How to Get an EIN — Free, Direct from the IRS (Under 10 Minutes)

You get an EIN free at irs.gov/EIN in about five minutes if you have a US Social Security Number or ITIN. The online application issues your number instantly and emails you the CP 575 confirmation letter the same session. Nobody needs to pay $49 to $99 for this, and nobody should.

Updated September 2026

What You Need Before You Start

The IRS online EIN wizard is picky about one thing: it will not let you start if your LLC has not been approved by your state. Have your Articles of Organization stamp or acceptance email in front of you. You will also need the responsible party's full legal name and SSN or ITIN, the LLC's legal name exactly as filed with the state, the LLC's mailing address (can be a home address), the date the LLC was formed, and a rough sense of how many members it has.

The responsible party is the human being who ultimately owns or controls the LLC. For a single-member LLC, that is you. For a multi-member LLC, it is one of the members, typically the managing member. The IRS explicitly says this cannot be a nominee, a registered agent, or a formation company employee.

The Five-Minute Online Process, Screen by Screen

Start at irs.gov/EIN and click Apply Online Now. The site opens a session that lasts fifteen minutes of inactivity, so if you get up to grab coffee mid-application you will lose your work.

Screen 1: Entity type

Select Limited Liability Company. If your LLC is a single-member LLC treated as a disregarded entity, or a multi-member LLC treated as a partnership, this is straightforward. If you plan to elect S-Corp treatment, still select LLC here. The S-Corp election is a separate step handled by Form 2553 after you have the EIN.

Screen 2: Number of members and state

Enter the number of members and the state your LLC is registered in. If you enter one member the system will confirm your LLC is a disregarded entity by default. If you enter two or more, it will confirm it is a partnership by default. Either can be overridden later with a Form 8832 election.

Screen 3: Reason for applying

Choose Started a new business.

Screen 4: Responsible party

Enter the responsible party's name and SSN or ITIN. Confirm you are an individual, not a business entity.

Screen 5: Business address and details

Enter the mailing address, physical address if different, county, and the date the LLC was legally formed (matches your state Articles date). If you want your CP 575 letter mailed, use a real address you check.

Screen 6: Business activity

Select the closest activity category and a short description of what you do. This picks your NAICS code, which the IRS uses for statistical purposes. Don't overthink it. Pick the closest match.

Screen 7: Confirmation and CP 575

The final screen shows your new EIN. Download the PDF CP 575 confirmation letter immediately. The IRS does not let you re-download this later. If you lose it, you can request a Letter 147C by phone at 800-829-4933, but that takes several weeks. Save the CP 575 to at least two places (cloud drive and email to yourself).

Common Rejection Reasons

If the system throws an error, it will use a Reference code:

• Reference 101 — The most common one. It means the IRS found a name conflict, a responsible party with an existing EIN, or an SSN with too many recent applications. Some Reference 101 errors clear themselves in 24 hours. If it persists, file Form SS-4 by fax.
• Reference 109 / 110 / 112 — IRS system errors. Wait 30 minutes and retry. If it still fails, try a different browser.
• Reference 114 — The responsible party already has an EIN issued that day. The IRS limits one EIN per responsible party per day.
• Missing formation approval — If your state has not approved the LLC yet, the system will accept the application but the EIN can be voided later. Wait for state approval first.

Foreign Founders Without an SSN or ITIN

If you are a non-US person forming a US LLC and you do not have an SSN or ITIN, the online wizard is closed to you. You have two working options:

Option 1: Fax Form SS-4. Fill out the paper Form SS-4, leave the SSN/ITIN field blank, write Foreign in that spot, and fax it to the IRS at 855-215-1627 (from outside the US) or 855-641-6935 (from inside the US). Include a cover sheet with a callback fax number. Expect an EIN in 4 to 8 business days.

Option 2: Mail Form SS-4. Same form, mailed to Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN International Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999. Expect 4 to 8 weeks. This is the slowest option and we don't recommend it if you can fax.

See our guide on forming a US LLC as a foreign founder for the complete workflow, including which countries commonly hit rejection loops.

Why Third-Party Services Charge for This

Because they can. Some formation services bundle EIN filing at $79 to $99 as an upsell during checkout. Others include it free with formation packages but recoup the cost elsewhere. The service itself is trivial — they log into the same IRS wizard you would use, type in the info you already provided them, and download the CP 575.

The one legitimate case for paying is if you are a foreign founder and want a US-based agent to handle the SS-4 fax process. Even then, $250 is a fair ceiling. Anything above that is a markup. Our review of Inc Authority's pricing model covers how "free" formation providers make their real money on upsells like this.

What to Do With Your EIN After You Get It

The EIN is what unlocks the rest of the business plumbing. Within the first two weeks after issuance:

• Open a business bank account. Banks require the CP 575 or Letter 147C.
• Register for state tax accounts (sales tax, employment tax, franchise tax) where applicable.
• Give W-9s to any client who needs one. The EIN goes on the W-9 in place of your SSN.
• File Form 2553 if you want S-Corp tax treatment (must be within 75 days of formation or by March 15 of the tax year).
• Set up payroll if you plan to run W-2 wages to yourself.

If you're not sure whether an S-Corp election makes sense yet, walk through our full LLC formation guide which covers the timing decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Technically, no — a single-member LLC with no employees can use the owner's SSN for tax reporting. Practically, yes — every bank requires an EIN to open a business account, and using your SSN on W-9s exposes it to every client you work with. Get one.

How long does an EIN take to become active?

Instantly for tax purposes. However, the IRS master file does not sync the EIN across all systems for about two weeks. Some tasks (like e-filing certain returns or setting up EFTPS payments) will fail until that sync completes. Bank account opening is not affected — banks accept the CP 575 immediately.

Can I get an EIN before my LLC is approved?

You can, but you shouldn't. If the state rejects your LLC name or the filing, the EIN is tied to an entity that never legally existed. You would need to void the EIN and reapply. Wait for state approval first.

What if I lose my CP 575 confirmation letter?

Call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933 and request Letter 147C. They mail it to the address on file. Expect two to three weeks. Some banks accept a screenshot of your EIN from a prior tax filing as substitute proof, but Letter 147C is the official replacement.

Can I change the responsible party on my EIN later?

Yes — file Form 8822-B within 60 days of the change. This is required whenever the responsible party changes (sale, buyout, transfer to a trust, etc.).

Do I need a new EIN if I convert my LLC to an S-Corp?

No. The S-Corp election is a tax classification change, not a new entity. Your EIN stays the same. Only file a new EIN if you dissolve one entity and form a different one.