returns
Bank records	Your business bank has it on file
Old correspondence	Any IRS letters will have your EIN

You cannot apply for a new EIN if you already have one — the original EIN stays with your business permanently.

When to Get a New EIN

Situation	New EIN Needed?
Changing business name	No
Moving to a new state	No
Adding members to LLC	No
Changing from sole proprietor to LLC	Yes
Changing from LLC to corporation	Yes (usually)
New owner (sole proprietorship)	Yes
Bankruptcy (partnership or corporation)	Yes
Partnership changes composition	Depends (50%+ change = yes)
Incorporated a sole proprietorship	Yes

Common Mistakes

Mistake	How to Avoid
Paying a third party	Always apply free at irs.gov
Applying on weekends	Online system is Mon–Fri only
Wrong entity type	Match exactly to your formation documents
Using wrong responsible party	Must be individual with valid SSN/ITIN
Not saving confirmation	Print/save immediately — CP 575 notice takes weeks
Applying for multiple EINs	One per entity — don’t apply twice for the same business

EIN Scams to Avoid

Red Flag	Details
“EIN filing service” charging $50–$200	The IRS provides EINs for free
Websites that look like irs.gov	Only use irs.gov — not irs.com, irs.org, or similar
Unsolicited calls about your EIN	The IRS doesn’t initiate contact by phone for EINs
“Expedited EIN” services	Online EIN is already instant — there’s nothing to expedite
Third-party “IRS forms”	Always download forms directly from irs.gov

Bottom Line

Getting an EIN takes 5 minutes, costs nothing, and should be one of your first steps after forming a business. Apply at irs.gov during business hours (Mon–Fri, 7 AM–10 PM ET) and you’ll receive your number immediately. Never pay anyone to file an EIN application — it’s one of the few completely free government processes.