How to Apply for an EIN
Last updated November 5, 2026 · Written by the EIN Registration filing team
Ready to apply and would rather not do the form? We prepare and file your SS-4 and email you the EIN.
Start Now →Three checks before you apply
- Does the business exist yet? An LLC or corporation should wait until the state approves it. The LLC or EIN first guide explains why.
- Does it already have an EIN? Applying again creates a second number that the IRS then has to sort out. If you only lost it, see how to get a 147C letter.
- Who is the responsible party? It must be a person who controls the business, not a company or a registered agent. Online filing needs that person’s SSN or ITIN.
Where to apply
| Route | How long | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Online | Same session | The responsible party has an SSN or ITIN, and the IRS finds no name conflict |
| Fax | About 11 business days | The online tool refused the name, or there is no SSN or ITIN |
| About 4 weeks | Nothing is urgent and you cannot fax | |
| Phone | During the call | International applicants with no U.S. residence or place of business |
The online tool is open Monday to Friday 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. (into the next day), Saturday 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday 6 p.m. to midnight, Eastern time. Details on each route are in how to get an EIN.
How to apply, step by step
- Copy the legal name from the state record. Keep the exact suffix, such as LLC or Inc.
- Gather the rest. You need the start date, street address, owner count, expected employees and main activity. The EIN application lists every question.
- Finish in one sitting if you file online. The session times out when idle, and you cannot save it and come back.
- Save the confirmation at once. The IRS issues the CP 575 once, and banks ask for it.
If the IRS refuses the application
The most common refusal is reference number 101, a name conflict. Trying again online will not clear it, and the fix is a fax filing. A mismatch between the name and the SSN returns 102 or 103, which you can usually fix by matching Social Security records. Every code is explained in the reference number guide.
After you have the number
A brand new EIN can take time to reach other IRS systems, which new EIN not active yet explains. The usual next step is a business bank account.
Quick answers
Can I apply for an EIN at the weekend?
Yes, within limited hours. The IRS online tool is open on Saturday and part of Sunday, and a fax or mailed form can be sent at any time.
How many EINs can I apply for in a day?
The IRS issues one EIN per responsible party per day. A second attempt the same day fails with reference number 114.
Can someone else apply for me?
Yes. Form SS-4 has a Third Party Designee section that lets you authorize someone to deal with the IRS on that application.
Should I apply before my LLC is approved?
No. Wait for the state to approve it, so the legal name and start date match the state record.
Get Your EIN the Easy Way
Answer a few questions in about 5 minutes. Our specialists prepare your IRS Form SS-4, file it, personally handle any rejection or name conflict along the way, and get your EIN to you, typically within 2 to 4 business days, or about 11 when the IRS requires the application by fax. One flat $197 service fee. No upsells, no subscriptions.
- ✓ Prepared and filed by specialists
- ✓ Error 101 and rejection handling included
- ✓ Data encrypted (AES-256)
- ✓ Order tracking and email updates
Related guides
- How to Get an EIN Number: 4 Ways, Step by Step Online, fax, mail, and the international phone line. Real timelines, what you need, and what can go wrong.
- EIN Application: Every Question It Asks Every question on the EIN application, in order, and the answers that cause trouble.
- IRS EIN Assistant: How the Online EIN Application Works EIN Assistant is the IRS's name for its online EIN application. Every page of the rebuilt tool in order, the rules that end a session (hours, 15 minutes idle, one per day, SSN required), what to have ready, and what each reference number means when it returns one instead of an EIN.
- Form SS-4 Instructions, Line by Line Every line on the EIN application and what actually goes in it, with the entity-specific traps: Line 9a, Line 10, the responsible party, and the date the IRS wants.
- EIN Application Status: How to Check Whether Your EIN Was Issued There is no IRS status tracker. What each application method's wait really is, when to call the IRS and what to ask, why you must not apply again while waiting, and how a session that closed after submit usually still issued the number.
You can also apply for an EIN directly with the IRS at irs.gov at no cost.