Direct answer: An EIN is free from the IRS. If your business is in the U.S., apply online at IRS.gov and get the number in minutes; the tool is open most days from 6 a.m. Eastern. You can also fax or mail Form SS-4. Never pay a website to get one for you.
By the numbers: You can apply for only 1 EIN per responsible party per day, whether online or by phone, mail or fax. Source: IRS, Employer identification number (reviewed July 17, 2026)
“Beware of websites that charge for an EIN. You never have to pay a fee for an EIN.” — IRS, Get an employer identification number
Updated 2026-10-22
Nothing. The IRS issues EINs free, and says to beware of websites that charge for one. Sites that charge are filling out the same free IRS application for you.
Online: immediately, if the application is approved. Fax: about 4 business days, if you include a fax number. Mail: about 4 weeks, so the SS-4 instructions say to apply 4 to 5 weeks before you need it.
Eastern Time: Monday to Friday 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. the next day, Saturday 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Sunday 6:00 p.m. to midnight. The session times out after 15 minutes of inactivity and can't be saved.
Only in some cases. The IRS says you need one if you have employees, pay employment, excise or alcohol, tobacco and firearms taxes, or withhold tax on non-wage income paid to a non-resident alien. You can still get one for banking or state tax purposes. A sole proprietor generally needs only one EIN, even with several businesses.
The IRS lists LLCs among entities that need one. By default a one-member LLC is disregarded for income tax and reports on the owner's return (such as Schedule C), but it must use its own EIN for employment and excise taxes. On Form SS-4 you check 'Other' and write 'disregarded entity.'
Only if your business has no legal residence, principal place of business or office in the U.S. or U.S. territories. International applicants can call 267-941-1099 (not toll-free), Monday to Friday 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern. The IRS no longer issues EINs by phone to domestic applicants.
Look on the IRS notice you got when you applied, ask the bank that holds your business account, check state or local license agencies, or look on past business tax returns. If you still can't find it, call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933, Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time.
As of Oct. 22, 2026
An EIN (employer identification number) is the federal tax ID number for a business, like a Social Security number for your company. Banks usually ask for one to open a business account. You get it straight from the IRS, free. The steps below are from the IRS's own pages and the Form SS-4 instructions.
Sources: IRS: apply online · IRS: EIN · SS-4 instructions.
The IRS says you need one if you:
Sole proprietor with no employees? You may not need one for federal tax, but the IRS says you can still get one for banking or state tax purposes. A sole proprietor generally needs only one EIN, no matter how many businesses or trade names. One-member LLC? By default it's disregarded for income tax (income goes on your own return, such as Schedule C), but it must use its own name and EIN for employment and excise taxes. The IRS says EINs are not for other uses such as state tax lien auctions, sales or lotteries. Sources: IRS: EIN · SS-4 instructions.
| Method | Who can use it | How fast | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online | U.S. or U.S. territory business; responsible party has an SSN or ITIN | Immediately, if approved | IRS.gov online application. One session; it ends after 15 minutes of inactivity. Print or save the confirmation letter. |
| Fax | Anyone | About 4 business days (include your fax number) | Fax Form SS-4 to 855-641-6935 (50 states and D.C.). U.S. territories and international: 855-215-1627 from inside the U.S., 304-707-9471 from outside. Fax-TIN runs 24/7. |
| Anyone | About 4 weeks (apply 4-5 weeks ahead) | Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999. U.S. territories and international: Attn: EIN International Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999. | |
| Phone | International applicants only (no U.S. residence, place of business or office) | During the call | 267-941-1099 (not toll-free), Monday-Friday 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern. The IRS no longer issues EINs by phone to domestic applicants. |
Use only one method per business, so you don't end up with two EINs. Sources: IRS: EIN · SS-4 instructions · IRS: apply online.
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday-Friday | 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. (next day) |
| Saturday | 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. |
| Sunday | 6:00 p.m. to midnight |
Source: IRS: apply online.
It fills in the current day and hour in Eastern Time from your device's clock; change them to plan ahead. Works in your browser; nothing is sent.
EXAMPLE Monday at 10:00 a.m. Eastern: open. Hours are the IRS's posted hours; the IRS can take the tool down for maintenance. Source: IRS: apply online.
Sources: IRS: apply online · IRS: EIN · SS-4 instructions.
Sources: IRS: EIN · SS-4 instructions · FinCEN BOI.
In general, when the business's ownership or structure changes, not its name or address. From the IRS list:
| Type | Get a new EIN if you | No new EIN needed if you |
|---|---|---|
| Sole proprietor | Incorporate, form a partnership, or declare bankruptcy | Change the business name or location, or own several businesses |
| LLC | End the LLC and form a new corporation or partnership; own a one-member LLC that must file employment or excise taxes | Change name or location; change your tax election to a corporation or S corporation; use your sole proprietor EIN for a one-member LLC with no employees, no excise tax and no corporate election |
| Corporation | Get a new charter, become a subsidiary, change to a partnership or sole proprietorship, or merge into a new corporation | Change name or location, elect S corporation status, are the surviving company after a merger, or convert at the state level without changing structure |
| Partnership | Incorporate, one partner takes over as a sole proprietor, or you end it and start a new one | Change name or location, or have an ownership change that doesn't end the partnership |
The IRS can't cancel an EIN, but it can deactivate one you no longer need. A business should have only one EIN. Sources: IRS: new EIN · IRS: EIN.
Check the IRS notice you got when you applied, your business bank, state or local license agencies, or past business tax returns. Still stuck? Call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line, 800-829-4933 (TTY 800-829-4059), Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time (Alaska and Hawaii follow Pacific time). The IRS can also send Letter 147C to confirm a number. Source: IRS: EIN.
Related: Self-employment tax 2026 · Business insurance · Business hub. Source: IRS: apply online.
Facts, not legal or tax advice. We summarize what the IRS and FinCEN publish, with dates. Apply only on IRS.gov; we don't file anything for you.
Nothing. The IRS issues EINs free, and says to beware of websites that charge for one. Sites that charge are filling out the same free IRS application for you.
Online: immediately, if the application is approved. Fax: about 4 business days, if you include a fax number. Mail: about 4 weeks, so the SS-4 instructions say to apply 4 to 5 weeks before you need it.
Eastern Time: Monday to Friday 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. the next day, Saturday 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Sunday 6:00 p.m. to midnight. The session times out after 15 minutes of inactivity and can't be saved.
Only in some cases. The IRS says you need one if you have employees, pay employment, excise or alcohol, tobacco and firearms taxes, or withhold tax on non-wage income paid to a non-resident alien. You can still get one for banking or state tax purposes. A sole proprietor generally needs only one EIN, even with several businesses.
The IRS lists LLCs among entities that need one. By default a one-member LLC is disregarded for income tax and reports on the owner's return (such as Schedule C), but it must use its own EIN for employment and excise taxes. On Form SS-4 you check 'Other' and write 'disregarded entity.'
Only if your business has no legal residence, principal place of business or office in the U.S. or U.S. territories. International applicants can call 267-941-1099 (not toll-free), Monday to Friday 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern. The IRS no longer issues EINs by phone to domestic applicants.
Look on the IRS notice you got when you applied, ask the bank that holds your business account, check state or local license agencies, or look on past business tax returns. If you still can't find it, call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933, Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time.
Facts and math only, not tax, legal or financial advice. Rules, rates and fees come from the IRS, state agencies and providers' own pages with dates; confirm with a tax professional, your state or the provider before acting.