An EIN is a nine-digit number from the IRS to identify a business. You can apply for an EIN online or by telephone. The online application is available Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern time. Once submitted, the EIN is issued immediately. By telephone, call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line at (800) 829-4933 between 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday. Provide the information, and an assistor will assign the EIN and provide it over the telephone. If applying by mail using Form SS-4, allow about 4 weeks for processing. You can also fax the form and receive a response in about one week. EINs do not expire once issued. The EIN is used for filing taxes, hiring employees, opening accounts, and obtaining licenses and permits.
Is the EIN number free?
The Federal Revenue Service (IRS) provides a free service for requesting an EIN number.
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a unique nine-digit number assigned by the IRS to identify entities operating in the United States. An EIN is mandatory for various actions, such as filing taxes, opening bank accounts, and hiring employees.
One of the first steps for small business owners is obtaining an EIN to identify their business for tax purposes. Independent contractors need to get an EIN for reporting self-employment income and expenses.
If you are a business owner and need to apply for an EIN, you can do so through the IRS website.
Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a Tax ID number issued by the IRS to identify a business. Getting your EIN Number online is absolutely FREE if you have a Social Security Number (SSN).
An EIN is similar to a social security number in that it has 9 digits, ex: 12-3456789. EIN Synonyms: Employer ID Number, Employer Identification Number.
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a nine-digit number used by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to identify a business. The IRS requires certain businesses to get an use an EIN for tax purposes.
The IRS offers a simple checklist you can use to determine whether your business needs an EIN.
If you answer “yes” to any of the following questions, you need to apply for an EIN:
- Do you have employees?
- Do you operate your business as a corporation or partnership?
- Do you file any of these tax returns: Employment, Excise, or Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms?
- Do you withhold taxes on income, other than wages, paid to a non-resident alien?
- Do you have a Keogh plan?
Getting an EIN does not cost any money, it is a free service offered to businesses by the Internal Revenue Service. You can get an EIN immediately by applying online.
If you prefer, you can fax a completed Form SS-4 to the service center for your state, and they will respond with a return fax in about one week. You may also apply by telephone if your organization was formed outside the U.S. or U.S. territories at 267-941-1099.
Once you have an EIN, it does not expire. You will continue using your EIN even if your business ownership or structure changes. The EIN stays with the business if you incorporate a sole proprietorship or partnership, or if your corporation becomes a subsidiary of another corporation.