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How to Apply for an EIN

Free, online, 15 minutes. Every screen of the IRS application, with the right way to answer each one.

By Reba Donaldson · Last reviewed: April 2026

The big picture: 15 minutes, free, online

The fastest way to get an EIN is the IRS online application. It is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern. The application gives you the EIN immediately at the end of the session, in PDF form, ready to print.

You cannot save and resume. If you walk away from the application for more than 15 minutes, the system times out and you have to start over. So get your information ready first, then go.

What you need before you start

Information to have on hand
Legal name of business
Exactly as it appears on your formation documents. Spelling matters. The IRS will compare it.
Business mailing address
Where the IRS will send any future correspondence. Can be a home address.
Type of entity
Sole proprietor, LLC, corporation, partnership, nonprofit, trust, estate, etc.
Date the business started
For new entities, this is your formation date or the date you started operating.
Reason for applying
Most common: "Started a new business." Others: hired employees, banking purposes, changed type of organization.
Responsible party name and SSN
A real person (with an SSN or ITIN) who controls or owns the entity. Not a corporation, not an attorney as proxy.
State formed in
If you are an LLC or corporation, the state where you filed.

The application, screen by screen

Screen 1: Type of structure

The IRS asks "What type of legal structure is applying for an EIN?" Options include sole proprietor, partnership, corporation, LLC, estate, trust, and nonprofit. Pick the one that matches what you have actually filed with your state.

If you are an LLC: select "Limited Liability Company (LLC)" on this first screen, even if you plan to elect S-corp tax treatment later. The S-corp election is a separate filing AFTER the EIN.

Screen 2: Verification of structure

The IRS confirms your selection and asks for the number of members (for LLCs) or other structure-specific details. Answer accurately.

Screen 3: Reason for applying

Most common reasons:

  • Started a new business. The default for almost everyone applying for the first time.
  • Hired employees. Pick this if you are a sole proprietor who already had an SSN-based business and is now hiring.
  • Banking purposes. Pick this if you are a sole proprietor getting an EIN just to open a business account.
  • Changed type of organization. For example, you moved from sole proprietor to LLC.

Screen 4: Responsible party

The IRS wants the name and SSN (or ITIN) of one real human being who controls the entity. For a single-member LLC, this is you. For a partnership, it is one of the partners. For a corporation, it is usually an officer.

This is the screen that catches most "Reference 101" errors. If your name or SSN does not match what the IRS has on file (or matches an EIN already linked to you in a way the system flags), the application fails. See the application errors page for fixes.

Screen 5: Address and phone

The mailing address for IRS correspondence and a phone number where the IRS can reach the responsible party.

Screen 6: Business details

The IRS asks what kind of business you operate. They give a list (construction, real estate, retail, food service, etc.) Pick the closest match. If you are a freelancer or consultant, "Other" is usually the right answer, with a brief description.

Screen 7: Confirmation and PDF

The IRS displays your EIN on the final screen and offers a PDF download (called Form CP 575). Save this file in three places. You will need it for your bank, for your tax preparer, and for your records.

What if I cannot use the online application?

The online application requires that the responsible party have an SSN or ITIN. If you do not (for example, you are a foreign founder of a US business), you cannot use the online application.

Your options:

  • Form SS-4 by fax. Takes about 4 business days.
  • Form SS-4 by mail. Takes about 4 weeks.
  • Phone (international applicants only). Call 267-941-1099. Not toll-free, not always answered quickly.

More on this on the EIN vs ITIN page.

After you have your EIN

Three things to do immediately:

  1. Save the confirmation PDF. Multiple places. Print one for the file cabinet.
  2. Open your business bank account. Take the EIN letter and your formation paperwork.
  3. Update your W-9. Replace your SSN with the new EIN on the W-9 you give to clients. W-9 Easy Guide walks through which name and number to use, line by line.

More EIN guides